The Social Security Administration has a compassionate allowance for people with any of 50 different diseases.  These fatal diseases have been recognized by the Administration to be of such a nature that when diagnosed.  Special consideration should be given to the patient.  Medical coverage under Medicare, without having to be 65 years old or having to comply with the mandatory two year wait.  After becoming eligible for Social Security disability insurance has been allowed since October 2008.  Recently, Michael J.Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced that the agency is adding 38 more conditions to its list of Compassionate Allowances.  This is the first expansion since the original list of 50 conditions ( 25 rare diseases and cancers) was announced in October 2008.

 The new conditions range from adult brain disorders to rare diseases that primarily affect children.  Commissioner Astrue said, ´The extension we are announcing today tens of thousands of Americans with devastating disabilities will now get approved for benefits in a matter of days rather than months and years.”  Compassionate allowances are a way of quickly identifying diseases and other medical conditions that clearly qualify for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability benefits.  It allows the agency to electronically target and make speedy decisions of the most obviously disabled individuals according to the Social Security news release.

This program is being hailed as “truly innovative” by Peter L. Saltonstall, President and CEO of the National Organization for Rare Disorders ( NORD).  For example, people with early onset Alzheimer’s are immediately eligible for Medicare now.  Previously, legislation to provide for early onset Alzheimer’s was defeated in Congress.  Now , some patients as young as 50 are eligible for immediate Medicare coverage house of March 1, 2010.

Legal representatives who were present claimants were denied benefits are delighted with this new program.  The general feeling is that these patients have already paid into the Social Security system.  And now they can have the resources that they need to get medical.  This expansion will speed benefits to thousands of Americans with disabilities.  Attached to this article on the list of the 38 new “Conditions”.

This is a good thing that the administration had done recently.