Social Security expands fast-track list for severe disability claims

WASHINGTON, DC — The Social Security Administration has expanded its list of medical conditions that qualify for expedited disability benefits, adding nine new conditions and revising two existing ones.

Commissioner Martin O'Malley announced that the agency's Compassionate Allowances program now includes 287 conditions that automatically qualify applicants for disability benefits based on a confirmed diagnosis.

The newly added conditions include Bainbridge-Ropers Syndrome, Costello Syndrome, and Renal Medullary Carcinoma. The list also now covers adults on heart transplant wait lists at status levels 1-4, expanding on an existing provision for children awaiting heart transplants.

"I am steadfastly committed to reducing the amount of time people wait to receive a decision on their disability claim, and we are making progress," O'Malley said in a statement.

The Compassionate Allowances program, launched in 2008, aims to quickly identify claims where an applicant's condition clearly meets the statutory standard for disability. This fast-track process has approved benefits for over one million people with severe disabilities to date.

The Social Security Administration uses advanced technology to identify potential Compassionate Allowances cases and expedite decisions. The agency also employs electronic health records to speed up the review of medical information.

Disability advocates have long pushed for faster processing of claims, as traditional applications can take months or even years to be approved. The expansion of the Compassionate Allowances list is seen as a step toward addressing these concerns.

Individuals can apply for disability benefits online through the Social Security Administration's website. The agency encourages applicants to provide as much medical documentation as possible to support their claims.