Obtaining Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits is never a quick and easy process. However, there are ways of making the process a little smoother and faster.
For example, if your condition qualifies for the Compassionate Allowances Program (CAL), the approval process can be reduced from as long as six months to weeks or possibly even days. That can be crucial when you are not able to work and have bills to pay and a family (or even just yourself) to support.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) created CAL in 2008 to fast-track approvals for people whose conditions aren’t expected to improve and/or will ultimately be fatal. There’s an official list of conditions, which is updated all the time. In fact, people can even submit recommendations of conditions to add to the list.
Submitting an application
There’s no separate application process for CAL, but you should indicate that your condition is on the CAL list. The SSA’s system is also supposed to flag and separate applications for people with conditions on the list and expedite them.
First, however, the application is reviewed to ensure that the applicant’s condition makes them unable to engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA). It must also have lasted or be expected to last for at least 12 months or result in death
The current list of CAL-approved conditions includes a number of types of cancer as well as neurodegenerative diseases like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and dementia-related conditions. A number of rare conditions are also on the list.
Approval is not guaranteed
Unfortunately, even if someone is suffering from one of these conditions, that doesn’t necessarily mean their application will be approved. The SSA may want more documentation of the condition and its progress. Even accidentally skipping a question or making some other kind of error on the application can cause a delay.
When time is of the essence in receiving SSDI for a CAL-eligible condition, it can be worthwhile to have experienced guidance in submitting your application. If your application is denied, it’s definitely smart to have this guidance in seeking an appeal.