According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, over 36 million people in America are classified as disabled, with more than 50 percent of them of working age — 18 to 64 years old. More than 8 million disabled U.S. wage earners collect Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, including over 205,000 in Indiana, or more than 5 percent of the state population.

To qualify for SSDI benefits, a person must be totally disabled. The Social Security Administration can deem you totally disabled if you meet three criteria:

• You are unable to do the work you did before.
• You are unable to do other work because of your medical condition.
• You have been or are expected to be disabled for a least one year or your disability will result in your death.

For many, proving to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that they are disabled can be a long and difficult process. Not only must they deal with physical and emotional limitations that come with a sudden illness or accident, but they must provide medical records and seemingly endless amounts of paperwork to prove they deserve disability benefits.

Fortunately, for some people whose medical conditions are very serious, the SSA has provided a shortcut to qualifying for and obtaining benefits.

Compassionate Allowance

Compassionate allowances are specifically identified medical conditions or diseases that the SSA has determined warrant a nearly immediate finding of disability. People with these conditions can qualify for benefits based on minimal objective medical information. The identified conditions and diseases include such things as:

• Rare diseases

• Certain types of cancer and leukemia
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Early-onset Alzheimer’s and related dementias
• Multiple organ transplants

If you suffer from a disability, consult with an experienced disability lawyer to find out if you qualify for Social Security benefits. An attorney who is knowledgeable about Social Security can help you navigate the various claim processes and obtain benefits to which you may be entitled.