Social Security Adds 38 New Compassionate Allowance Conditions that Qualify for Quick Favorable Disability Decisions

Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, has announced that the agency is adding 38 more conditions to its list of Compassionate Allowances.  This is the first expansion since the original list of 50 conditions - 25 rare diseases and 25 cancers - was announced in October 2008.  The new conditions range from adult brain disorders to rare diseases that primarily affect children.  The complete list of the new Compassionate Allowance conditions appears below.

“The addition of these new conditions expands the scope of Compassionate Allowances to a broader subgroup of conditions like early-onset Alzheimer’s disease,” Commissioner Astrue said.  “The expansion we are announcing today means tens of thousands of Americans with devastating disabilities will now get approved for benefits in a matter of days rather than months and years.”

Compassionate Allowances are a way of quickly identifying diseases and other medical conditions that clearly qualify for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability benefits.  It allows the agency to electronically target and make speedy decisions for the most obviously disabled individuals.  In developing the expanded list of conditions, Social Security held public hearings and worked closely with the National Institutes of Health, the Alzheimer’s Association, the National Organization for Rare Disorders, and other groups.

"The diagnosis of Alzheimer's indicates significant cognitive impairment that interferes with daily living activities, including the ability to work," said Harry Johns, President and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association.  "Now, individuals who are dealing with the enormous challenges of Alzheimer's won't also have to endure the financial and emotional toll of a long disability decision process."

“This truly innovative program will provide invaluable assistance and support to patients and families coping with severely disabling rare diseases,” said Peter L. Saltonstall, President and CEO of the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).  “On behalf of those patients and families, I want to thank Commissioner Astrue and his enthusiastic team for creating and now expanding a program that will have a direct impact on the quality of life of thousands of individuals."

“The initiative not only assists those whose applications are quickly processed, but also assists those whose applications need more time and attention from SSA adjudicators,” said Marty Ford, Co-Chair, Social Security Task Force, Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities.  “We are pleased to see today's expansion and look forward to working with Commissioner Astrue on further expansion of this decision-making tool and other ways to expedite determinations and decisions for disability claims.”

“We will continue to hold hearings and look for other diseases and conditions that can be added to our list of Compassionate Allowances," Commissioner Astrue said.  “There can be no higher priority than getting disability benefits quickly to those Americans with these severe and life-threatening conditions.”

Social Security will begin electronically identifying these 38 new conditions March 1.

For more information about the agency’s Compassionate Allowances initiative, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.

The complete list of new Compassionate Allowance Conditions is:

 

New Compassionate Allowance Conditions

  1. Alstrom Syndrome
  2. Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia
  3. Ataxia Spinocerebellar
  4. Ataxia Telangiectasia
  5. Batten Disease
  6. Bilateral Retinoblastoma
  7. Cri du Chat Syndrome
  8. Degos Disease
  9. Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease
  10. Edwards Syndrome
  11. Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva
  12. Fukuyama Congenital Muscular Dystrophy
  13. Glutaric Acidemia Type II
  14. Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), Familial Type
  15. Hurler Syndrome, Type IH
  16. Hunter Syndrome, Type II
  17. Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
  18. Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa, Lethal Type
  19. Late Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses
  20. Leigh’s Disease
  21. Maple Syrup Urine Disease
  22. Merosin Deficient Congenital Muscular Dystrophy
  23. Mixed Dementia
  24. Mucosal Malignant Melanoma
  25. Neonatal Adrenoleukodystrophy
  26. Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses, Infantile Type
  27. Niemann-Pick Type C
  28. Patau Syndrome
  29. Primary Progressive Aphasia
  30. Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy
  31. Sanfilippo Syndrome
  32. Subacute Sclerosis Panencephalitis
  33. Tay Sachs Disease
  34. Thanatophoric Dysplasia, Type 1
  35. Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy
  36. Walker Warburg Syndrome
  37. Wolman Disease
  38. Zellweger Syndrome

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