Social Security is adding some new conditions to its compassionate allowance list of conditions that are supposed to result in having disability claims approved quickly. I think the least uncommon one on the adult list would be "Adult Heart Transplant Wait List – Status Levels 1-4." Here's a description of what those status levels mean:
- 1 - 3: Most often hospitalized in ICU to support their heart.
- 4: This group is often at home but may need IV medications or VAD [Ventricular Assistive Device] to support their heart.
- 6: This group includes all others who are stable enough to remain home while they wait for a heart.
I think anyone in status level 1-4 would easily meet a Listing anyway so I can't say this means much.
Also, I've had clients who were on a heart transplant list and I don't recall any mention of a Status Level in their medical records.
By adding this to the Compassionate Allowance List those cases will be a priority and could be allowed within a couple of weeks instead of waiting in the regular backlog which is many months in most states. So this will make a difference for those with conditions on the list.
ReplyDeleteYeah only difference it makes is the speed of review. Anyone on the transplant list would meet a cardiac listing. Though I have seen State Agency med experts miss cardiac listings. (not this obvious though)
ReplyDeleteYeah, the point isn't that the situation would meet the listings - when the case got picked up, reviewed and analyzed - but that "on it's face" it's likely to be an allowance and to move it along quickly.
ReplyDeleteVirtually all of the Compassionate Allowance cases would either meet a listing or ultimately be found disabled. The entire idea of the list is to look like they care and, in some cases, expedite processing and clear out some obvious cases without a great deal of development.
ReplyDeleteAll this could be done just as easily if the representative at Social Security would look at the case seriously and recommend expedited processing of obviously meritorious cases. But, sadly, no one has the time at the DO to do this anymore.
The same was once true at the Hearing Office where a screener would at least glance at cases where the person was over 55 and push for an OTR. Again, no time and no staff to do that. And you can't call and tell someone to look as we once did. Conn, the gift that keeps on giving.