If your child has been diagnosed with a severely debilitating condition, the disability claim process may seem confusing and overwhelming. Many parents worry that it will take months, or even years, to obtain Social Security Disability benefits for their child. While it does in most cases take an exhaustive amount of time for a Social Security Disability applicant to obtain disability benefits from the Social Security Administration, some children may qualify for expedited disability claim processing under the SSA Compassionate Allowances initiative.
The Social Security Administration has recognized the fact that some disability applicants with severe or terminal conditions should not have to wait for Social Security Disability benefits to be awarded, and in 2008 the SSA implemented the Compassionate Allowances initiative to address this fact. Instead of waiting months or years for an approval of benefits, individuals who qualify for claim processing under the Compassionate Allowances guidelines can often get approved for disability benefits in just a few weeks.
There are 88 conditions that qualify a disability applicant for processing under the Compassionate Allowances listings, and Type A Niemann-Pick Disease and Type C Niemann-Pick Disease are among them. If your child has been diagnosed with Type A Niemann-Pick Disease, the following information will shed light on the Social Security Disability claim process and will provide insight as to how you can increase your chances of obtaining a quick approval of your child's disability benefits under the Compassionate Allowances guidelines.
Type A Niemann-Pick Disease (NPD) - Condition and Symptoms
Niemann-Pick Disease, also known as NPD, is a term used to designate a number of inherited disorders that are known as leukodystrophy. When an individual suffers from Niemann-Pick Disease, the body is unable to break down the lipids known as sphingomyelin. This is due to a genetic mutation that causes a lack of sphingomyelinase, which is an enzyme the body uses to break down sphingomyelin. This causes the fatty substance to build up in the organs of the body, such as the liver, lymph nodes, spleen and brain.
Type A Niemann-Pick disease develops in infancy. Symptoms usually appear by the time the child is six months old. While the severity of symptoms will vary from one patient to the next, common symptoms of the disorder include chronic vomiting, spleen enlargement, difficulty feeding, liver enlargement, problems with coordination and motor skills, jaundice, and a red spot in the retina of the eye. In severe cases, the condition may also lead to progressive liver failure.
If a doctor suspects that a child has inherited Type A Niemann-Pick Disease, he or she can run a blood test to check for ASM activity in the white cells of the blood. Parental screenings can also be conducted to test whether or not the child's parents are carriers of the condition. If a child's parents are carriers, prenatal screening, such as an amniocentesis, can be performed to test for the condition.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for Type A Niemann-Pick Disease, and treatment for the condition is focused on making patients as comfortable as possible. Most of the children who are born with Type A Niemann-Pick Disease will not survive beyond two years of age.
Filing for Social Security Disability with Type A Niemann-Pick Disease (NPD)
If your child has been diagnosed with Type A Niemann-Pick Disease, you may be wondering how you will be able to make ends meet while still meeting the needs of your child. It is not uncommon for a parent to stop full-time work activity in order to care for the child at home. While this can cause financial stress for many families, Social Security Disability benefits may be able to help.
When filing a Social Security Disability claim for a child with Type A Niemann-Pick Disease, make sure that you thoroughly answer all of the questions presented on the disability application forms. Be detailed in your answers and include complete copies of your child's medical records. Written statements from your child's treating physicians will also help support your child's disability claim.
Your Type A Niemann-Pick Disease (NPD) Social Security Disability Case
Many of the parents who file Social Security Disability claims for a child who has been diagnosed with a condition listed in the SSA's Compassionate Allowances listings assume that their child's disability application will be automatically approved by the Social Security Administration, but this is not necessarily the case. While it is not common, there have been instances where Compassionate Allowances claims have been denied during the initial stage of the application process. While these cases do receive priority attention in the case of an appeal, it is better to avoid the process altogether by obtaining an approval at the initial stage of application.
If you wish to increase your child's chances of being awarded benefits at the initial stage of the Social Security Disability application process, you should consider retaining the services of a specialized Social Security Disability attorney. These professionals can help you in the preparation of your child's disability claim and can ensure that your claim is processed according to the SSA's Compassionate Allowances guidelines.
To learn more about the Social Security Compassionate Allowance listings, or to find out whether your child may qualify for disability benefits due to a diagnosis of Type A Niemann-Pick Disease, fill out a request form for a free evaluation of your Social Security Disability case today.
