Q & A
Is there a way to speed up the disability application and approval process?
Complete Question: I’m only 25, but I’m writing on behalf of my mom. She’s only 50. She’s been having difficulty at work and lost her job. After frequent visits to the doctor and watching her mental capacity decline, it was determined that she has Early Onset Alzheimers. The doctor said this, of course, normally affects the elderly, but that’s why it’s called “Early Onset”. I saw one of your columns and saw that you mentioned Social Security’s Listing of Impairments. I went there, but can’t find Alzheimer’s. I can’t see how that’s possible, but you also said that doesn’t disqualify her, it will just mean that the application process will take longer. I can’t help but feel very frustrated. Obviously she can’t work. She’s gotten worse since she lost her job, and with a disease like this, she’s not going to get any better or find a job she can do. Is there any way to explain this to Social Security and get them to speed along the process?
Answer: Actually, yes. In fact, there are some illnesses that are on a separate list that the Social Security Administration have deemed as so severe, that they deserve speedy processing. For the exact reasons you described, Early Onset Alzheimer’s is on this list. For other readers who need to look up an illness, this is called “Compassionate Allowances” and the list can be found at http://www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/conditions.htm. Due to the nature of this list, it is MUCH shorter than the listing of impairments. If your illness is on the list, simply click on it and you will be directed to a page providing a description of the illness, as well as required testing and documentation.
If your mom would like to apply for a CAL (compassionate allowance) condition, or you would like to apply for her, you would apply just like you would for any other disability claim. The major difference is that instead of taking months for the application to be processed and approved, a CAL condition can be approved as quickly as a few weeks. Variations in processing time generally depend on the need and availability for documentation. For example, if you provide all the documentation necessary proving her condition and inability to work, her application will be processed much more quickly than if Social Security has to obtain this documentation and/or conduct a quality assurance review.