IF I OWN MY OWN BUSINESS AND HAVE A DISABLING CONDITION THAT PREVENTS ME FROM TECHNICALLY "DOING WORK" WITHIN MY BUSINESS, AM I ELIGIBLE FOR RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BENEFITS?

Get disability help fast: SSA expands the Compassionate Allowance program

If you have a serious, debilitating medical condition and need help from the Social Security Administration’s disability program, the great news is that it is possible to “fast-track” your application. The bad news is that your specific disease or illness needs to be on the approved list of conditions. Have a serious disease that is not on the list? You’re out of luck.

To be fair, the Social Security Administration has been trying to make it easier for individuals suffering from medically debilitating conditions to get benefits as fast as possible. The compassionate allowance program originally rolled out in October 2008 and at the time the approved conditions included 25 unusual diseases and 25 types of cancer.

This month, the SSA added to this list of conditions, and the list jumped from 50 covered conditions to 88. The changes were the result of a long review process that began last summer and included a five month public comment period. Many individuals and advocacy groups lobbied for changes to the original list of 50, and there are some notable inclusions.

Want to know if you qualify for the compassionate allowances program?

Check the list of 50 original qualifying conditions on the SSA’s compassionate allowances program page
Also check the 38 new qualifying conditions list on the SSA website
If your disease or condition qualifies, you can apply for SSDI benefits through the compassionate allowances program
GET HELP with your application by hiring an experienced Social Security Disability attorney, like the lawyers at Markhoff & Mittman.

Probably the most highly-anticipated change was the inclusion of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease on the list of covered compassionate allowance conditions. This was an important update, as the disease affects upwards of 200,000 people under the age of 65 across the United States.

The goal of the compassionate allowances program is to quickly identify applicants suffering from serious diseases and medical conditions that clearly qualify for help from Social Security and the Supplemental Security Income disability programs.

Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue promised that the SSA would continue to review the list of covered conditions in the compassionate allowances program to ensure that Americans with serious and life-threatening disorders get much needed help as quickly as possible. The 38 new disorders will be officially included in the compassionate allowances program as of March 1, 2010.

Need help with your SSDI application?

Getting a quick decision from SSA on your disability claim or appeal can be tough. Even with special programs like quick-disability determination (QDD) and compassionate allowances (CAL), all the right applications must be filled out, and filled out correctly. You can greatly increase your chances of success by hiring a skilled disability claims lawyer to help you. In New York, you can contact the offices of Markhoff & Mittman today for the kind of experienced legal assistance that makes a difference.

Markhoff & Mittman, P.C.

14 Mamaroneck Avenue

Suite 400

White Plains, NY 10601

Toll Free: (866) 205-2415

Phone: (914) 946-1452

Fax: (914) 946-0810