The Compassionate Allowances program is a way for individuals with disabilities to expedite the application process when seeking Social Security disability benefits. Ordinarily, the process of applying for benefits can be challenging and time-consuming, which can be frustrating and stressful for individuals who are otherwise unable to live healthy lives and return to work.
The Compassionate Allowances program applies to individuals who have one of over 200 conditions listed by the Social Security Administration (SSA), including conditions such as Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and certain types of cancer.
Some of those conditions come with certain criteria that applicants need to meet to qualify for Compassionate Allowances. For instance, cancer may need to have metastasized or be in stage IV to qualify.
If an applicant qualifies for Compassionate Allowances, there are some specific benefits that this program offers.
Faster Approval
Typically, applying for Social Security disability benefits entails a long waiting period. The reviewers with the SSA need to look at many documents to decide whether a person qualifies for benefits, which can take as long as six months to a year.
Compassionate Allowances can help make the process faster for individuals with more serious disabilities who may not be able to wait as long. Terminal illnesses and serious disorders often qualify for Compassionate Allowances, which enables individuals to receive payments while awaiting a decision on their application.
If claims are denied even after Compassionate Allowance payments began, individuals and their families won’t need to repay the funds at any point.
The Program Doesn’t Require More Work on Applications
Applying for disability benefits can be difficult and require the gathering of a lot of documentation, but applying for Compassionate Allowances doesn’t entail any additional work.
While reviewing an application, the SSA worker will consult the administration’s list of Compassionate Allowances. If the individual qualifies based on the listed condition and criteria associated with it, the applicant may be able to receive payments soon afterward.
Retroactive Pay Is Possible
When determining whether a person is eligible for benefits, the SSA will also take into account how long the applicant suffered a disability prior to receiving the application. Subsequently, applicants may be able to receive pay retroactively that covers the time between the onset of the disability and the approval or denial of the application.
These advantages make Compassionate Allowances ideal for many applicants who wish to receive disability benefits sooner when needed.
