The majority of individuals who apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits see several months pass before their initial application is reviewed by the Disability Determination Services (DDS) office. The DDS is the agency responsible for reviewing and approving or denying SSDI claims under the guidelines of the Social Security Administration (SSA).
The national average of denials with SSDI claims is about 70 percent, meaning that most applicants must go through a second review and an appeal hearing before receiving a final determination on their eligibility for benefits. This entire process can sometimes take as long as two years.
People who suffer from terminal illnesses and very severe disabilities don’t have months or years to wait for a determination on SSDI benefits. For this reason, the SSA implemented the Compassionate Allowances (CAL) program in 2008, an initiative intended to expedite the claim review and approval process for specific types of disabilities – namely, those in which little argument can be made regarding the disabling nature of the condition.
There are currently 113 conditions active in the SSA’s CAL program and another 52 conditions which were recently approved for inclusion in that list and will become active in the CAL program as of August 13, 2012, including Alobar Holoprosencephaly.
If you’ve received a diagnosis of Alobar Holoprosencephaly, the following information will help you understand the SSA’s disability claims process for this diagnosis. It will also give you some guidelines for increasing your chances of being quickly approved for disability benefits under the CAL guidelines of the SSA.
Alobar Holoprosencephaly – Condition and Symptoms
Alobar Holoprosencephaly is a genetic brain disorder in which an embryo’s forebrain does not fully develop. Alobar Holoprosencephaly causes brain structure problems and cognitive function issues as a result. It can also result in facial deformities, commonly affecting the nose, eyes and upper lip. Other symptoms can include mental retardation and seizure disorders.
Alobar Holoprosencephaly patients can sometimes develop autonomic dysfunctions, endocrine disorders and other serious and life threatening conditions. The degree to which the forebrain is affected determines how likely patients are to have these additional symptoms and the severity of disability which results from them.
In the most severe cases, the condition is usually fatal. In more moderate to severe cases, some areas of the brain responsible for controlling a number of essential functions and thought processes may be missing, deformed or fused in ways which prevent proper functioning.
The exact causes of Alobar Holoprosencephaly are as yet undetermined, though toxicity exposure during fetal development is suspected to play a role in some cases. Genetics may also play a part in some cases, as there appears to be a familial inheritance factor in a small percentage of Alobar Holoprosencephaly cases. In the majority of cases however, there seems to be no discernible cause for the condition at all.
Treating Alobar Holoprosencephaly typically means treating the symptoms of the disorder. Individuals may need to be on anti-seizure medications and other drugs. They may also have accompanying disorders and diseases which must be treated as well.
Cognitive and behavioral therapy may additionally be required and many individuals with Alobar Holoprosencephaly also require skilled nursing or residential care, particularly if they suffer from severe mental retardation, athetoid movements or spastic quadriparesis.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Alobar Holoprosencephaly
A diagnosis of Alobar Holoprosencephaly can be a devastating blow. The diagnosis usually comes at a very young age, which means most individuals who will be filing for SSDI benefits will be doing so on behalf of their infant child. Some individuals with this condition can live fairly normal lives and only see the onset of seizure disorders or other symptoms around puberty, though this still means that many applicants are filing for dependent children.
The process of applying for SSDI on behalf of a child is different than it is for adults applying for benefits based on an inability to continue working. While the application process may vary somewhat, the necessary documentation for proving a disability is essentially the same.
Extensive medical records must be present in any application for SSDI in order for that claim to be approved. This is still true even when a condition falls under the CAL program. The diagnosis of Alobar Holoprosencephaly alone is not enough to substantiate disability. You must include all of your lab results and other medical records and statements from your various doctors in your claim as well.
Your Alobar Holoprosencephaly Social Security Disability Case
Although Alobar Holoprosencephaly was recently added to the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances list, this does not guarantee a claim will automatically be approved. You must still show substantial proof of disability in order to be approved for benefits. Hiring a disability attorney can make the claims process run more smoothly and can shorten the wait time for SSDI benefits as well.
To learn more about the Social Security Compassionate Allowance listings or to discover whether you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits with a diagnosis of Alobar Holoprosencephaly, request a free case evaluation today.
