How the SSDI application, Compassionate Allowance and appeal fit together

People with disabilities that interfere with work may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability Benefits from the federal government, and some with certain, severe health conditions may receive Compassionate Allowances, which shorten the application process. Some of the qualifying diseases for Compassionate Allowance include early onset Alzheimer's disease and esophageal cancer.

How does Social Security Disability help me?

Social Security Disability will pay benefits to a person who is no longer able to work because of health condition as well as some members of the person's family as long as the disabled person qualifies under the program. To qualify, the person must have worked for a specified period of time and the disabled individual must have paid Social Security taxes.

People that can receive benefits include the disabled person's spouse, whether former or current, minor children or adult children that were disabled before reaching the age of 22.

Disabled individuals must apply for Social Security Disability and, as mentioned, it may take time to for the Administration to decide whether or not the applicant qualifies. The Social Security Administration bases its decision on whether or not the person can work. The person seeking benefits must fit under the Administration's definition of disability which asks three main questions:

• Can the applicant do the same work that he/she did before?
• Does the applicant's medical condition prevent adjustment to another type of work?
• Has the disability lasted, or is it expected to last, for at least one year or is it expected to result in death?

The Administration takes the definition of disability seriously and the applicant must strictly fit the definition. There is a list of disabling conditions, but a person's condition does not have to be on the list for the Administration to determine that the person is disabled.

What if the Social Security Administration said I was not disabled?

Sometimes, an applicant will be denied Social Security Disability benefits because the Administration finds that the applicant does not meet the definition of disability. When this happens, there is an appeal process and the denied person may submit more materials regarding their disability. The Administration needs information regarding the disability, how it prevents the person from working, and why the disability prevents the person from finding other appropriate employment.

It is important to have strong representation, especially when appealing a Social Security Disability insurance rejection. The applicant may have to attend a hearing to present their case. An attorney can help people applying for Social Security Disability, appealing the amount of Social Security Disability awarded or appealing a denial of Social Security Disability.