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What Disabilities Are Covered by Compassionate Allowances?

Qualifying for a compassionate allowance through the Social Security Administration gives you the fastest route to disability benefits when you are struggling financially because of a physical or mental medical condition. Disabilities that prevent you from working the same number of hours or from working at all may qualify you for disability benefits programs, but the application process alone can take days. The wait-time for disability benefits can take months. To skip all this, consider looking into what conditions qualify for the compassionate allowance program and talk to a Pennsylvania disability lawyer if you come across any obstacles.

Conditions Covered by Compassionate Allowances

There are too many disability conditions covered by the compassionate allowance program to list all of them, but they can be found on the SSA website. The conditions listed do have some main things in common. They are all potentially severe conditions that significantly limit a person’s ability to work and maintain a steady income.

Many of the conditions listed include, but are not limited to:

  • Various cancers
  • Types of dementia (i.e. Parkinsonism Dementia Complex)
  • Serious cardiovascular conditions (i.e. Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome)
  • Some genetic diseases (i.e. X-Linked Lymphoproliferative Disease)

All you have to do to find out whether your condition qualifies for this fast-track program is to visit their website or contact your local SSA department. Your third option is to call an experienced disability lawyer who can walk you through the process and figure out your chances of qualifying. Taking any of these steps to apply for the compassionate allowance program could potentially save you days or a month of time.

When your disability is severe enough to prevent you from working right now, saving time is vital for protecting your finances from plummeting. Once you start receiving disability benefits, these benefits can be used to cover your basic living expenses like housing, food, and clothing. The goal of SSA disability benefits programs is to replace your lost income.

Meeting the Disability Definition

Regardless of whether you qualify for the compassionate allowance program, you will want to make sure your disability matches the SSA disability definition. The SSA specifically requires your disability to prevent you from performing the same work tasks you could before the disability, will last at least a year or result in premature death, and you are unable to adapt to new types of work.

The tricky thing is that even if you can demonstrate some of these factors, the SSA will be the one to determine whether you meet each of these factors. Income is another factor. If you can still work to obtain an income of $1,260 a month or higher, then you will be disqualified from disability benefits.

Disability Benefits Attorney in Pennsylvania 

Going through the tedious disability benefits application process and being denied can be one of the most frustrating things to go through. Consider working with a Pennsylvania denied benefits appeal lawyer if your disability benefits have been denied. Call Edelstein & Nelson today at (215)731-9900 for a consultation. One of our disability insurance lawyers can help you figure out why your benefits were rejected and what steps can be taken for an appeal.