Social Security Disability in the U.S. and Antiphospholipid Syndrome

[pumpkincake]

I was searching through the Social Security Agency website and came across information about Compassionate Allowances. There are 165 disease and conditions on this list.

Social Security has an obligation to provide benefits quickly to applicants whose medical conditions are so serious that their conditions obviously meet disability standards.

Compassionate Allowances (CAL) are a way of quickly identifying diseases and other medical conditions that invariably qualify under the Listing of Impairments based on minimal objective medical information. Compassionate Allowances allow Social Security to quickly target the most obviously disabled individuals for allowances based on objective medical information that they can obtain quickly.

CAL conditions are developed as a result of information received at public outreach hearings, comments received from the Social Security and Disability Determination Service communities, counsel of medical and scientific experts, and research with the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Also, they consider which conditions are most likely to meet the current definition of disability.

I went on to watch a 6 hour session that was held last March, 2011 about autoimmune diseases, particularly Lupus, Sjögren's syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis and Scleroderma. I was hoping to hear the words "Antiphosphplipid Syndrome" or "Hughes Syndrome".

Out of that 6 hours...two minutes addressed APS. I was happy there was atleast that 2 minutes! A comment was made about Antiphospholipid Syndrome by a representative of the Lupus Foundation. It was brief and no follow up questions were asked. But later on the Commissioner asked a question about Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Sydrome.

He commented that he needed input for the SSA when they see CAPS on a Disability Application....he believed that would be a red flag for SSA to pull that application and give it immediate attention (saying that anything that starts with Catastrophic should draw attention). Two members of the panel respectfully responded ... when one has CAPS they probably wont have time to fill out a disability application because chances of them not surviving it is high and that when a person with Antiphospholipid Syndrome goes into Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome that it is very fast without any indicators that it will happen other than risk factors.

Considering that Lupus, Sjögren's, Multiple Sclerosis and Scleroderma are not on the list of Compassionate Allowances I dont imagine APS will be on there anytime in the future.

They are however listening to medical and scientific experts about Autoimmune diseases which is progress. To even hear a MENTION of APS was awesome....I sat here and WOOHHOOO'd ! It is a small beginning but nevertheless the knowledge is there with the SSA about Antiphospholipid Syndrome. They now realize that there is a greater concern to help before one goes into CAPS if it is possible, and that APS is a serious autoimmune disorder that they need to look at more closely.

Cheers to progress...even if it is a weeee baby step!

[pumpkincake]

To add to this... the SSA also has a Quick Disability Determination.

Quick disability determination means an initial determination on a claim that they have identified as one that reflects a high degree of probability that you will be found disabled and where they expect that your allegations will be easily and quickly verified.

This is done through a computer and specific software. I don't know if they have a listing or how this works.

IF you are applying for SSI or SSD in the United States, you may want to take a look at these three criteria that are used in determining whether you are considered disabled. Remember, the terminology and words you use are important in how your disability is interpreted.

ssa.gov/disability/professi...

socialsecurity.gov/OP_Home/...

gridrules.net/

[Renae]

The quick disabilities determination is for all stage 4 cancer patients, blind and end phase kidney disease. I was denied ssdi for aps. I did end up being approved for lupus sle. Aps is not considered a disability, under the ssa guidelines

With that said, you can be approved fpr aps if your doctor states that your aps is as bad as someone with lupus sle or ms.

Of course you have to still prove your case to be approved..It took me 3 years to win my ssdi case and i have aps, lupus sle, fibro, lac, anticardiolipin antibodies and protein s and c deficiencies.

Renae i i

[Annette53]

I believe that if, the doctor puts APS on your disability papers, and does unfortunately believe it will lead to death because there is no cure, disability is granted. Mine was.

[MrBigDog in reply to Annette53]

Annette,

Are you suffering from any other debilitating conditions that were also listed on your disability application?

James

[Annette53 in reply to MrBigDog]

I have aps, diabetes, fibromyalgia, fatty liver, and lupus but the lupus i was just diagnosed with seven months ago and was not on my list.

[Annette53 in reply to Annette53]

oh but I have had a few TIA's and my mobility is horrible. i have to walk with a cane, i fall alot, memory is horrible. they think they may have missed a major stroke, but nothing comes up on my mri's.

[Mair]

My husband worked for social security for 33 years, so he provided this information for us.

SSDI is the US Social Security Disability program. It has some very limiting rules on who is considered eligible. The technical term for the compassionate allowance provision is called Presumptive Disability (PD). The claims representative can make an immediate decision concerning disability. However, awarding benefits is another matter. For instance, a non-payment waiting period must be met before any benefits can start.

With respect to illnesses which can be medically managed, a determination must be made as to the severity of the illness as it impacts one's ability to engage in successful work. It is not enough to be diagnosed with a chronic medical condition. The question that tests one's entitlement to benefits is the impact that disease has on the ability to be successfully employed.

If you are denied a claim for SSDI benefits, by all means file an appeal. Many times the decision is reversed in the appeal process.

Let us all know how it goes for you if you file for disability.