For Indiana residents who are disabled and need to apply for Social Security Disability benefits, they are commonly concerned about the wait time for a decision. It can be extensive especially if there is an appeal. Often, this is related to questions about the illness, injury or condition and the Social Security Administration (SSA) and its Disability Determination Services (DDS) must scrutinize the case to try to make a fair decision.
For some people; however, their condition is so dire that there is no doubt that they will be approved for benefits. The problem is that every day they wait for a decision is another day when they are trying desperately to make ends meet and get the treatment and care they need. This is where the fast-track process and its tenets come into play; they will need a decision as quickly as possible so that they can start to receive benefits.
Understanding Quick Disability Determinations and Compassionate Allowances
The SSA will use Quick Disability Determinations (QDD) and Compassionate Allowances (CAL) for cases in which there is little doubt about the outcome of the SSD application with the overwhelming likelihood that they will be approved. The above programs are the two ways that people can be fast-tracked to get their benefits.
With QDD, there is a computer model that the SSA uses to find cases where the person has a good chance of being approved because of clear medical evidence . For example, if a person is a quadriplegic, there is little chance that this will improve, nor can they perform substantial gainful activity (SGA).
This eliminates several steps to getting approved. When these cases are identified, this can not only help the applicant, but it helps the SSA as it reduces the amount of work that needs to be done to assess a case. This program has been in place for 14 years and is continually being analyzed and updated.
With CAL, people who have conditions or illnesses that immediately meet the standard for SSD benefits can get a faster decision. In general, these include brain issues in adults, rare forms of cancer and unusual conditions or illnesses in children. Like QDD, this reduces the wait time and will expedite the decision – faster than it would be made if the normal wait time was necessary – and get people their approval.
If the claim has a high chance of approval, QDD or CAL may be useful options
Many cases will need to go through the entire sequential process and might even be denied at some point, making it necessary for people to file an appeal. Still, for a person who is so severely disabled or has a loved one who is in this unfortunate circumstance, it is important to be aware of these alternatives to have the decision made far quicker than it normally would.
For this or any other Social Security Disability concern, it is useful to have caring and experienced guidance to navigate the case and try to achieve a good result.