Epilepsy Foundation Applauds the Social Security Administration New Compassionate Allowance Listing for Dravet Syndrome

The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced a very important policy change for individuals with Dravet syndrome and their families. Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced that the agency will add Dravet Syndrome and 34 other additional conditions to its Compassionate Allowances program.

Dravet syndrome is a severe childhood epilepsy that strikes during the first year of life. Epilepsy Foundation President & CEO Phil Gattone shared the gratitude of the epilepsy community, "Dravet has a dramatic impact on a young infant's development and leads to significant disabilities. This policy change was a critical need for families who rely on the SSA programs, and is an important example of a condition where beneficiaries and families should not be overly burdened in proving a disability."

The Compassionate Allowance Initiative (CAL) is a way to expedite Social Security Disability Insurance Program (SSDI) and SSA Supplemental Security Income program disability determinations. Under the authority of the agency, CAL conditions are deemed so severe that they meet the SSA definition of disability. SSDI and SSI applications will be expedited for action by the agency when applicants note CAL conditions as a basis for their disability. This can bring their disability determination process down from months to weeks. There are now 200 conditions that qualify for processing under this program.

Link to Dravet CAL listing: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0423022943

Applications for disability may be filed online, in the local field office, or by calling our toll-free number 1-800-772-1213. To learn how to apply for disability benefits please use this link: http://www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dapply.htm

For more information on the Epilepsy Foundation, visit us at: www.epilepsyfoundation.org