| It is not uncommon for a person to wait many months | | | | The 50 illnesses range from cancers such as |
| or even years to get a final decision on their Social | | | | gallbladder and kidney cancer, to severe diseases |
| Security disability claim. Even when a claimant has a | | | | such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's |
| serious illness, the process is so convoluted that, up | | | | disease, aka ALS), Farber's disease and acute |
| until now, there has never been an easy, cut-and-dry | | | | leukemia. The Social Security administration (SSA) is |
| way for them to receive an approval and start | | | | hoping to expand this list in the future, adding more |
| receiving their benefits. | | | | medical conditions for immediate approval of social |
| The number of people waiting for a hearing is | | | | security disability benefits. As of now, the list is small |
| staggering. For instance, in Fort Wayne, IN alone there | | | | and the medical conditions covered are very rare. |
| are nearly 5,500 people waiting on a hearing. The | | | | It does seem that the SSA is working toward change |
| average number of days a Fort Wayne resident must | | | | and progress. In addition to the Compassionate |
| wait to receive a final decision is 600 days - almost 2 | | | | Allowances program, they also began the QDD, or |
| years. While waiting for a hearing many people are | | | | Quick Disability Determination program, in late 2007, |
| unable to afford healthcare, some lose their homes, | | | | which uses a predictive model to expedite social |
| and others have even passed away while waiting on | | | | security disability claims with clear medical evidence of |
| their approval. | | | | disability. The SSA has also been working toward |
| Fortunately, there is a new system in place for those | | | | clearing out all cases over 900 days old, allowing video |
| with rare and serious illnesses. The system, called | | | | hearings for those who cannot make it to the hearing |
| Compassionate Allowances, consists of a list of 50 | | | | site, and are changing from a paper filing system to |
| illnesses that are immediately approved for benefits. | | | | electronic files. |
| The waiting time for people with these rare diseases | | | | The current goal is to make the Compassionate |
| and serious forms of cancer has been dramatically cut | | | | Allowances list known to claimants, so they can take |
| from months or years to mere days and weeks. | | | | advantage of the new system. |