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What Are Compassionate Allowances (CALS)?

Written & legally reviewed by Matt Fendon Certified Specialist, Workers' Compensation Law
Published
Last updated

In some circumstances, Social Security will expedite disability claims if a claimant’s condition includes one of the compassionate allowances. Essentially, compassionate allowances are very serious conditions that require quick processing of disability cases. Many of the terminal type disabilities fell under this category.

In compassionate allowances, the Social Security Administration quickly identifies diseases and other medical conditions that qualify under the listing of impairments based on minimal objective data.

These conditions are selected using information received at public outreach hearings, and discussions within the Social Security and Disability Determination Services as well as medical experts.

Some examples are rare diseases, cancers, traumatic brain injuries, strokes, Alzheimer’s disease, dementias, schizophrenia, cardiovascular disease, and other autoimmune diseases.

About the author

Matt Fendon

Founding/Managing Partner · Matt Fendon Law Group

Matt Fendon has worked Arizona workers’ compensation and Social Security Disability cases since 2001, first as a certified paralegal and, since 2008, as a licensed attorney. He holds a 10.0 “Superb” rating on Avvo and an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

  • Certified Specialist, Workers' Comp Law
  • J.D., cum laude
  • Admitted in Arizona & Tennessee
  • Super Lawyers® since 2019
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Legal review: Reviewed by Matt Fendon, a State Bar of Arizona Certified Specialist in Workers' Compensation Law. Last updated .

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