Some people may automatically qualify for disability benefits. Of course, that is dependent on the individual’s medical conditions and their restrictions and limitations.
You will need hard medical evidence to back up your claim, and you will also need proof of your diagnosis. Here is a closer look at how you may automatically qualify for disability benefits.
How To Automatically Qualify For Disability Benefits
To automatically qualify for disability benefits, you must have a confirmed diagnosis of a medical condition that is included in the Compassionate Allowances program.
A compassionate allowance claim is expedited, which means that the individual can most likely be approved for benefits within a matter of a few weeks rather than wait several months for approval.
Conditions on the Compassionate Allowances list are serious medical conditions that cause ongoing problems, or terminal illnesses that are expected to result in the claimant’s death.
The list is occasionally updated, and new conditions can be added to the list, so you should check to see if your condition is included.
What Disabling Conditions Automatically Qualify For Disability Benefits?
There are several conditions on the Compassionate Allowances list. Among those conditions approved for fast tracking are some advanced stages of cancer, organ transplants, Parkinson’s Disease, early onset Alzheimer’s disease, acute leukemia, aplastic anemia, several congenital conditions, being on a heart transplant wait list, Single Ventricle, Stiff Person Syndrome, and many different syndromes and rare medical conditions.
What If My Condition Doesn’t Automatically Qualify For Disability?
If you are unable to work because of a medical condition, but your condition is not on the Compassionate Allowances list, you can still be approved for disability benefits. Your claim may take a little longer to be approved. In general, it takes the average claim several months to make its way through the system and to be approved.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a medical guide, which is called the Blue Book, to determine eligibility. There are sections for different body systems, and in each section, you will find several medical conditions.
Each condition has specific criteria that must be met for a claim to be approved per that listing. That means you will need supporting medical documentation that verifies the severity of your condition and how it limits you. Some claims advance to the hearing level where an administrative law judge (ALJ) rules on the claim.
Claims not approved via Blue Book listing can be approved through a medical vocational allowance, in which your physician completes a residual functional capacity (RFC) that details the severity of your medical issues and explains what you can and cannot do.
Get Your Claim Underway
If a medical condition keeps you from working, you should get your disability claim underway. A disability attorney could be a real asset to your claim. Complete the Free Case Evaluation Form on this page to share your details with a disability lawyer who represents clients in your state.
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