A major health issue can strike at the most unexpected moments, possibly leaving you or a loved one in dire need of income assistance. You may even wonder how to get a Social Security Disability claim fast tracked.
If you or someone you know has recently been severely injured or diagnosed with a terminal illness and can no longer work, it is helpful to know that you have options with speeding up your Social Security Disability benefits claim. We are here to help walk you through the different programs and show you how to expedite a Social Security Disability so that you can strive for financial stability.
SSA Fast Track (FT) Procedures
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has implemented multiple programs to help you fast track your Social Security Disability claim so that you can get aid fast. The following list includes fast track programs (FT) identified by the SSA:
- Compassionate Allowance (CAL)
- Terminal Illness (TERI)
- Quick Disability Determination (QDD)
- Military Service Casualty Cases (MSCC)
- Presumptive Disability/Presumptive Blindness (PD/PB)
- Expedited Reinstatement (EXR)
Compassionate Allowances
The Compassionate Allowances List (CAL) is a way to quickly identify diseases and medical conditions that automatically meet the SSA standard for disability benefits.
If you are diagnosed with a serious illness, this program could potentially expedite your claim. This list includes certain cancers, adult brain disorders, and numerous rare disorders that impact individuals of all ages.
The complete and ever-growing list can be found on the SSA website under CAL Conditions. The SSA allows for individuals to submit other medical conditions and illnesses to be reviewed for possible addition to the list.
Terminal Illness
Illnesses that fall under the terminal illness category (TERI) are handled with special care to ensure that cases are quickly processed. Cases in the TERI category are most usually identified as “untreatable impairments.”
Claims are identified by specific illnesses, hospice care, stage IV cancer, and other characteristics. If you or someone you know feels their TERI case was wrongfully denied, contact us immediately. We will review your case and see if our qualified SSD attorneys can represent you to deliver needed aid.
Quick Disability Determination
The Quick Disability Determination (QDD) program utilizes technology to identify cases linked to specific medical conditions in their database. This speeds up the process and increases the accuracy of case decisions.
If placed in the QDD category, cases where the approval process would normally take months can be fast tracked to obtain a decision within a few days utilizing the new technology.
Military Service Casualty Cases
The SSA partnered with the Veterans Administration (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD) to prioritize cases involving U.S. veterans.
The categorization is veterans that have been wounded — physically or mentally — in a way that has or is expected to last at least one or more years and impacts the individual’s ability to work.
Military Service Casualty Cases (MSCC) work with the VA and DoD to quickly process claims and ensure that veterans’ claims are reviewed and approved in a timely fashion.
Presumptive Disability/Presumptive Blindness
Presumptive Disability (PD) or Presumptive Blindness (PB) is an older program where SSA officers identify the high probability that a claimant will be approved with a disability once all medical information is received.
This program allows the SSA to start submitting payments in advance of the official approval or onset of medical conditions.
Items that are evaluated under this list include but are not limited to: amputation of limbs, total deafness, total blindness, stroke with loss of limb movement, and terminal illness defined by a doctor. Claimants under this program must meet all non-medical requirements to be eligible.
Expedited Reinstatement
The Expedited Reinstatement (EXR) program was implemented to aid individuals who lose their benefits after successfully returning to work, but then stop working again due to disability — within 5 years of when the original benefits ended.
Through this program, the SSA may make temporary payments for up to six months while they review the case and come to a decision.
We Are On Your Side with Social Security Disability!
If you need assistance starting the process of fast tracking a disability claim, don’t worry! We are here to help lead you through the necessary steps to receive your payments faster.
Our team is qualified and knowledgeable about how to get your Social Security Disability claim fast tracked. Contact us today to get started.