What are the Top Conditions that Automatically Qualify for Disability?

Submitted by Elizabeth on

There are some disabilities that meet the qualification for faster approval from the Social Security Administration (SSA) through the Compassionate Allowance program. If you have one of these conditions, the SSA will mark it as a compassionate allowance and your application will be processed faster to help ensure that you get the benefits you deserve much faster.

Here are the top 10 disabilities that automatically qualify you for disability benefits:

  1. Advanced Forms of Cancer

    This includes Stage IV cancer applications which are processed faster because you will automatically qualify for disability benefits.

  2. Severe Neurological Disabilities

    This includes ALS/Advanced forms of Parkinson’s which automatically qualify for disability benefits.

  3. Heart Transplant

    If you are on a heart transplant waiting list 1/A/1B or have experienced heart transplant graft failure you will automatically qualify for disability benefits so your claim will be processed quickly.

  4. Genetic Diseases

    The SSA has a list of hundreds of genetic diseases that people are born with that are listed on the compassionate allowances that can automatically qualify for disability benefits so there is no wait time for receiving the benefits.

  5. Stroke

    A stroke is another common, yet deadly illness. Some people never fully recover after a stroke. If you’re unable to walk without assistance or communicate verbally or non-verbally, you will qualify for disability.

  6. An organ transplant

    Any recipient of a lung transplant will qualify automatically for disability benefits for a full three years following surgery.

  7. Arthritis

    This is because a victim of arthritis typically finds movement difficult so stopping any chance of being employed.

  8. Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD)

    Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) is another musculoskeletal disorder that, for the most part, affects adults ages 60+. Unfortunately, DDD can so disabling that it can result in people not being able to walk. Furthermore, in terms getting disability for DDD, an individual can qualify if they are able to prove that they are unable to sit in one position for longer than two hours because it hurts too much.

  9. Respiratory Illness

    One of the commonest conditions is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which is when there is an airflow blockage which can occur with emphysema and chronic bronchitis; and sometimes asthma which can be life-threatening.

  10. Mental Illnesses

    Nearly 20% of people who qualify for Social Security disability benefits have been diagnosed with a mental illness like autism, or a mood disorder such as depression or anxiety.

What is the Most Approved Disability?

Arthritis and other disabilities involving the musculoskeletal system make up the most commonly approved—and thereby qualifying—conditions when it comes to Social Security disability benefits. This is due to the fact that arthritis is so common and it makes up around 30% of people who are receiving disability benefits. However, arthritis itself as a medical condition will not automatically qualify you for disability benefits. Instead, it is the Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) assessment that helps people with arthritis qualify and get approved for disability benefits. Once someone with arthritis has been evaluated by their doctor through an RFC assessment, this assessment will be used as their medical evidence that proves the fact that they have a very little chance of working at least for the next 12 months. In doing so, there is a high likelihood that they will automatically receive disability benefits through the Compassionate Allowance program and there will be only a slight delay before they receive their first disability benefits payment.

Get Help Today

If you discuss your medical condition with an attorney, you will be told immediately whether you are likely to qualify for disability benefits. Additionally, your attorney can help you fill out an application form to send to the SSA. The disability benefits application will require detailed information about your medical condition including your medical history and any income you are currently receiving. And it is important that all information you provide is accurate so that you have the highest chance of qualifying for disability. Getting a disability attorney to help you lowers the chance of mistakes being made and makes filing your application much simpler.

To get connected with an independent, participating attorney who can help you with your disability benefits application, complete the Free Case Evaluation on this page.

Additional Resources