Early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease is one of few conditions that the Social Security Administration (SSA) includes on its Compassionate Allowances list. Anyone with a disease listed here can have their Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits application expedited.
The SSA allows only those who meet the federal government’s criteria for a disability to be eligible to receive SSI or SSDI.
If you’re unable to perform the same type of work that you did prior to the onset of your condition, you may qualify to receive disability benefits. Whether you’re able to do so is contingent upon whether the SSA has determined that you’re unable to pursue something else due to your poor health. Doctors must expect that your qualifying condition will last more than a year or is terminal.
In addition to qualifying as disabled, you must have worked in a recent role where you contributed enough to the Social Security system to have built up disability benefits.
SSI benefits are reserved for those 65 and older who can both demonstrate need and that they’re disabled or blind. You or a family member can receive SSDI if you have a qualifying disability and you’re paid into the system for an adequate amount of time.
Individuals who have early-onset Alzheimer’s disease or dementia often have their first application for disability benefits denied. This occurs because the applicant fails to provide enough of information about their medical team, the tests that were performed or medications prescribed.
A St. Louis Social Security disability attorney can help you adequately document your diagnosis so that you’ll have the best chance for getting your application approved.
