Kilolo Kijakazi, acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA), announced 12 new Compassionate Allowances conditions.
The Compassionate Allowances program quickly identifies claims where the applicant’s condition or disease clearly meets SSA’s statutory standard for disability. Due to the severe nature of many of these conditions, these claims are often allowed based on medical confirmation of the diagnosis alone. To date, more than 800,000 people with severe disabilities have been approved through this accelerated, policy-compliant disability process, which has grown to include 266 conditions.
“The SSA is committed to reducing barriers and ensuring people who are eligible for benefits receive them,” said Kijakazi. “Our Compassionate Allowances program allows us to strengthen that commitment by accelerating the disability application process for people with the most severe disabilities.”
When a person applies for disability benefits, SSA must obtain medical records to make an accurate determination. The agency incorporates leading technology to identify potential Compassionate Allowances cases and make quick decisions. SSA’s Health IT brings the speed and efficiency of electronic medical records to the disability determination process. With electronic records transmission, SSA can obtain a claimant’s medical information, review it and make a fast determination.
For more information about the program, including a list of all Compassionate Allowances conditions, please visit socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.
Social Security Administration
