In recent years, Social Security Administration has taken large steps towards recognizing the fact some types of medical conditions should qualify sufferers for disability benefits automatically, on account of the conditions being serious enough that those who have them fit the Social Security Administration definition of being disabled. Since 2008, the Compassionate Allowances program has allowed people with qualifying conditions to start receiving Social Security Disability benefits as early as three weeks after initially applying for disability. This is a considerable improvement over the months-long (and sometimes years-long) process of applying, re-applying and appealing which most people have to go through before being approved for Social Security Disability benefits. The Social Security Administration added early onset/younger-onset Alzheimer’s to the list of conditions under its Compassionate Allowance guidelines, giving those with the disease expedited access to Social Security Disability benefits. The Alzheimer’s Association, a longtime advocate for those with early onset Alzheimer’s, has played an integral role in this movement to reduce the length of disability decision process. Alzheimer’s Disease is a complicated disability.
Alzheimer’s is a brain disease that affects an individual’s memory, behavior, and thinking patterns. It is the most common form of dementia, accounting for about 50 to 70 percent of all dementia cases. The disease attacks the brain, and symptoms worsen progressively over time. When an individual suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease, certain types of nerve cells in different areas of the brain are destroyed. This results in a gradual decline in judgment, reasoning ability, verbal communication and cognitive skills. The exact symptoms and effects of Alzheimer’s Disease vary from individual to individual, but common symptoms include a loss of memory, disorientation, communication issues, reasoning problems, poor judgment, decision-making difficulties, and personality changes such as depression, mood swings, and distrust in others. Claimants applying for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits for Alzheimer’s are typically approved if symptoms are common to dementia episodes of decomposition in which there is an increase in signs and symptoms, accompanying a loss of functioning (this causes difficulties in performing everyday activities, inability to maintain social relationships, and inability to maintain concentration, persistence or pace when performing tasks); episodes requiring an increase in treatment or relocation to a less stressful situation and medical records proving a sudden significant increase in medication or the need for a more structured psychological support system. Episodes must be documented and there must be at least three episodes within one year (on average of one every four months, each lasting for at least two weeks. Each person’s situation is unique, so it is very important not to delay. When filing for Social Security Disability due to a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s Disease, you need to include as much medical documentation as possible.
Medical records, documents, and written statements from your doctors supporting your diagnosis will be crucial to the success of your Social Security Disability claim.
