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EQUITY Responds: WID Answers Your Questions
Q: Social Security recently announced some kind of new faster procedure to apply for benefits if you have cancer, is that true?
A: Yes, in response to mounting complaints about historically long delays in processing applications for Social Security benefits, the Social Security Administration has launched new procedures to speed responses to within 6-8 days for people with cancer and rare diseases. They note that over time, more diseases and conditions will be added to the list. Extracts of the SSA press release are below:
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Social Security Announces Nationwide Launch of Compassionate Allowances:
Process Will Fast Track Applications for People with Cancers and Rare Diseases
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, recently announced the national rollout of the agency’s Compassionate Allowances initiative, a way to expedite the processing of disability claims for applicants whose medical conditions are so severe that their conditions obviously meet Social Security’s standards.
“Getting benefits quickly to people with the most severe medical conditions is both the right and the compassionate thing to do,” Commissioner Astrue said. “This initiative will allow us to make decisions on these cases in a matter of days, rather than months or years.”
Social Security is launching this expedited decision process with a total of 50 conditions. Over time, more diseases and conditions will be added. A list of the first 50 impairments -- 25 rare diseases and 25 cancers -- can be found at www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.
Compassionate Allowances is the second piece of the agency’s two-track fast track system for certain disability claims. When combined with the agency’s Quick Disability Determination process, and once fully implemented, this two-track system could result in six to nine percent of disability claims, the cases for as much as a quarter million people, being decided in an average of six to eight days.
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For the full press release, please visit
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/compassionate-allowances-1008-pr.htm
A: Yes, in response to mounting complaints about historically long delays in processing applications for Social Security benefits, the Social Security Administration has launched new procedures to speed responses to within 6-8 days for people with cancer and rare diseases. They note that over time, more diseases and conditions will be added to the list. Extracts of the SSA press release are below:
---
Social Security Announces Nationwide Launch of Compassionate Allowances:
Process Will Fast Track Applications for People with Cancers and Rare Diseases
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, recently announced the national rollout of the agency’s Compassionate Allowances initiative, a way to expedite the processing of disability claims for applicants whose medical conditions are so severe that their conditions obviously meet Social Security’s standards.
“Getting benefits quickly to people with the most severe medical conditions is both the right and the compassionate thing to do,” Commissioner Astrue said. “This initiative will allow us to make decisions on these cases in a matter of days, rather than months or years.”
Social Security is launching this expedited decision process with a total of 50 conditions. Over time, more diseases and conditions will be added. A list of the first 50 impairments -- 25 rare diseases and 25 cancers -- can be found at www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.
Compassionate Allowances is the second piece of the agency’s two-track fast track system for certain disability claims. When combined with the agency’s Quick Disability Determination process, and once fully implemented, this two-track system could result in six to nine percent of disability claims, the cases for as much as a quarter million people, being decided in an average of six to eight days.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
For the full press release, please visit
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/compassionate-allowances-1008-pr.htm