NEW: Social Security Disability benefits for Early Onset Alzheimer’s

This month the Social Security Administration expanded the list of conditions that are considered part of their compassionate allowance program.  One of the most notable additions to the list of compassionate allowance conditions was early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. 

This condition affects around 200,000 people in the U.S. under the age of 65, and is the sixth leading cause of death in this country.  Before this change, the SSA did not even consider Alzheimer’s to be a disability, and patients with the early-onset version were being denied Social Security medical benefits because they were under the age of 65.

After a hearing last summer and a five month long of public comment period, the SSA finally decided to include early-onset Alzheimer’s disease to the list of conditions covered by the compassionate allowances program.

This is great news for Alzheimer’s victims and their families, as it allows sufferers to receive expedited access to Social Security Disability Insurance.  Not only do victims and their family have a place to turn when Alzheimer’s strikes young, but they can also get their application fast-tracked so they can get needed help that much faster.

You can read more about the compassionate allowance program in our law library article “Can I Fast-Track my Social Security Disability Application?”  Also please visit the Social Security’s Compassionate Allowance page to read more about this program.