BALTIMORE, Md. (WDNews) — The Social Security Administration has added 14 medical conditions to a program designed to speed up disability claims for people with serious illnesses and medical conditions.
According to the Social Security Administration, the conditions were added to its Compassionate Allowances, or CAL, list. The program helps identify applicants whose medical conditions meet Social Security’s standards for disability benefits and allows their claims to be processed faster.
The newly added conditions are:
– Adenylosuccinate Lyase Deficiency – Neonatal Form and Type 1
– Aicardi Syndrome
– Baraitser-Winter Syndrome
– Beare-Stevenson Cutis Gyrata Syndrome
– Bohring-Opitz Syndrome
– CASK-Related Gene Disorders
– Hepatosplenic T-Cell Lymphoma
– Lafora Disease
– Malignant Migrating Partial Seizures of Infancy (MMPSI)
– OPHN1 Syndrome
– Primary Cardiac Sarcoma
– Primary Intracranial Malignant Melanoma
– Uveal Melanoma – with Metastases
– Warburg Micro Syndrome
With the additions, the CAL list now includes 314 conditions. Social Security said more than 1.2 million people with severe disabilities have been approved through the accelerated process since the program began.
“Social Security is strengthening our disability programs and making the disability determination process better, faster, and higher-quality to serve the American public,” Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano said. “The Compassionate Allowances initiative cuts through red tape and allows us to deliver support to individuals who experience life-changing diagnoses and need help fast.”
According to the agency, Social Security must obtain medical records when reviewing disability applications. The agency uses technology to identify potential CAL conditions and speed up claims processing.
Social Security also uses its Health IT program to securely receive electronic medical records in some cases, allowing officials to make faster and more accurate decisions.
People can apply online for Social Security disability benefits and find additional information about the Compassionate Allowances program through the Social Security Administration.
