Millions of people in Indiana and around the country have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. It is a progressive disease, which means that its symptoms become more debilitating as time passes. An Alzheimer’s patient may choose to not reveal their condition to their friends and family members right away if their symptoms are mild, but that should not prevent them from applying for government benefits that could make their lives easier.
Social Security Disability
A disability is a condition that makes it difficult or impossible for an individual to perform daily tasks. Alzheimer’s disease is considered a disability because all people afflicted with the condition will be unable to live without assistance at some point. This is why Alzheimer’s disease is included in the Social Security Administration’s list of qualifying neurological and mental disorders. This means a person diagnosed with the condition should be able to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits.
Compassionate Allowances
Many Alzheimer’s patients are denied SSDI benefits even though the SSA classifies the disease as a qualifying condition. Denials are especially common when individuals suffer from early-onset Alzheimer’s and have mild symptoms. To help Alzheimer’s patients who wish to apply for or have been denied benefits, the SSA has added early-onset Alzheimer’s to the list of conditions that qualify for its Compassionate Allowances initiative. This program provides expedited processing of applications for disability benefits received from individuals who suffer from conditions that clearly meet SSA standards. Early-onset Alzheimer’s qualifies for the initiative because the disease has no cure and its symptoms become progressively worse over time.
Help for Alzheimer’s patients
Alzheimer’s disease is a debilitating condition that becomes worse as time progresses. This is why the SSA has included the condition in its list of qualifying neurological and mental disorders. To help Alzheimer’s patients who apply for or have been denied SSDI benefits, the SSA has also added early-onset Alzheimer’s to the list of conditions that qualify for its Compassionate Allowances initiative.