By Kristen Alberino, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist, Quincy, Mass.
In 2015, more than a million people will be diagnosed with cancer. This alarming statistic affects people and families all over the world. On June 7, 2015, we observe National Cancer Survivors Day in the United States. In support of this day, Social Security encourages checkups, early detection, and awareness, while honoring the survivors who have gone through this battle and defeated the disease.
Social Security stands strong in our support of the fight against cancer. We offer services to patients suffering from this disease through our disability program and our Compassionate Allowances program. Compassionate Allowances are cases with medical conditions so severe they obviously meet Social Security’s disability standards, allowing us to quickly process the cases with minimal medical information.
There is no special application or form you need to submit for Compassionate Allowances. Simply apply for disability benefits using the standard Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) application. Once we identify you as having a Compassionate Allowances condition, we’ll expedite your disability application.
Social Security establishes Compassionate Allowances conditions using information received at public outreach hearings, from the Social Security and disability Determination services communities, from medical and scientific experts, and based on our research. For more information about Compassionate Allowances, or to view the conditions currently listed, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.
If you think you qualify for disability benefits based on a Compassionate Allowances condition, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov to apply for benefits.
