By SeniorJournal.com - The latest move by the Social Security Administration, in an ongoing effort to speed up the decision process for consideration of applications for disability benefits to those not yet age 65, is the addition of 38 new medical conditions to the list of Compassionate Allowances, which clearly qualify applicants. The new conditions range from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease to rare diseases that primarily affect children.

This is the first expansion since the original list of 50 conditions - 25 rare diseases and 25 cancers - was announced in October 2008, according to the announcement yesterday by Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security.

The complete list of the newly recognized medical conditions that clearly qualify patients for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income disability benefits - Compassionate Allowance conditions - is below.

“The addition of these new conditions expands the scope of Compassionate Allowances to a broader subgroup of conditions like early-onset Alzheimer’s disease,” Commissioner Astrue said. 

“The expansion we are announcing today means tens of thousands of Americans with devastating disabilities will now get approved for benefits in a matter of days rather than months and years.”

The quick identification of these conditions allows the agency to electronically target and make speedy decisions for the most obviously disabled individuals. 

In developing the expanded list of conditions, Social Security held public hearings and worked closely with the National Institutes of Health, the Alzheimer’s Association, the National Organization for Rare Disorders, and other groups.

"The diagnosis of Alzheimer's indicates significant cognitive impairment that interferes with daily living activities, including the ability to work," said Harry Johns, President and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association. 

"Now, individuals who are dealing with the enormous challenges of Alzheimer's won't also have to endure the financial and emotional toll of a long disability decision process."

“This truly innovative program will provide invaluable assistance and support to patients and families coping with severely disabling rare diseases,” said Peter L. Saltonstall, President and CEO of the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).  

“On behalf of those patients and families, I want to thank Commissioner Astrue and his enthusiastic team for creating and now expanding a program that will have a direct impact on the quality of life of thousands of individuals."

“The initiative not only assists those whose applications are quickly processed, but also assists those whose applications need more time and attention from SSA adjudicators,” said Marty Ford, Co-Chair, Social Security Task Force, Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities. 

 “We are pleased to see today's expansion and look forward to working with Commissioner Astrue on further expansion of this decision-making tool and other ways to expedite determinations and decisions for disability claims.”

“We will continue to hold hearings and look for other diseases and conditions that can be added to our list of Compassionate Allowances," Commissioner Astrue said.  “There can be no higher priority than getting disability benefits quickly to those Americans with these severe and life-threatening conditions.”

Social Security will begin electronically identifying these 38 new conditions March 1.

For more information about the agency’s Compassionate Allowances initiative, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.

New Compassionate Allowance Conditions

1.                  Alstrom Syndrome

2.                  Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia

3.                  Ataxia Spinocerebellar

4.                  Ataxia Telangiectasia

5.                  Batten Disease

6.                  Bilateral Retinoblastoma

7.                  Cri du Chat Syndrome

8.                  Degos Disease

9.                  Early-Onset Alzheimer’s Disease

10.              Edwards Syndrome

11.              Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva

12.              Fukuyama Congenital Muscular Dystrophy

13.              Glutaric Acidemia Type II

14.              Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), Familial Type

15.              Hurler Syndrome, Type IH

16.              Hunter Syndrome, Type II

17.              Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

18.              Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa, Lethal Type

19.              Late Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses

20.              Leigh’s Disease

21.              Maple Syrup Urine Disease

22.              Merosin Deficient Congenital Muscular Dystrophy

23.              Mixed Dementia

24.              Mucosal Malignant Melanoma

25.              Neonatal Adrenoleukodystrophy

26.              Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses, Infantile Type

27.              Niemann-Pick Type C

28.              Patau Syndrome

29.              Primary Progressive Aphasia

30.              Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy

31.              Sanfilippo Syndrome

32.              Subacute Sclerosis Panencephalitis

33.              Tay Sachs Disease

34.              Thanatophoric Dysplasia, Type 1

35.              Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy

36.              Walker Warburg Syndrome

37.              Wolman Disease

38.              Zellweger Syndrome