A few years ago, I was in a pretty serious car accident. During the aftermath, I became really familiar with a lot of different types of lawyers. I worked with personal injury lawyers, insurance lawyers, and many others. Perhaps the most important, though, was the estate planning lawyer. I was really young, and neither my wife or I had thought about starting a will. But the accident kind of scared us into it. What would happen if one of us were to die? Even when still in the hospital, I was working with the lawyer to draw up a will. Now, I have some peace and security about what the future will be like if something should happen to me. And I have a lot of experience working with various types of lawyers! The accident was kind of a blessing in disguise in that way.
When a worker falls victim to certain medical disorders, they may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Unfortunately, applicants must be prepared to wait for many months to find out if their cases are approved or denied. Some serious categories of illnesses have been identified by the Social Security Administration (SSA) as being eligible for a quicker approval process. Read on to find out more about the three SSA programs that might allow your loved one to gain Social Security benefits faster than usual.
Terminal Illnesses (TERI)
There is a grouping of terminal medical conditions that could mean the victim is eligible for quicker SSDI benefits. Since SSDI benefits are tied to Medicare and Medicaid benefits, inclusion in the terminal illness list means that the applicant qualifies not only for financial help but also for medical care and hospice service. It's important to know that while this program has the word terminal in it, the correspondence from the SSA and the personal interactions with the SSA will never refer to this program using the word "terminal" due to the sensitive nature of the term.
Compassionate Allowance
If the medical condition is found to be serious and permanent, your loved one might qualify for the Compassionate Allowance program. There are several conditions on the list, and if your loved one's illness is listed, they are able to apply for benefits without having to supply as much medical proof of the illness. For example, normally, applicants must supply large volumes of medical records, diagnostic test results, doctor's notes, and more. While those who qualify using the compassionate allowance program still have to have proof, it is far less time consuming, and the processing of the case goes far quicker than usual.
Quick Disability Determination (QDD)
As you might imagine, the SSA has an enormous database of applicants, their conditions, and their rates of approval. The data suggests that applicants who present with certain medical disorders have a higher rate of being approved for benefits. While the applicant may be unaware that they qualify for inclusion using the quick disability determination (QDD) program, the approval can take place in a matter of weeks instead of months if they qualify.
What Else to Know About Accelerated Approvals
None of the above programs allow applicants to gain benefits without proof. Applicants must see their doctors and be ready to show medical records verifying their illness. Applicants must also qualify using their work history. No matter what type of illness they have, if they have not worked enough or earned enough work credits, no approval will be forthcoming.
If your loved one has been unsuccessful in gaining benefits, speak to a Social Security disability attorney about helping them get the benefits they need with an appeal hearing.
Share30 November 2018
