Social Security Fast-Track Approval Process Expanding
Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue recently announced the expansion of the list of conditions that qualify a benefit applicant for a fast-track application under either the Quick Disability Determination (QDD) or Compassionate Allowances program (CAL). The SSA created the QDD and CAL programs in 2008 to help get disability benefit payments to those who need them most. It is important for those who apply for Social Security disability benefits to be aware of the fast-track process to see if they qualify.
What Conditions Qualify?
The fast-track program initially began with a list of 50 conditions that are so debilitating that that they automatically qualify an applicant for benefits. Examples of some of the conditions that are on the fast-track list include:
- Early-onset Alzheimer's
- Heart transplant waiting list
- Endomyocardial Fibrosis
- Acute Leukemia
Because the conditions on the fast track list do not require the SSA to make an assessment of whether an applicant is able to work, the SSA can process the application in as little as two weeks. The fast-track process has proved successful: in 2010 alone the SSA reviewed over 100,000 applications using the fast-track method and SSA officials predict that they will process 150,000 using QDD and CAL in 2011.
Although the SSA designed the CAL and QDD programs to help those most in need of assistance, the fast-track process is no less complicated than the traditional application process for Social Security disability benefits. The application requires a great deal of information; it is easy for the unwary to make mistakes that will cause the SSA, with its strict criteria for determining eligibility for benefits, to reject an application.
An Attorney Can Help
For those with particularly serious conditions, an application rejection can be even more devastating than it is for the average applicant. If you or someone you love is applying for Social Security disability benefits, contact an experienced Social Security disability attorney. A knowledgeable Social Security lawyer can assess your case and advise you of your options.
