En español | When Steven Robeson, 64, applied for Social Security disability benefits after congestive heart failure forced him to retire in 2006, he felt lucky that it only took six weeks to be approved. Had it taken much longer, Robeson and his wife, Karla, 55, feared they would have to sell their Libertytown, Md., home.

Today, however, people who find themselves in Robeson's shoes don't have to wait anywhere near as long to find out whether they'll get disability benefits.

See also: Top 25 Social Security questions answered.

In July, the Social Security Administration added 12 new conditions to its "compassionate allowances list," including a number of severe heart ailments like the one plaguing Robeson. Those additions brought the list to 100 conditions.

Thursday Michael J. Astrue, commissioner of Social Security, announced 13 new conditions involving the immune system and neurological disorders.

Applicants who have any of the 113 conditions now on the list are fast-tracked and can have a decision in as little as two weeks. For many other people, the length of the disability process may be measured in months — or even years.

"When you have a catastrophic experience and you lose 50 percent of your income, it can mean that you're selling your house, that you may not be able to support yourself. That's so depressing for the patient," says Karla Robeson. She believes that her husband's health was positively affected when he received benefits and no longer had to worry about finances.

Social Security is still seeking out new conditions to add to the compassionate allowances list, though they're getting harder to find, says Astrue.

Social Security officials will expedite nearly 5 percent of disability claims this year. — Photo by: Brownie Harris/Corbis

Simplifying the process

They're also looking for ways to make the process simpler for applicants. Just recently a new feature was added to the online disability benefits application so that when one of the conditions on the compassionate allowances list is noted, applicants are asked fewer questions.

The initiative has special meaning for Astrue, who made its creation one of his top priorities.

Back in 1985, Astrue helped his father apply for disability benefits after he was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. The process, Astrue says, was excessive.

"It's really not necessary in a case like his, where we knew very early on that there was no hope for him," says Astrue. "If there's a claim where medically there ought not to be a dispute, we want to take it out of the queue and award benefits."

Next: Expedited benefits process helps those in dire need. >>