Here is a list of the 100 conditions (as of 10/13/11) which Social Security now considers eligible for the Compassionate Allowance program which can result in a very fast approval. Recently added conditions are in bold. An up to date list is available here.

Acute Leukemia
Adrenal Cancer – with distant metastases or inoperable, unresectable or recurrent
Alexander Disease (ALX) – Neonatal and Infantile
Alstrom Syndrome
Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Anaplastic Adrenal Cancer – with distant metastases or inoperable, unresectable or recurrent
Aortic Atresia
Astrocytoma – Grade III and IV
Ataxia Telangiectasia

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Thirty-eight additional medical conditions have been added to Social Security’s list of conditions which qualify for fast-track Compassionate Allowances in Social Security disabilty claims.
The addition of these new conditions expands the scope of Compassionate Allowances to a broader subgroup of conditions like early-onset Alzheimer’s disease … The expansion we are announcing today means tens of thousands of Americans with devastating disabilities will now get approved for benefits in a matter of days rather than months and years.
Here are the 38 new Compassionate Allowance conditions:

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My earlier article suggested that the Compassionate Allowance program would be administered by your state’s Disability Determination Services (DDS) office.  

However, new information shows that the Compassionate Allowance program can be used at any stage of the administrative process. That would be any stage before the case goes to Federal Court, including the application, appeal, hearing, even at the Appeals Council. 

If a claimant is diagnosed with any of the 50 currently eligible conditions, ask to have …

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Social Security has launched a nation wide Compassionate Allowance (CAL) program.
Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, today announced the national rollout of the agency’s Compassionate Allowances initiative, a way to expedite the processing of disability claims for applicants whose medical conditions are so severe that their conditions obviously meet Social Security’s standards.

“Getting benefits quickly to people with the most severe medical conditions is both the right and the compassionate thing to do,” Commissioner Astrue said.  “This initiative will allow us to make decisions on these cases in a matter of days, rather than months or years.”
The Compassionate Allowance program allows expedited decisions for individuals at the initial decision level. Disability Determination Services, the state agency which initially review new Social Security applications, will consider individuals with any of the 50 conditions listed below.  Social Security plans on adding more diseases and conditions over time.

How to request a Compassionate Allowance:

Unfortunately, Social Security does not have instructions yet about HOW to request expedited processing if a case meets the requirements for a compassionate allowance.

If you have one of these conditions, but you have already been denied and are waiting on a hearing, try the following:

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