Being unable to work because you suffered an injury or illness is a challenging position for anyone to be in. If the condition is expected to end in your death or last for at least 12 months, you may opt to file for Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI. This provides you with partial wage replacement while you’re unable to work.
It can take many months to get a decision from the Social Security Administration about the fate of your application. Unfortunately, that’s far too long for people with certain medical conditions. The SSA has compiled a list of conditions that meet the current disability standards. These conditions are on the Compassionate Allowances List (CAL).
What happens for conditions on the list?
Because conditions on the CAL have already been deemed severe enough to qualify for SSDI, applications that contain a diagnosis of one of these are fast-tracked through the system. The SSA uses an automated flagging system that pulls the applications with one of these conditions.
Some conditions on the CAL include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, congenital myotonic dystrophy and pancreatic cancer. There are more than 200 conditions on the list, so it behooves anyone applying for benefits to check the list. Remember, only people who have a medical diagnosis of one of these conditions will be able to be fast-tracked.
Making sure you have your SSDI application filled out accurately is critical. These applications are complex, and some people have to appeal a decision by the SSA. Working with someone familiar with the process is beneficial, especially when time is of the essence.