Social Security has added three new conditions to its Compassionate Allowance list, which are impairments the “clearly” meet Social Security’s standard for disability under the law.
These new conditions are:
- CACH – Vanishing White Matter Disease-Infantile and Childhood Onset forms;
- Congenital Myotonic Dystrophy;
- Kleefstra Syndrom.
According to Social Security, Compassionate Allowances are a way to quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that, by definition, meet Social Security’s standards for disability benefits. These conditions primarily include certain cancers, adult brain disorders, and a number of rare disorders that affect children. The CAL initiative helps us reduce waiting time to reach a disability determination for individuals with the most serious disabilities.
The Compassionate Allowances program identifies claims where the applicant’s disease or condition clearly meets Social Security’s statutory standard for disability. By incorporating cutting-edge technology, the agency can easily identify potential Compassionate Allowances to quickly make decisions. Social Security Administration (SSA) uses the same rules to evaluate CAL conditions when evaluating both Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and/or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. Below is a bit more about each of the new conditions added.
CACH: The prenatal/congenital form is characterized by severe encephalopathy. In the later onset forms initial motor and intellectual development is normal or mildly delayed followed by neurologic deterioration with a chronic progressive or subacute course. Chronic progressive decline can be exacerbated by rapid deterioration during febrile illnesses or following head trauma or major surgical procedures, or by acute psychological stresses such as extreme fright.
Congenital Myotonic Dystrophy: Usually in myotonic dystrophy the symptoms begin to show in childhood or later in
life, but symptoms of congenital myotonic dystrophy are evident from birth. It occurs only when the mother already has myotonic dystrophy (although she may not be aware of this) and she passes it on to the child in a more severe form. Often babies with congenital myotonic dystrophy have problems with breathing after delivery and may need to be helped, using a ventilator. Suction, to remove any secretions in the lungs may also be necessary. Respiratory problems may continue after the birth, and can be very severe and life threatening, especially if the baby is premature.
Kleefstra Syndrome: Kleefstra syndrome is a rare genetic condition in which a tiny piece is missing from near the end of one of the body’s 46 chromosomes. The condition can also be called 9q subtelomeric deletion syndrome. The missing piece includes a gene called EHMT1. Its absence is believed to cause the major symptoms of the syndrome.
For more information about all conditions that are listed as Compassionate Allowance impairments click here.
