Social Security Announces Nationwide Launch of Compassionate Allowances

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Social Security Announces Nationwide Launch of Compassionate

Allowances

Process Will Fast Track Applications For People with Cancers and Rare

Diseases

http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/pr/compassionate-allowances-1008-pr.htm

J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today 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.

Before announcing this initiative, Social Security held public

hearings to receive information from experts on rare diseases and

cancers. The agency also enlisted the assistance of the National

Institutes of Health.

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.

" This is an outstanding achievement for the Social Security

Administration, " said Saltonstall, President of the National

Organization for Rare Disorders. " It has taken Social Security less

than a year to develop this much-needed program that will benefit

those whose claims merit expedited consideration based on the nature

of their disease. Disability backlogs cause a hardship for patients

and their families. Commissioner Astrue and his staff deserve our

thanks for a job well done. "

" Unfortunately, many hardworking people with cancer may not only face

intensive treatment to save their lives, but they may also find

themselves truly unable to perform their daily work-related

activities and as result, may face serious financial concerns, such

as the loss of income and the cost of treatment, " said E.

, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action

Network. " The Social Security Administration's Compassionate

Allowances program will help streamline the disability benefits

application process so that benefits are quickly provided to those

who need them most. "

" This is America, and it simply is not acceptable for people to wait

years for a final decision on a disability claim, " Commissioner

Astrue said. " I am committed to a process that is as fair and speedy

as possible. The launch of Compassionate Allowances is another step

to ensuring Americans with disabilities, especially those with

certain cancers and rare diseases, get the benefits they need

quickly. "