No matter what your disability, applying for Social Security benefits takes time. Even if you fill out your application completely and provide all necessary medical documentation and supporting information, the application process will still take three to six months or longer. If you have a serious illness, you may not have six months to wait for benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) understands. They allow applicants with certain serious medical conditions to receive expedited approval for Social Security disability benefits (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) through the Compassionate Allowance program.

The Compassionate Allowances program is only available to applicants who have a medical diagnosis listed on the SSA’s list of Compassionate Allowance conditions.  This list includes only medical conditions that are so serious that a diagnosis is enough to qualify an applicant for SSI or SSDI.  Some of the conditions that qualify for Compassionate Allowances include ALS, some types of muscular dystrophy, some cancers, early-onset Alzheimer's disease, liver failure, advanced kidney disease and many other conditions.

If you have one of the 200 medical conditions that have been designated a Compassionate Allowance, the SSA will approve you for disability benefits based only on your medical records. If your medical records show you meet the medical criteria on the Compassionate Allowance list, you will automatically be approved for benefits. Many applicants receive a decision within a few weeks of application. However, the decision cannot be made until your medical records are submitted. But, even partial records may be enough to fast track your application.

Do you have additional questions about SSI or SSDI in Nebraska? Browse our website or request a copy of our free brochure, Give Yourself the Best Chance of Winning Your Social Security Disability Case.  If you would like to discuss your own situation, contact Cuddigan Law at 402-933-5405 and ask to schedule a free evaluation with an Omaha disability benefits lawyer.

Sean D. Cuddigan
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SSA and VA Disability Attorney in Omaha, Nebraska