The average wait time for an initial application for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits to be reviewed is three to four months. In some areas, it can take significantly longer. To complicate matters further for those in need of disability benefits as soon as possible, the Social Security Administration (SSA) denies about 70 percent of the initial claims reviewed each year.
When an application is initially denied, a second review is required. If the application is denied a second time, which is not uncommon, an appeal must be filed. The process, from initial application to appeal hearing, can take a year or longer, with some applicants waiting as much as two years for a final determination on their eligibility for benefits.
As severely disabling conditions and terminal illnesses mean applicants don’t have years or even months to wait for SSD benefits, the SSA developed an alternative and expedited review and approval process for certain medical conditions. The program which governs claims containing one of these “pre-approved” diagnoses is the Compassionate Allowances (CAL) program.
Currently, there are 113 conditions on the CAL list. Fifty-two additional conditions have been approved and will be added to the CAL list on August 13, 2012, including Perinatal Hypophosphataisa, which is the lethal form of the condition.
If you’ve received a diagnosis of Perinatal Hypophosphataisa, the information that follows may help you understand how the SSA reviews disability claims for the specific condition. It will also provide you some guidelines for seeing a quick and smooth approval of disability benefits under the CAL guidelines of the SSA.
Hypophosphataisa Perinatal – Condition and Symptoms
Hypophosphataisa Perinatal is a rare and lethal genetic condition which affects infants. It is a metabolic bone disease which causes the bones of infants to break down and the respiratory system to fail. The first symptoms of the disease appear in the first 6 months after birth and present as a failure to thrive, with poor feeding abilities and a lack of sufficient weight gain. The bones begin to de-mineralize and rickets usually develops quickly.
The disease rapidly progresses and can lead to bone fractures, particularly in the ribcage, and other symptoms, including vomiting, kidney issues and chronic respiratory infections. Only about half of those with the condition survive beyond the age of one, but the disease is always fatal because there is no way to reverse or stop its effects.
Diagnosis can require extensive diagnostic tests in the early stages; however, if several symptoms are already present and can be observed, diagnosis can be made based on the presence of the symptom cluster, allowing physicians to forego other exams and begin treating the infant more quickly for the condition.
Because symptoms can be extensive and there is no single treatment for the disorder, the management of symptoms and keeping the infant as comfortable as possible is the focus of treatment. Complex care is always necessary for Perinatal Hypophosphataisa. The SSA realizes this, which is why the disease has been approved for expedited claims processing under the provisions of the Compassionate Allowances program.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Hypophosphataisa Perinatal
Because Hypophosphataisa Perinatal usually develops in infancy, SSD claims filed with this diagnosis will be submitted by parents seeking benefits for their children. The process for applying for SSD on behalf of a child is somewhat different than it is for disabled adults. Although the application process varies somewhat, the documentation required for proving a disability is basically the same in any SSD claim.
Thorough medical records must be presented in any SSD benefits application, even when the claim is filed for a condition which falls under the CAL program. In other words, a diagnosis of Perinatal Hypophosphataisa does not eliminate the need for medical records. In fact, your application should contain all available medical records. This includes all the examination notes, test details and lab results. There should also be statements from all of the physicians who have treated your child for this condition as well.
Your Hypophosphataisa Perinatal Social Security Disability Case
Although Hypophosphataisa Perinatal is now among the conditions with expedited review procedures under the Compassionate Allowances program of the SSA, filing a claim with the diagnosis doesn’t guarantee approval for disability benefits. You must still substantiate the disability by having a well documented case file and application.
When your child has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, the last thing on your mind is collecting the information necessary for completing an SSD application, but you likely need the financial assistance disability benefits can provide in order to ensure your child can receive the care necessary. A Social Security Disability attorney can assist you in putting together your application and getting the appropriate documentation.
