The Governors Highway Traffic Safety Association (GHSA) has been focusing on an important public health issue as of late: teen car accidents. In early May, GHSA released its third in a series of reports related to teen accidents, entitled “Promoting Parent Involvement in Teen Driving: An In-Depth Look at the Importance and the Initiatives.” The hundred deadliest days of the year for teenage traffic accidents spans the upcoming period between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Our Tulsa injury attorneys know that car accidents are the leading cause of death for teen drivers. However, the GHSA reports indicate that parental involvement can make a big difference in keeping kids safe and preventing accidents. The most recent GHSA report provides plenty of helpful information for parents who want to take action to protect their teens. Reviewing some of the data and facts within the report is something every parent should take the time to do.

Facts that parents Should Know About Teen Driving

The GHSA report has statistics about many key issues related to teen car accident risks that can help give parents a better understanding of how to help their kids.

• Graduated driver licensing laws may reduce teen car accidents by between 20 and 40 percent. These laws require kids to first get a permit, then drive with a restricted license and then finally graduate to a full license. The restricted license usually limits the number of passengers in the car with the teen driver. Parents should enforce passenger-restrictions in their own homes to improve the safety of their teen driver.
• Together, inadequate surveillance, driving faster than is safe and distracted driving cause almost 1/2 of all teen car accidents. Parents should explain the dangers of these behaviors to their kids and should forbid teens from speeding or driving while talking on a call phone or otherwise distracted. This is especially important because around 30 percent of teens surveyed didn’t think taking their eyes off the road for 10 seconds was dangerous.
• One out of every seven drivers ages 16-24 fell asleep while driving at least once in the prior 30 days before completing a survey on drowsy driving. This is higher than the average of one out of ten older drivers. Parents should make sure teens are getting eight hours of sleep per night and not driving when tired.
• Teen seat belt use is lower than seat belt use for any other age group. In 2011, 58 percent of teenager drivers and 50 percent of teen passengers in fatal accidents were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

This data gives parents some important information about the risks that their kids are taking and about the dangers kids face when driving. The GHSA also indicates that parental style can make a huge difference in how safely kids drive. If kids view their parents as authoritative, they are 70 percent less likely to drive drunk; 30 percent less likely to drive while on a cell phone; and 50 percent more likely to buckle their seat belts. They are also half as likely to crash as kids who see their parents as uninvolved.

This data alone should be enough to get every parent to start focusing more on teen driving, on supervising teenagers and setting rules, and on modeling good driving behavior.

If you’ve been injured in an accident, contact Hansen Dirani & Associates Law Offices at 877-583-0700.

Our Oklahoma dangerous drug attorneys know that stimulant medications such as Ritalin and Adderall have become widely prescribed. These drugs are used in an effort to treat children and adults who are coping with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

It is always controversial to make the determination of exactly when a child should be prescribed ADHD medications. However, one new study indicates that misuse of these drugs is increasing.  USA Today warned that doctors may be part of the problem, and that an epidemic of over-prescribing ADHD meds could be dangerous.

ADHD Medications Sought by Parents and Teens

ADHD medications, when prescribed to kids with ADHD, can make concentrating easier. The drugs calms down a child and levels out his or her moods. However, when these drugs are taken by someone without ADHD, they act as stimulants similar to illegal drugs like speed.

Unfortunately, because ADHD medication is legal, some parents and teens have actually become inclined to abuse these medications and are coercing their doctors into helping. The abuse stems from the use of the ADHD drugs as neuro-enhancers.  Kids or teens take the drugs so they can gain an edge on studying by being able to stay awake longer, study longer and become hyper-focused.

As USA Today writes, a recent article published in the journal Neurology drew attention to this problem. The issue is that teens are faking symptoms and/or parents are pressuring doctors to prescribe stimulants in order to gain an academic edge.

The “grade-boosting ’study drugs’” as they are described in USA Today, may also be sold or distributed to others by teens who fake their symptoms to get a prescription. This problem is common, and the report indicates that about 3 percent of 12th graders used Adderall in 2008 with no prescription.

Doctors are a Part of the Problem

The article in Neurology cautioned doctors to become more aware of the misuse of ADHD and to avoid becoming a part of the problem. There are no exact figures available on how rampant the abuse is or how many improper prescriptions are written, but it is clear that the number of prescriptions for ADHD medications has dramatically increased in the past two decades.

Some of this increase can be attributed to better diagnosis and to more legitimate ADHD claims. However, as the USA Today article indicates, some doctors fail to recognize when teens are faking and prescribe meds that the kids don’t need. USA Today also cites a child neurologist from Yale University who believes that some doctors are knowingly prescribing medication that teens don’t need.

ADHD Meds Can Become Dangerous Drugs

When a drug is prescribed for something other than its intended purpose (i.e. for off-label use), then it becomes especially dangerous. The FDA requires drugs to be tested for a specific stated use and so ADHD drugs aren’t specifically evaluated to understand the impact they would have on a teen taking the medication recreationally or as a study aid. The consequences, therefore, of mis-prescribed ADHD drugs may not yet be clear.

Further, the drugs do have some side effects under any circumstances, including disrupted sleep, appetite disruption and hallucinations in some cases. The drugs can also be addictive. There is no reason to take these risks for a drug that is not necessary and doctors should make sure to avoid prescribing the medications unless there is a legitimate need.

If a doctor improperly prescribes a drug and it later turns out to be a dangerous drug that harms the patient, the doctor could be held legally liable.

If you’ve suffered side effects from a dangerous drug, contact Hansen Dirani & Associates Law Offices at 877-583-0700.

Social Security Disability Insurance is an important part of the social safety net that aims to protect people if they become disabled and unable to work. Workers fund SSDI through contributions from their payroll taxes and, in exchange for paying these taxes, they are supposed to receive benefits if they suffer a qualifying long-term disability.

Unfortunately, the SSDI program has been under attack due to allegations of fraud and supposed inefficiencies in the system. Our Tulsa, OK SSDI attorneys know that there is already a very high denial rate for disability benefits applications because of concerns about dishonest applicants. Now, a new article has indicated that the House Oversight Committee has launched an investigation into fraud and waste. This investigation could potentially lead to changes or to a tightening of the laws that make it even more difficult for the disabled to obtain the benefits they need.

SSDI Fraud Investigation Underway

According to the Washington Free Beacon, the number of people enrolled in the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program increased from 5.58 million people receiving benefits in 2003 to 8.83 million people receiving benefits in 2012. This is an increase of almost 60 percent.

The Washington Free Beacon reports that two letters written by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee have identified fraud as a possible reason for the dramatic increase in the number of people receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits.

Improper payment is also identified as a possible reason for the increase in claims.  This improper payment is allegedly caused by mismanagement. Those asserting mismanagement point to proof of the improper payment in a 2010 Government Accountability Office Report. For example, the article indicates that people are receiving SSDI benefits despite being able to pass a rigorous physical exam to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Passing the exam, it is argued, means they cannot be disabled and yet they are receiving benefits.

Finally, a third area of concern identified is structural flaws in the SSDI program. In asserting that the program is badly designed, data from an MIT economist is cited which indicates people may get better benefits and more money if they remain on SSDI rather than trying to re-enter the labor force.

Suggested Ways to Fight Fraud

In addition to asserting fraud, the letters assert that past recommendations to curb abuses have not been implemented. Past recommendations for fighting fraud include conducting more thorough reviews into the income of applicants and more thorough reviews of the medical state of recipients.

Because the past recommendations have not been implemented, wholesale reform of the SSDI program is now being called for, reportedly in order to save the program from potential collapse that could be brought on by too many claims.

Fighting for Your Right to Benefits

Unfortunately, it is already very difficult for people to obtain benefits as there is a very rigorous application process in place and as many claims for benefits are already denied.

With continued allegations of fraud and abuse, any changes made or new regulations passed are likely to make it even more difficult for people to apply for benefits. This is unfortunate, as one of the likely reasons for the increase in claims is that baby boomers are aging and are thus more likely to become disabled and in need of benefits because they are unable to work.

For those seeking benefits with legitimate claims that are denied, it will now be more important than ever to have an advocate on your side to help you make a successful claim.

If you need help obtaining disability benefits in Oklahoma, contact Hansen Dirani & Associates Law Offices at 877-583-0700.

Anyone who is applying for Social Security disability benefits or who has a question about their existing benefits may find themselves coping with long wait times at the Social Security Administration (even longer than normal). Those seeking help from someone at the Social Security Administration may also discover that there are shorter office hours and more limited appointment times. The extended wait times, reduced hours and the lengthy delays are occurring, according to the Baltimore Sun, as a result of the sequester.

Our Tulsa, OK SSDI attorneys know that every minute counts when you are in need of disability benefits and are not receiving the money you require to support yourself. It is very frustrating for people who are disabled and unable to work to wait for weeks or months to get an appointment, start the application process or get an answer on their claim. Unfortunately, this problem is unlikely to go away any time soon and the only recourse that applicants have is to make very sure that they are completing their application thoroughly and completely so they do not give the government a reason to further delay their case.

The Sequester and Social Security

The Sequester refers to a series of $85 billion in automatic budget cuts that occurred on March 1. The cuts included an arbitrary slashing of funding for a huge variety of different government services. While Social Security disability benefits were protected from the cuts and checks will continue to go out on time, the Baltimore Sun indicates that Social Security offices nationwide were affected by the sequester and now have less money and have had to furlough employees and cut hours.

The automatic budget cuts were intended to be unpleasant and draconian in order to force Democrats and Republicans to come to an agreement on how to cut spending. Unfortunately, when no agreement was reached, the cuts went into effect. This has resulted in essential government services — like those provided by Social Security Administration workers — being cut. As the weeks have passed, neither Democrats nor Republicans have shown a willingness to compromise to undo the budget cuts, so it is likely that this reduced funding is going to remain in effect for a while and that the SSA will have to continue operating with a slashed budget.

Getting Your Application Approved and Your Questions Answered

Unfortunately, those applying for disability benefits will now have a longer wait to get help from an SSA representative with their application. Those whose applications are processing are going to have a longer wait to get an answer on approval or denial (the wait was already three to five months on average). Finally, those who have questions or concerns about their benefits are also going to have a harder time getting their questions answered.

Working with a Social Security attorney can be the best option under these circumstances as your lawyer can help by answering questions that an SSA representative isn’t available to answer, and by keeping the application process moving along. Your lawyer will also make sure you’ve provided all the necessary information so that there are no undue delays in processing your benefits claim.

If you need help obtaining disability benefits in Oklahoma, contact Hansen Dirani and  Associates Law Offices at 877-583-0700.

Many people know that certain driving behaviors are dangerous. Yet, despite knowing that it is risky to drink and drive or to do other risky things behind the wheel, people continue to exhibit such dangerous behavior. Recently, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety took a closer look at the impact of culture and beliefs on driving. Their study, called the 2012 Traffic Safety Culture Index, found that people’s knowledge that a driving practice was risky often had little impact on whether they chose to engage in the behavior or not.

Our Tulsa, OK accident attorneys believe that the AAA study sheds some important light on areas where we can improve on driver safety. Both laws and cultural pressures can and should shift to provide more of a detraction from engaging in the dangerous driving behaviors identified by the study.

Taking a Look at Attitude and Action on Dangerous Driving Behaviors

AAA Foundation looked at several of the most dangerous driving behaviors and compared people’s attitudes about the behaviors to their actions when driving. Their findings from a survey of almost 4,000 drivers across the United States revealed the following information:

• Almost every driver responding to the survey indicated that drinking and driving is a serious threat to safety. In fact, 80.5 percent of responding drivers believe that first-time DUI offenders should have to have an ignition interlock installed in their car and a surprising 71.3 percent of drivers were in favor of these devices being installed in all cars. Yet, despite the tough stance and the knowledge of the risk, 14 percent of responding drivers admitted that they may have driven when over the limit in the past year. In addition, 2.1 percent of those responding admitted they may have driven drunk in the month before the survey.
• Two out of three drivers said they supported restrictions on the use of cell phones when driving, and almost half- 48.6 percent – said they’d support an outright ban. Most drivers, even those not in favor of widespread bans on handheld devices, agreed that the law should limit or prohibit texting/emailing when driving. Yet, more than 2/3 of the responding drivers said they had talked on their phone and driven at least once in the month before the survey. As far as texting, 34.7 said they’d read a text or email when driving, and 26.6 percent said they’d typed and sent an email or text.
• Speeding wasn’t viewed as a big issue, with one in four drivers seeing no problem with going over the limit. Almost half of drivers responding – 49.3 percent- said they’d exceeded the freeway speed limit by 15 miles per hour in the past month, and only slightly fewer drivers – 46.8 percent- said they’d gone 10 miles per hour over the limit in a residential area during the same time period.
• Running a red light was widely viewed as unacceptably risky, but 38.4 percent said they’d gone through a red light in the past month.
• Most drivers said drowsy driving was a danger. Yet, almost 1/3 of respondents said they’d had trouble keeping their eyes open when driving in the past month. Almost half – 45.9 percent – said they had fallen asleep at least one time in their lives when behind the wheel.

As these statistics clearly illustrate, people know that these risky behaviors boost the chance of becoming involved in a car accident. Yet, drivers continue to do them anyway. Public education campaigns, laws targeting bad behavior, and the cultural stigmatization of dangerous driving behaviors need to expand in order to curb these risky practices and make everyone safer behind the wheel.

If you’ve been injured by a Tulsa, OK car accident, contact Hansen Dirani & Associates Law Offices at 877-583-0700.

Driving is an inherently risky act, with car accidents remaining the number one cause of death in the United States. Of course, people still need to drive and want to drive. To help make the roads safer and reduce the risk of a crash, states pass driving laws intended to curb some of the risky practices most likely to lead to an accident. Recently, the 2013 Road Map of State Highway Safety Laws published by the Advocates for Highway & Auto Safety took a look at how Oklahoma is doing when it comes to passing driving safety laws.

Our Tulsa, OK accident lawyers urge everyone to pay attention to the outcome of the Advocates’ report on Oklahoma safety rules. We strongly encourage drivers to follow all the rules that have been passed already and to voluntarily ensure you follow the safety rules that are suggested that the state has not yet put into place.

Where Does Oklahoma Stand on Safety Rules?

According to the 2013 Roadmap of State Highway Safety Laws, Oklahoma is a yellow state. This means that the state shows a “moderately positive” performance in instituting safety regulations but that there is still a long way to go.

In particular, the data showed that:

• Oklahoma gets full credit for allowing police to pull people over for not wearing a seatbelt even if no other offenses are being committed. This is called a “primary seat belt law.”
• Oklahoma does not have a law requiring every motorcycle rider to wear a helmet, so gets no credit on this safety rule.
• Oklahoma has a law requiring booster seats for kids but it doesn’t qualify to meet the Advocates’ standards so the state doesn’t get credit for this safety regulation.
• Oklahoma did well on teen driving laws, getting full credit on all but their cell phone restrictions for teen drivers. Their regulations include a six month holding period for new teen licensees; a minimum age of 16 to get a permit to learn to drive; a restriction on driving at night; and a restriction on the number of passengers that can be in the car with teen drivers.
• Oklahoma does not require an ignition interlock device for all DUI offenders and so got no credit on this issue. Otherwise, however, Oklahoma did well with DUI laws. They have a child endangerment law, a law requiring all drivers to submit to a mandatory BAC test based on reasonable suspicion of drunk driving; and an open container law.
• Oklahoma does not have a ban on texting for all drivers.

As this summary of safety laws shows, Oklahoma takes seriously the dangers presented by teen drivers and by drunk drivers. However, the state could do more to keep people safe including having tougher restrictions on the use of cell phones. Fortunately, while the law doesn’t require drivers to refrain from using their cell phones, you can make the choice on your own not to talk or text and drive in order to minimize your auto accident risk.

If you’ve been injured in an Oklahoma car accident, contact Hansen Dirani & Associates Law Offices at 877-583-0700.

According to new data from the Social Security Administration, the number of Americans collecting disability benefits continues to climb. Data released in February, for example, indicated that 8,830,026 individuals received benefits in January, up from the 8,827,795 who were collecting in December. This is the 192nd month in a row that the number of people receiving disability benefits increased, and most experts indicate that ongoing economic difficulties and high unemployment rates are a contributing factor. With fewer jobs available in general, more disabled individuals are struggling to find work and are turning to the disability system for help.

Unfortunately, with more people applying, the backlog for having claims reviewed and for having appeals processed has grown longer. The data for 2013, for example, already shows that the SSA is off to a slower start in 2013.  Our  Tulsa, OK Social Security disability lawyers urge every applicant for benefits to be aware of the backlog and to do everything possible to prepare a solid application for benefits to avoid becoming caught up in the lengthy delays.

The SSA Backlog and Your Claim

2013 data presents lots of bad news for those applying for disability benefits or for those who are waiting to try to get a benefits claim approved. According to the information made available in early February:

• The hearing-level processing time is up from 353 days in fiscal year 2012 to 361 days in 2013.
• The number of claims pending at the hearing level in the first quarter of 2013 is up to 831,304 from 823,191 pending at the end of 2012.
• In 2009, 37 percent of claims nationwide were approved upon the initial application. In 2012, only 33 percent of initial claims for benefits were approved.
• In 2009, 63 percent of claims were approved at the disability benefits hearing level. In 2012, only 52 percent of benefits claims were allowed at this stage in the appeals process.

As this data shows, disability claims examiners are denying more claims at all levels of the application process. For those who receive a benefit denial, the bigger backlog and the longer wait time means many more months without the disability benefits that you are waiting for and counting on.

Unfortunately, the problem is unlikely to abate any time in the immediate future. As the economy slowly struggles to improve, threats of budget cuts to Social Security programs as well as threats of a potential government shut down in March may result in even longer delays in the later parts of this year.

What Can You Do?

If you are applying for benefits, it is very important that you make sure your application is as complete as it can be and that you take every step possible to ensure that you provide enough evidence for the Social Security Administration to approve your claim. If you can manage to have your claim approved at the initial application stage, you avoid entering into the lengthy appeals process and waiting months or years to get another chance at convincing the SSA that you should receive benefits.

Working with a disability attorney to ensure that your application is solid is one way that you can work to ensure that your claim for benefits is approved in as timely a manner as possible given the lengthy delays now inherent in the disability benefits application process.

To get help from a Tulsa, OK Social Security disability lawyer, contact Hansen Dirani & Associates Law Offices at 877-583-0700.

According to Tulsa World, a state work-retraining problem in Oklahoma called the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services helped 82 disabled people to obtain jobs last year. The 82 disabled people were listed as disabled for purposes of social security disability insurance (SSDI), which means that they were considered unable to work and were receiving benefits checks before the agency stepped in to help.

The option to undergo job retraining or to learn new skills when you are disabled can be a good option for those who are able to find meaningful work even with their medical conditions. The success of the state retraining program shows that people may be able to train for and find a job to get off disability benefits, especially with state support. However, our Oklahoma social security disability attorneys want to make sure that those who are on disability benefits do not feel pressured into working if they aren’t healthy enough to do so and that workers do not put their benefits at risk when they start considering work.

SSDI Benefits and Returning to Work

Social security disability benefits are available if you meet the qualifying definition of disabled as defined by the social security administration (SSA). This means you have a long-term and severe condition that is either listed in a “blue book” of impairments or that is just as damaging and severe as listed conditions. You’ll also have to exhibit specific symptoms for your medical problem, as defined by the blue book, to qualify for benefits.

Provided you are sufficiently disabled and you cannot work at any job you have had in the past, the benefits should be available to you on an ongoing basis. In some cases, if you are severely disabled and truly unable to work at any sort of job, you can get SSDI benefits until you retire and switch to retirement benefits. The SSA will, however, conduct periodic reviews to ensure you are still disabled.

One criteria in considering whether you are still disabled or not is whether you are earning income and working. Once you start to earn income, you can put your benefits in jeopardy. However, this does not happen immediately as the social security administration offers work incentives and a trial work period that allow you to give working a try without putting your benefits at risk.

The work incentives are explained in detail on the SSA website,  but in general, the rules stipulate that you can have a trial work period of nine months. This means you can keep working and getting benefits for up to nine months. You can also continue to receive SSDI benefits for 30-days after you have recovered to the point when you are no longer disabled, provided you are actively participating in an approved vocational rehab program.

If you believe that you may be well enough to return to some type of work, the trial work periods remove the risk. If you find yourself in this position, then the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitative Services may be able to help.

Remember, though, if you do not feel well enough and you believe you still meet the criteria for disabled but the SSA is trying to cut off your benefits, you should be sure to call a lawyer and not get forced into work you aren’t ready for.

If need assistance with your SSDI claim or SSDI benefits contact Hansen Dirani &  Associates Law Offices at 877-583-0700.

The Oklahoman recently reported that one in six fatal accidents throughout the state is  connected to driver fatigue or drowsiness.

Nov. 12 was the start of the National Sleep Foundation’s Drowsy Driving Prevention Week, and our Tulsa car accident attorneys believe it’s especially timely, as we’re all preparing for the long Thanksgiving weekend and the year-end holidays.

Sleep-related crashes should be of particular concern to shift workers, adults with young children and young people. In fact, a recent AAA survey found that one in seven drivers between the ages of 16 and 24 admitted to having fallen asleep behind the wheel sometime in the last year. Many brushed it off, saying they simply smacked themselves in the face, rolled down the window or blared the music to help stay awake. But in the end, that is about as effective as a drunk driver trying to do the same to sober up.

There is only one cure for sleep deprivation: sleep.

Failing to take this seriously could prove to be a fatal mistake, and here’s why:

• Those who sleep between six to seven hours a night are twice as likely to be involved in a Tulsa car accident as those who got 8 hours of sleep or more.
• People who slept less than five hours a night increased their risk of a car accident four or five-fold.
• Researchers in Australia concluded that being awake for more than 18 hours produced an impairment level equal to someone with a blood alcohol level of 0.05 percent. Someone who is awake after 24 hours has an impairment level of 0.10 percent. That is higher than someone who is legally drunk.

The sad part is, many people know all this, and yet they choose to drive while they’re tired anyway. In fact, 80 percent of those surveyed by AAA say they view other fatigued drivers as a danger, and yet many of those individuals admit doing it themselves. Thirty percent of drivers surveyed said they had, in the last month, driven at least once while they were so tired they could scarcely keep their eyes open.

So as you’re gearing up for holiday travel, what can you do to ensure you aren’t among the statistics? If possible, avoid the roads or take public transportation.

If that’s not an option, consider the following:

• Make sure you get enough sleep for heading out for a long trip. This one seems obvious, but it’s key. Eight hours is ideal, but make sure you get at least seven hours minimum.
• Take a break every two hours or every 100 miles – whichever comes first.
• Don’t take any medications that are likely to make you sleepy.
• Bring a friend, and take turns behind the wheel.
• Don’t eat a heavy meal just before you head out.
• If at all possible, avoid driving at night or at whatever time you would normally be sleeping.
• If you find that you have trouble keeping your eyes open or you find yourself yawning or rubbing your eyes, pull over. If there isn’t a hotel nearby, stop at a rest area and sleep for at least an hour or two.

Better to be a little late than to never get there.

If you’ve been injured in a Tulsa car accident, contact Hansen Dirani & Associates Law Offices at 877-583-0700.

« Study: Fatigue Drivers Nearly As Dangerous As Drunk Drivers

On December 6, 2012, the Social Security administration announced 35 new Compassionate Allowances conditions. The Compassionate Allowances program fast tracks the disability benefits application process, allowing people who obviously qualify for benefits to be approved more quickly and without as much bureaucratic red tape.

Our Oklahoma social security disability attorneys are pleased that the SSA has added more conditions to the Compassionate Allowances program so that more people will have an easier time getting benefits for their severe disabilities. We urge those who are suffering from newly added medical problems to take action quickly to get the benefits that they deserve and we hope that the SSA will continue to expand the compassionate allowances program to allow more people to obtain disability benefits they need in a timely manner.

The New Additions to the Compassionate Allowances Program

The Compassionate Allowances Program is designed to ensure that people with very severe disabilities can obtain benefits more readily through the social security disability insurance program. According to the SSA’s recent announcement, the purpose of the program is to cover conditions that are severe enough that the SSA doesn’t need to delve fully into exploring the applicant’s work history in order to decide if the individual is severely disabled enough to qualify for benefits.

The 35 new conditions that have been added to the Compassionate Allowances program include a variety of severe medical problems including:

• Adult Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Huntington disease (adult onset)
• Child T-Cell lymphoblastic lymphoma
• Menkes disease
• Roberts syndrome
• Sinonasal cancer

These are just a sampling of the 35 new conditions that the SSA has now added to the program. The new conditions, as well as those already part of the Compassionate Allowances Program, largely include brain disorders that affect adults; cancer that affects adults and children; and certain types of rare childhood disorders.

For those with covered conditions, it is possible to obtain disability benefits in just a few days or a few weeks rather than a few months or a few years. With the new additions to the program, there are now 200 conditions that will allow for fast-tracked approval of benefits.

The SSA reports that the Compassionate Allowance Program has been a great success since its inception in October of 2008, with more than 200,000 severely disabled individuals getting approved for benefits quickly. The addition of 35 new diseases will allow for even more disabled individuals to get the benefits they need without the extended application period.

Of course, a claim for benefits is still not guaranteed for those with the disabling conditions on the list since you will need to follow proper SSA procedure and provide required proof of your disabling condition. As such, it is advisable to work with an SSDI attorney as in any case where you are making a claim for benefits.

If you need assistance with a Social Security Disability claim in Oklahoma, don’t hesitate to contact an attorney at Hansen Dirani & Associates. We understand how difficult and frustrating the process of applying for benefits can be. We know how confusing the system can seem for the average person. If you have questions about survivor benefits for children or other issues related to an Oklahoma Social Security Disability claim, call Hansen now: 877-583-0700. Hansen knows if you have a case.