For most people who go through the Social Security disability process a final outcome for either a favorable or unfavorable decision can take the better part of two years. In some instances, cases where the normal wait time nationwide can be 22 months or longer, under the right circumstances cases can be expedited. Below is more information about those circumstances.
- The first situation where cases are expedited is when it is considered a TERI case. A TERI case involves an applicant who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and Social Security should streamline a case to get an applicant benefits as soon as possible.
- The second situation involves Compassionate Allowance (CAL) cases. These are cases Social Security is also supposed to move quickly on to approve applicants because these conditions are “so serious that their conditions obviously meet disability standards,” according to the Social Security Administration.
- A third situation involves injured veterans. Military personnel injured October 1, 2001 or later, regardless of how the disability occurred, provided the military member was on active duty, should also have their cases streamlined.
- Another condition related to medical evidence involves someone who has been identified as either suicidal or homicidal. These cases also have potential for expedited processing.
- Finally, unrelated to any medical condition is the possibility of expediting a claim due to Dire Financial Need. This possibility really only exists while a claimant is waiting the 12-15 months for a hearing. If an applicant lacks the basic necessities of life, food, shelter or medicine, Social Security is willing to consider moving up a claimant’s hearing date.
To learn what types of conditions Social Security considers for its CALexpedited processing click here to see a complete list of all compassionate allowance conditions.
