For a variety of circumstances applicants may be able to receive expedited processing of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and bypass the potential wait time of up to two years that most disability applicants face if they continue to appeal medical denials on claims.
Unfortunately, most people who venture into the Social Security disability process are unaware that, for most successful applicants, it can take the better part of two years before they see any benefits. The main reason for this is the high medical denial rates during the early stages of this process and the huge amount of applicants Social Security is inadequately staffed to process. For example, most applicants are medically denied at initial stages of the process and eventually have to request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ). The wait time alone for these hearing requests is approximately 12-15 months nationwide because of the huge backlog at Social Security.
One of the classification categories of those who may avoid the long wait time and expedite the processing of claims are those who have been diagnosed as suicidal or homicidal. Evidence of such diagnosis can come from the claimant, treating physicians, family and friends, law enforcement or government officials, or even Social Security employees.
If it is determined that the claimant is a threat to either him or herself, or to others, Social Security will first contact the appropriate authorities to protect the claimant and others before beginning the expedited processing of the claim.
Definitions
Suicidal: Wanting to kill yourself; showing a desire to kill yourself; likely to cause great harm to yourself.
Homicidal: Likely to kill someone; of or relating to murder.
To learn more about how Social Security classifies these types of disabilities as it relates to the expedited processing of claims click here.
