Per a CBS Chicago report, allegations have surfaced of Social Security denying benefits to people who are dying. Is this really happening, and if so, how and why?
How Is the SSA Denying the Terminally Ill Disability Benefits?
The CBS Chicago article focuses on the story of a 49-year-old woman with terminal cancer who can no longer work and her battle for Social Security Disability benefits. Reportedly, despite the fact that the woman qualifies for disability benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is forcing her to jump through hoops to collect. According to the CBS Chicago story, she is not alone. Instead, she is one of thousands of terminally ill people being forced to wait to receive disability benefits they desperately need even though they qualify.
The SSA program processing the woman’s claim is known as Compassionate Allowance. It was set up to fast track the disability benefits applications of people diagnosed with one of the 225 illnesses on a special list. However, despite fast-tracking their applications, those who have their claims processed through Compassionate Allowance still must wait at minimum six months before they receive their first disability payment.
Making the terminally ill wait that long can mean that claimants die before ever receiving a disability payment. Recently, legislation was introduced, which would prevent this from happening by doing away with the waiting period. This would enable those on the Compassionate Allowance list to truly have their disability benefits fast-tracked.
For more information about Social Security Disability benefits, including why it is important to have an experienced disability attorney who understands medical records fighting for your rights throughout SSDI process, watch the video below and keep following our blog.
