Social Security Adds Three Conditions to Compassionate Allowances (CAL) Program

The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced the addition of three conditions to the Compassionate Allowances (CAL) program today. This is the first expansion since January 2014 of the list of conditions receiving expedited review for Social Security disability benefits.

The three new CAL listings are:

• CACH--Vanishing White Matter Disease-Infantile and Childhood Onset Forms
• Congenital Myotonic Dystrophy
• Kleefstra Syndrome

Through CAL, many claims receive fast-track allowance based on medical confirmation of the diagnosis. The program was implemented in 2008, and the list of 228 conditions includes some types of cancer (breast, bladder, esophageal), acute leukemia, and ALS/Parkinsonism Dementia Complex.

The SSA provides a complete list of all CAL conditions online.