On March 11, 2011, the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) hosted the agency’s seventh public hearing on Compassionate Allowances. The subject of the hearings was autoimmune diseases and the possible methods of identifying and implementing Compassionate Allowances for adults and children with autoimmune diseases. Over 20 million Americans suffer from autoimmune conditions, which particularly affect women and children.

SSA implemented Compassionate Allowances in October 2008 to expedite the processing of disability claims for applicants with medical conditions so severe that their conditions by definition meet Social Security’s standards. Currently, 88 specific diseases and conditions qualify as a Compassionate Allowance. In 2010, the Compassionate Allowances initiative, along with SSA’s Quick Disability Determination process, enabled the agency to approve over 100,000 disability applications, and SSA expects to increase the number of fast-tracked cases to about 150,000. Commissioner Michael J. Astrue plans to expand the list of Compassionate Allowance conditions later this year to approximately 100 conditions.

Each year, many Americans find themselves disabled and unable to engage in gainful employment. You may be able to obtain disability benefits depending on the nature of the injury. Contact the attorneys at Patel & Williams for a free consultation.