John F. Sharpless Social Security Disability Law Blog on Lawyers.com

On October 27, 2008 the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Michael J. Astrue, announced the launch of an initiative designed to deliver Social Security disability benefits to those with severe medical conditions faster.  According to the Commissioner the "initiative will allow [the Administration] to make decisions on these cases in a matter of days, rather than months or years."  The list contains 25 rare diseases and 25 cancers.

I applaud the Administration's decision to try to get the benefits quickly to those that are clearly entitled to them.  People with these extremely severe and advanced medical conditions should not have to wait.  But is this an exercise in compassion?  Is this the "deep feeling of sharing the suffering of another in the inclination to give aid or support, or to show mercy"?  (American Heritage Dictionary, Houghton Mifflin 1979)  The Social Security Act mandates benefits awarded to those who are entitled to them.  Is the Administration showing compassion by delivering benefits to those who are entitled to them?  The unfortunate souls who have these conditions do not want sympathy or mercy, they want what they have paid for and for what they have coming to them.

That being said, I understand the limitations imposed on the Administration by a lack of funding and a large amount of claims to process.  If some claimants can have their claims processed with the speed and efficiency that they should, that's better than none.  More information about the Compassionate Allowance procedure can be found at  POMS Section DI 23022.000.

For other questions about Social Security Disability, please visit our website.