Compassionate Allowances for Brain Injuries

Announcement of Public Hearing SUMMARY: We are considering ways to quickly identify diseases and other serious medical conditions that obviously meet the definition of disability under the Social Security Act (Act) and can be identified with minimal objective medical information. We are calling this method ``Compassionate Allowances.'' In December 2007 and April 2008, we held two Compassionate Allowance public hearings. These hearings concerned rare diseases and cancers, respectively. This hearing is the third in the series. The purpose of this hearing is to obtain your views about the advisability and possible methods of identifying and implementing compassionate allowances for children and adults with brain injuries. We plan to address other medical conditions at subsequent hearings. DATES: This hearing will be held on November 18, 2008, between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), at Ft. Myer, VA. The hearing will be held at 204 Lee Avenue, Ft. Myer, VA, 22211-1199, at the Ft. Myer Officers Club. While the public is welcome to attend the hearing, only invited witnesses will be permitted to participate. Ft. Myer is open to members of the public willing to undergo security screening. You may also watch the proceedings live via webcast beginning at 9 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). You may access the webcast for the hearing on the Social Security Administration Web page at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances/hearings1108.htm.