What Conditions Automatically Qualify for Disability in 2021?

You have probably heard that being approved for Social Security disability benefits can be challenging. Documentation is the key to a successful claim. There are a lot of medical conditions, however, that do qualify for expedited approval. Some conditions automatically qualify for disability benefits if you have a confirmed diagnosis. There are a few conditions that warrant such approvals.

What Conditions Automatically Qualify You For Disability?

The best way to tell which conditions automatically qualify you for disability is to consult the compassionate allowances list. This list has over 200 conditions so it is important to view it. If your condition is on the list, it is likely that your application process will be expedited.

Some conditions that automatically qualify you for disability include:

• Advanced stages of cancer
• ALS
• Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease
• Organ transplantation
• Parkinson's
• Serious heart conditions
• Spinal cord injuries 

A claim because of one of these conditions will get expedited attention, which means you might get a decision within a month of applying.

That is the fastest or as close to automatic as you can expect with a Social Security disability claim. There are a few conditions that are on the Listing of Impairments Manual used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that will qualify for disability benefits if you can prove through medical records their existence or occurrence. Those conditions include:

• Kidney transplant
• Liver transplant
• Cochlear transplant
• Lung transplant
• Heart transplant

For those five automatic disabilities, the SSA will review the case at the end of a year, or three years for a lung transplant, to determine if the claimant is still considered disabled per the SSA guidelines

What Does it Mean to Automatically Qualify for Disability Benefits?

When the SSA refers to conditions that automatically qualify for Social Security disability benefits it is referring to the list of conditions that qualify for the compassionate allowances program.

Compassionate allowances allow the SSA to quickly identify disabilities and other serious ailments that qualify to be approved for Social Security disability benefits.

Common conditions that automatically qualify for disability though a compassionate allowance are advanced-stage cancers, ALS, paralysis. Those are among 200+ conditions that automatically qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

If you have a condition that automatically qualifies for disability through a compassionate allowance is that it will help the SSA reduce the waiting to reach their determination whether you qualify for disability benefits.

Once your application is submitted and your paperwork and test results provided show that you has a qualifying disorder that qualifies for a compassionate allowance, your application will be proceed quicker than other applications with conditions that are not on the compassionate allowances list.

It also means that you can start receiving your payments a lot sooner. You could receive Compassionate Allowance benefits from a few weeks to 2 months after the application is received.

That is compared to the 6-12 month timeframe for normal disability benefits applications for conditions that don’t automatically qualify for benefits.

How Do I Prove That I Automatically Qualify for Disability Benefits?

Just because you have a condition that is on the compassionate allowances list, doesn’t mean that you will automatically qualify just because you are reporting to the SSA that your condition like Stage-IV breast cancer is on there.

You still need to provide all your medical documentation, diagnostics tests and doctor’s notes to show that your diagnosis does indeed meet the requirements of the compassionate allowance listing.

Providing supporting medical evidence to prove your diagnosis is the key to automatically qualifying for disability benefits.

The more medical evidence you have to show that your condition does match its listing in the compassionate allowance, the more likely you are to automatically qualify for disability benefits.

The Importance of Medical Records For Automatically Qualifying for Disability

Even for these conditions that get automatic approval for disability benefits, the proper medical records are needed. Without hard medical evidence, any claim will be denied.

You must provide Disability Determination Services will all your medical records to show evidence of your diagnosis along with the necessary supporting information.

If your physician left out important supporting details, your claim could be denied although your condition is classified as medically eligible for disability benefits. Your denial notice will explain why your claim was denied, and you can then appeal and provide the additional details needed to support your claim.

The Financial Standpoint for Automatically Qualifying for Disability

Even if you have a condition that will automatically qualify for disability benefits, the SSA will consider the financial situation. If you are working enough to exceed the limits for substantial gainful activity (SGA), your claim will be denied.

Often, claimants continue working part-time to cover some basic living expenses. If their income exceeds the SGA, their claim will be denied because the SSA believes the individual can continue working and earn a sufficient living.

Get Help In Order to Automatically Qualify for Disability

You may want to seek the help of a disability attorney if you are looking to file a claim for Social Security disability. A disability attorney can help you navigate the process of applying for disability benefits through a compassionate allowance in order to help you get your benefits as soon as possible.

Your disability attorney will be able to know what paperwork, tests and other medical evidence you will need in order to prove to the SSA that you will automatically qualify for Social Security disability benefits.

Additional Resources

• Are any disabilities pre-approved for Social Security?
• What Cancers Automatically Qualify for Disability Benefits?