Social Security Expands Compassionate Allowances: 13 New Conditions Added for Faster SSDI Decisions
In a move that could provide critical relief to individuals with severe medical conditions, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced on August 11, 2025, the addition of 13 new conditions to its Compassionate Allowances (CAL) list. The CAL initiative fast-tracks Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) applications for applicants facing devastating diagnoses—helping them get decisions sooner
What’s Changing—and Why It Matters
These newly included conditions are:
Au‑Kline Syndrome
Bilateral Anophthalmia
Carey‑Fineman‑Ziter Syndrome
Harlequin Ichthyosis – Child
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
LMNA‑related Congenital Muscular Dystrophy
Progressive Muscular Atrophy
Pulmonary Amyloidosis – AL Type
Rasmussen Encephalitis
Turnpenny‑Fry Syndrome
WHO Grade III Meningiomas
Zhu‑Tokita‑Takenouchi‑Kim Syndrome
With this update, SSA's Compassionate Allowances list now totals 300 qualifying conditions, underlining its commitment to making the disability determination process more responsive and humane.
According to SSA Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano, “By adding these 13 conditions … we are helping more people with devastating diagnoses to quickly receive the support they need.”
Notably, since the launch of the CAL initiative, over 1.1 million individuals with serious disabilities have been approved through this accelerated process.
How It Works: Tech-Driven Speed Meets Serious Needs
The CAL program leverages advanced Health IT capabilities to identify potential qualifying conditions in applicants’ medical records. When a qualifying condition is detected, that claim is prioritized for faster adjudication. SSA’s Health IT program even enables the secure electronic receipt of medical records—where available—resulting in more accurate and timely decisions.
For applicants and advocates: If you’ve already applied—or are planning to—you can check SSA’s complete Compassionate Allowances list to see if these newly added conditions are included.
Why This Matters
Faster access to benefits for urgent cases: These additions mean applicants with any of the 13 conditions may see approval timelines shortened substantially.
Evolving list signals continued responsiveness: SSA’s willingness to expand the list reflects responsiveness to medical advances and advocacy for individuals with rare or severe conditions.
1.1 million past approvals underscores impact of CAL: The reach and effectiveness of this initiative are clear—from real lives expedited by it.
The update also highlights how advocacy and medical research play a direct role in shaping disability policy. Many of the newly listed conditions, such as rare genetic syndromes and aggressive cancers, were added after input from patients, physicians, and experts. For applicants, this shows that the SSA’s system can adapt—and that raising awareness about overlooked conditions can lead to meaningful change in how disability claims are handled.
If you’re interested in applying for Social Security Disability Insurance, you can learn more with our How to File for Disability guides.
References
Social Security Administration. (2025, August 11). Social Security Adds 13 Conditions to Compassionate Allowances List. Retrieved from https://www.ssa.gov/news/en/press/releases/2025-08-11.html
Social Security Administration. (n.d.). Compassionate Allowances. Retrieved from https://www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice. Consult with a qualified healthcare provider for any medical concerns or questions. Consult with a licensed attorney for legal advice about Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or appeals.
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