If you have a disability of any kind, you may have, understandably, applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. However, your circumstances may require you to receive these benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) as soon as possible. Continue reading to learn whether you can get an expedited decision for your SSDI benefits and how an experienced attorney of SSDI eligibility in New Jersey, at The Law Offices of Sheryl Gandel Mazur, can help you attain this.
Under what circumstances might I get an expedited decision for SSDI benefits?
Notably, there are certain circumstances in which the SSA will expedite the processing of your SSDI benefits application. These circumstances are considered “critical cases.”
One critical case that the SSA recognizes is that of a terminal illness. The Terminal Illness Program (TERI) handles cases expected to result in death. Examples of conditions that qualify for the TERI program include the following:
- A dependent of a cardiopulmonary life-sustaining device.
- A candidate for a heart, lung, liver, or bone marrow transplant.
- An individual with chronic pulmonary failure or heart failure with home oxygen.
- An individual with metastatic, stage IV, persistent, inoperable, or unresectable cancer.
In addition to terminal illness, the SSA will expedite their decision for SSDI benefits if an individual has a compassionate allowance case. Meaning, an individual has a disease or condition that automatically meets the SSA’s standards for disability benefits. Examples of conditions that qualify for compassionate allowance include the following:
- An individual with acute leukemia.
- An individual with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
- An individual with a certain cancer type that is distant metastases or inoperable, unresectable, or recurrent.
- An individual with a certain lymphoma type.
- An individual with malignant tumors.
Without further ado, the following critical cases also qualify for expedited processing:
- An individual who is considered a “military service casualty case” from a severe injury that was incurred on or after October 1, 2001.
- An individual who is considered a “dire need case” and is unable to obtain food, shelter, or medicine on their own.
- An individual who shows indications that they are suicidal or homicidal.
What should I do if I require expedited processing from the SSA?
If you fall under any of the above categories of critical cases, and you believe that you require expedited processing of your application, then you must retain the services of a skilled New Jersey SSDI benefits attorney. We will help to notify the SSA about your critical case when you first apply for SSDI benefits. So, before it is too late, call to schedule your initial consultation with us.
