What is SSA compassionate allowance and how can you get it?
Due to a complex rule tied to the Social Security Administration's Compassionate Allowances program, Michael Kraft had to undergo a five-month waiting period before receiving his first check.
At the time, his doctors estimated that he had two weeks to live. If he died before then, his family was guaranteed none of the Social Security funds.
Here's what you should know about the program.
More: Wisconsin family battles Social Security Administration to secure son's funds before he dies from cancer
If you have a serious disease or medical condition and think you qualify for disability benefits like Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income, you can ask to expedite your review through something called "compassionate allowance."
Compassionate Allowances are expedited reviews of an individual's qualification for disability benefits.
The system allows the Social Security Administration to rapidly evaluate applications for rare health conditions, cancers, adult brain disorders and childhood health disorders that fall under the agency's standard for disability if the diagnosis has been confirmed by a doctor.
The Social Security Administration has a running list of conditions, diseases and illnesses that are eligible for expedited disability benefits. In order to be eligible, the disability must significantly limit a person's ability to work for at least one year.
Currently, over 280 conditions are listed as Compassionate Allowances conditions, including acute leukemia, multiple sclerosis, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, ALS, early onset Alzheimer's disease, pulmonary atresia and mitochondrial disease.
If you believe your condition should be added to the list, you can submit the name of a condition for consideration on the Social Security Administration website. The website will ask for information about how the condition is diagnosed, coded, and treated, among other things.
You can apply to the compassionate allowances program on the Social Security Administration website, at your local Social Security office or by calling the agency at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 if you have difficulty hearing.
You could be eligible if you have a disability that falls under the agency's requirements and if you have a substantial work history.
In order to get Social Security Disability Insurance, you must have worked in a job that made regular Social Security contributions, meaning that you were paying a 6.2% tax into the Social Security fund.
More: Wisconsin family battles Social Security Administration to secure son's funds before he dies from cancer
Applications for Compassionate Allowance are automatically processed with computer screening technology that helps to quickly identify cases with "high probability of allowance," according to the Social Security Administration.
Individuals whose disease or condition is on the agency's approved condition list could hear back within several weeks.
Since the process requires the evaluation of medical records, depending on the complexity of the case, some reviews could take up to four months.
After being approved for the Compassionate Allowances program, you are required to wait five months from the date the agency finds that your disability began before receiving your first payment.
Your benefit payments will begin in the sixth month after the date that the agency finds that your disability began.
There are no exceptions to the waiting rule, unless you have ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and you are approved for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. According to the Social Security Administration, no other disabilities are granted immediate payment.
If you have disability that affects your ability to work for over a year or will result in death, disability benefits could range from $1,620 to $2,700 per month, according to the Social Security Administration.
Supplemental Security Income provides monthly payments up to $967 for people with limited income.
Some people are eligible for both Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance.
You can appeal the denial of a claim for Social Security benefits within 60 days of receiving a determination notice.
There are four levels of appeal, including reconsideration, hearing from an administrative law judge, review by an appeals council or federal court review.
Tamia Fowlkes is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at tfowlkes@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What is SSA compassionate allowance and how can you get it?
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
5 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Tips for navigating senior care in Mass.
1. Aging at home Most seniors want to remain in their homes as long as possible, said Michelle Woodbrey, cofounder of 2Sisters Senior Living Advisors, which helps families select care options. Village networks like Adult Foster Care services are for people who would like to continue living in their homes with support and can be connected through the Advertisement Then there's private in-home care, which often comes with a steep price. 'Private pay home care averages about $40 an hour in this area, with minimum shifts of three or four hours,' Woodbrey said. 'It adds up quickly, and not everyone qualifies for affordable alternatives.' Advertisement State-funded options such as the There are 24 ASAPs across Massachusetts, contracted by the Executive Office of Aging & Independence, that offer services for adults 60+ and their caregivers — from care planning and food assistance to help with housing, health, and transportation. 'People can get by with scheduled care for a while,' said Woodbrey. 'But once their needs increase, home might no longer be an option, especially if they can't pay for round-the-clock support.' Dr. Bill Thomas, a Harvard-trained geriatrician, suggested some nontraditional paths that are growing in popularity, like senior home sharing, where an older adult with extra space in their home provides housing to a compatible individual in exchange for discounted rent, companionship, or help with household tasks. In Massachusetts, Advertisement 'It's a great idea, underutilized, radically inexpensive and can do so much to improve and extend the independence of older people in their own homes,' he said. Dr. Rachel Broudy, faculty at Ariadne Labs, which is affiliated with Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, advised that home sharing can be complicated and to 'consider it with caution.' She recommends the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly, known as 2. Assisted living and memory care. Assisted living is best for those who need help with daily tasks but not full medical care. Assisted living homes' median monthly rents range from $3,655 to $8,036, according to the Massachusetts' Two affordable and innovative models experts recommended are And Advertisement 3. Rest homes A more affordable and less intensive option than nursing homes, rest homes are in limited supply across Massachusetts. 'Many of them can accept MassHealth and are more affordable when paying private,' said Woodbrey. 'There is less space and privacy, but they are usually better than a nursing home if someone doesn't yet need that skilled nursing level of care.' There are 76 rest homes licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. These provide room and board, medication management, and some medical oversight in a community setting. Costs average around $100 per day, and residents may qualify for MassHealth, Supplemental Security Income, or Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children to help cover expenses. 4. Skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes Many seniors are terrified of nursing homes, equating them with a total loss of independence. The good news is that experts only recommend them in rare and specific cases, and many in Massachusetts are rethinking the nursing home model of care. Broudy said the best nursing homes rely on peer support and shared responsibilities, where longtime staff take on flexible roles and the environment feels more like a home among friends. Advertisement The Green House Model, co-developed by Thomas, the Harvard-trained geriatrician, emphasizes small, home-like settings for about 10-12 seniors. Several facilities in Massachusetts, such as Continuum Care Retirement Communities have a range of independent, assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory care to allow residents to transition through levels of care without relocating. CCRCs require an entrance fee as well as monthly payments. The entrance fee is almost entirely refundable when a person moves or dies. Some must undergo a financial review to be able to afford long-term care. Experts highlighted in Dedham shares a 162-acre campus with the Rashi School, where residents mentor students from kindergarten through eighth grade. 5. Additional resources For more guidance, families can review the state's aging resources at for a fee, or the state's Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone ( Sarah Rahal can be reached at
USA Today
20 hours ago
- USA Today
Social Security Administration adds 13 more conditions to expedited benefits list
The Social Security Administration has added 13 new diseases and conditions to its list of disabilities, which earn those suffering serious medical issues a faster benefits application process. Those applying for Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income who have conditions on the Compassionate Allowances list, or CAL, have their applications processed more quickly, the agency says. Since the program started in 2008, more than 1.1 million people with severe disabilities have been approved via the expedited process, the SSA said in a news release dated Aug. 11. 'We are constantly looking for ways to improve our disability programs and serve the public more effectively,' said SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano in the news release. "This is part of our broader commitment to making the disability determination process as responsive and compassionate as possible.' Social Security: 2026 COLA estimated at 2.7%. Why seniors still fall behind. Social Security Administration's list of conditions for expedited benefits applications The addition of the 13 conditions brings the Compassionate Allowances list to 300 serious diseases and conditions that warrant an expedited benefits process. Here are the new conditions added: "By adding these 13 conditions to the Compassionate Allowances list, we are helping more people with devastating diagnoses to quickly receive the support they need," Bisignano said. Who can apply for Social Security disability benefits? People who have been unable to work for a year (12 consecutive months) or more because of a disability can apply for Social Security Disability Insurance, the SSA says. Those whose disabilities are on the Compassionate Allowances list, will have their applications processed more quickly. Typically, SSDI applicants have a 5-month waiting period before payments begin in the sixth month after the agency approved an applicant's disability. Supplemental Security Income provides benefits for those with limited income or resources, those aged 65 or older and those who are blind or have a qualifying disability. Children with a qualifying disability can also get SSI, according to the agency's website. Applicants typically wait six to eight months for an initial decision after submitting their application, federal officials says. During the process of determining whether to approve benefits, the SSA must get applicants' medical records. In the case of CAL applicants, the agency will attempt to use technological means including electronic medical records to more quickly process the claim. "The CAL initiative acts as a fast-track to those benefits for individuals who need them most," reported financial news site Investopedia. Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X, and email him at mikegsnider & @ & @mikesnider & msnider@ What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day
USA Today
a day ago
- USA Today
Ready to enroll in Medicare? Here's why you may want to wait on Social Security.
Sitting tight a little longer could work to your benefit. Many Americans get health insurance through their employers. So when they retire, they're forced to find another solution. And for a lot of older Americans, that solution is Medicare. Medicare eligibility typically begins at 65. You can actually enroll a few months ahead of your 65th birthday to ensure that you have coverage in place at that point. You may be aware that if you're old enough to get Medicare, it means you're also old enough to sign up for Social Security. But here's why you may want to wait on Social Security if you're signing up for Medicare at 65. You don't want to slash your monthly benefits Many people end up kicking off retirement with limited savings. If that's you, you may end up pretty reliant on Social Security to cover your expenses. And even if you have decent savings, your money could run out. So it's important to try to get as much Social Security as you can. To that end, you may not want to claim Social Security at 65 if you're signing up for Medicare at that point. If you were born in 1960 or later, your full retirement age for Social Security purposes is 67. Claiming benefits ahead of full retirement age will reduce them permanently, leaving you with less retirement income for life. The earliest you can file for Social Security is at age 62. In that case, you're looking at about a 30% reduction in your monthly checks compared to waiting until full retirement age. If you file for Social Security at 65 in conjunction with your Medicare enrollment, you're looking at a smaller reduction -- about 13.34%. But remember, that's a reduction you'll face every single month you collect Social Security. So you may be better off enrolling in Medicare at 65 but waiting at least a bit longer before filing for Social Security. You don't need Social Security to get Medicare One big misconception about Medicare is that you have to be enrolled in Social Security to get that health coverage. If you're getting Social Security, you'll have your monthly premiums for Medicare Part B paid directly out of your benefits. But that doesn't mean you must be on Social Security to get Medicare. If you're not collecting monthly benefits, all it means is that you'll have to pay your Medicare premiums another way. And you can set up automatic payments so you don't have to think about them. You may even want to claim Social Security past full retirement age Not only might 65 be premature to claim Social Security, but you should also know that delaying your filing beyond full retirement age could result in a huge reward. For each year you hold off on Social Security past that point, up until age 70, your benefits get an 8% boost. That boost is a permanent one. And the extra money could do you a world of good once you're no longer actively earning an income. All told, it's important to understand how Medicare and Social Security work together before signing up for either. But you should know that being on Social Security is not a requirement for Medicare enrollment. And if you're signing up for Medicare at 65, waiting on Social Security could mean setting yourself up for less financial stress throughout your retirement. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook Offer from the Motley Fool: If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets"could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. One easy trick could pay you as much as $23,760 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. JoinStock Advisorto learn more about these strategies. View the "Social Security secrets" »
