Social Security Administration Expediting Benefits Faster
The Social Security Administration is expanding its program to fast track disability claims. The fast tracking of certain severe and often times fatal diseases means that people who are diagnosed with one of more than 200 disease can be approved for disability without jumping through the standard hoops that millions of applicants must negotiate in order to receive benefits from Social Security. "Why for someone who is going to die within 15 months do we need 15 years of medical records?" Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue said in an interview. "If somebody's got a confirmed diagnosis of ALS, you know that in essence, it's not only a disability, it's a death sentence, and there is no use in burdening them with paperwork." The companionate allowances means that some applicants can be approved for disability within just a few days. Expediting these deserving applicants will help reduce the back the Social Security Administration is facing. The amount of applications for Social Security Disability has increased by 20 percent since 2008. The compassionate allowance system is designed to award benefits within 10 to 15 days. Since the Compassionate Allowances program was started, 200,000 people have received expedited benefits, Astrue said. For those who are not eligible for expedited processing but nonetheless are disabled the process can drag on for more than a year before the applicant can come before an administrative law judge. Many applicants turn to attorneys to help guide them through the system and to represent them at the hearing. You may contact the LaBovick Law Group to discuss your claim with a Social Security Disability Attorney. The consultation is free and there is no fee if you are denied Social Security Disability.
Brian F. LaBovick, Esq.
Esther Uria LaBovick, Esq.
Marcie Dodson, J.D.
Rafael M. Diaz, Esq.
Mark R. Hanson, Esq.
Joseph R. Fields Jr., Esq.
Tara L. Kopp, Esq.
Warren Q. Peebles, Esq.
Joseph T. Zebrowski, J.D.