Belleville, Ill. (PRWEB) October 17, 2011
As 3 million disability applicants enter the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, its important for people with disabilities to understand options available to fast-track their SSDI claims for benefits, according to Allsup, which has helped tens of thousands of people receive their Social Security disability benefits. The Social Security Administrations plans to add 13 more conditions to the Compassionate Allowances (CAL) program, effective in December, provides an important benefit for those with qualifying conditions to receive their benefits more quickly.
A small number, about 5 percent of initial claims, are expected to fall under Compassionate Allowances, but its critical that those who qualify clearly identify their conditions when seeking Social Security disability benefits, said Mike Stein, Allsups assistant vice president of claims. Your claim will be one of hundreds of thousands received by the SSA, and it can be important to have an SSDI advocate such as Allsup ensuring your claim is flagged for this fast-track process.
The SSA has implemented two programs designed to speed up the Social Security Disability Insurance application process: CAL and the Quick Disability Determination (QDD) programs. Both SSA programs are designed to expedite review of Social Security disability claims for faster SSDI decisions, often with applicants receiving decisions as quickly as a couple of weeks.
Its important to realize, though, that only a small number of claims can speed through the disability review process this quickly, Stein added. Historically, about two-thirds of all initial SSDI applications are denied. The process involves multiple appeals and can require a hearing, so its not uncommon for Social Security disability applicants to wait upwards of 800 days for a decision on their benefits claim.
Faster Social Security Disability Benefits
The CAL program was created to quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that clearly meet SSDI and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) requirements. Effective in December, 13 conditions primarily related to the immune system and neurological disorders will be added to the list.
New CAL conditions are:
1.????ALS/Parkinsonism Dementia Complex
2.????Angelman Syndrome
3.????Corticobasal Degeneration
4.????Lewy Body Dementia
5.????Lowe Syndrome
6.????Malignant Multiple Sclerosis
7.????Multicentric Castleman Disease
8.????Multiple System Atrophy
9.????Paraneoplastic Pemphigus
10.????Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma
11.????Primary Effusion Lymphoma
12.????Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
13.????Pulmonary Kaposi Sarcoma
Initially, 50 conditions were covered under Compassionate Allowances. Then, 38 were added in March 2010, 12 were added in July 2011, and with these 13the list now numbers 113 conditions. Find more information about Compassionate Allowances on Allsup.com. An expert SSDI representative such as Allsup can help you provide enough information to clearly identify your claim for consideration under the Compassionate Allowances program, Stein said.
For those whose disabilities do not fall under the Compassionate Allowances program, there are benefits from having an SSDI expert assist with someones application for Social Security disability benefits. The SSA Office of Inspector General issued a report citing benefits from having an SSDI representative, including having help with developing medical evidence, and representatives expertise in identifying and documenting additional impairments that can factor into someones claim for Social Security disability benefits.
Filing for SSDI benefits can be a daunting task for those with disabilities because of the significant amount of information required. An SSDI advocate such as Allsup has developed a thorough knowledge of the program based on years of experience and success at helping claimants to receive their Social Security disability benefits, Stein added. You dont have to go through this experience alone.
For more information about fast-tracking a claim or eligibility for Social Security disability benefits, contact Allsups Disability Evaluation Center at (800) 678-3276.
ABOUT ALLSUP
Allsup is a nationwide provider of Social Security disability, Medicare and Medicare Secondary Payer compliance services for individuals, employers and insurance carriers. Founded in 1984, Allsup employs nearly 800 professionals who deliver specialized services supporting people with disabilities and seniors so they may lead lives that are as financially secure and as healthy as possible. The company is based in Belleville, Ill., near St. Louis. For more information, go to http://www.Allsup.com.
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