When a person is sick or injured and unable to work, the person can suffer from a lot of financial uncertainty. While the person is trying to recover, it may become clear that the person won’t be able to work. Without income the person could struggle to meet the person’s most basic needs. In these cases, the Social Security Disability program can provide valuable income for the person. Under the SSD program, those that qualify can receive monthly income to help cover their everyday expenses.
Applying for SSD can be a lengthy and complicated process. While the Social Security Administration reviews a person’s application, the person can be without a source of income and completely unable to work. In order to alleviate this problem some, the SSA has created the compassionate allowances program.
According to the SSA, the compassionate allowances program allows people with the most serious medical conditions to quickly receive benefits. While others may wait months or years for their application to be approved by the SSA, people who qualify for the compassionate allowances program get benefits within a matter of weeks.
In order to be in the program, you must have one of the conditions that qualify for the compassionate allowances program. These conditions include those that are most likely to fit the SSA’s definition of disability. Traumatic brain injuries, schizophrenia, cancer, cardiovascular disease and other rare diseases are all included in the program. The specific illnesses and injuries were included on the list following a series of hearings that included scientific experts and members of the medical community.
If you have a disease that qualifies for a compassionate allowance, you may have an easier time acquiring SSDI benefits. While this post is purely informational — and cannot provide specific legal advice — an attorney can help you determine if you qualify for benefits.