You may have heard that the approval process for Social Security Disability benefits is long and arduous. In some cases, though, you may be able to have the U.S. Social Security Administration fast-track its decision. Whether you may do so depends largely on the type of disability you have. The SSA maintains a database of conditions that may shorten the processing time of your SSDI claim, so finding out whether your disability appears on this list is critical.
According to AARP, the SSA’s Compassionate Allowances program keeps a list of about 242 conditions it considers severe enough to warrant fast-tracking your disability claim. If you find your condition on this list, you may get a response to your claim in a matter of days, rather than weeks or months.
What conditions may warrant expedited processing
You may be able to have the SSA process your SSDI claim faster if you have fast-moving cancer, such as acute leukemia or certain forms of adrenal, bladder, breast, gallbladder or esophageal cancers, among others. Certain rare genetic disorders or neurodegenerative diseases may also warrant a faster decision. Early-onset Alzheimer’s disease is another example of a condition that may help you receive approval for SSDI benefits faster than you might otherwise.
When to expect benefits after approval
Even if the SSA does fast-track its decision about whether to grant you SSDI, a waiting period exists before you start receiving them. All SSDI claimants must wait at least five months from the date their disability began before they may start receiving payments. So, it may benefit you to start the application process as soon as possible.