Social Security Commission Michael J. Astrue announced in July of 2012 that Adult Onset Huntington’s disease will be added to the Compassionate Allowance List as of December, 2012. This news follows the addition of Juvenile Huntington’s disease to the Compassionate Allowance List effective in August, 2012. The expedited disability process will identify people with significant symptoms of this devastating neurological disease. The condition, also called Huntington’s Disease, is an inherited brain disorder that usually appears between the ages of 30 to 50 and worsens over a 10 to 25 year period. Compassionate Allowances are a way of quickly identifying diseases and other medical conditions that qualify under the statutory standard for disability. The Compassionate Allowances program “fast-tracks” disability decisions to ensure that Americans with some of the most serious disabilities receive their benefit decisions within weeks instead of months or years.
Huntington’s Disease results in progressively worse cognitive, behavioral and physical symptoms. In the early stages, a person with the disease may experience subtle changes in mood, thinking and the ability to move. During the second stage of the disease, a person may lose the ability to work and may need help performing general activities of daily living. Many people experience difficulties with balance, swallowing and motor tasks may worsen, and a person may have difficulties with organizing information. Irritability, aggression and apathy are among the other worsening symptoms. In the later stages of Huntington’s disease, people usually need assistance with all activities of daily living. A person with Huntington’s disease may be unable to speak or respond to people but still comprehend what is happening. Involuntary movements may occur. Often, people must receive 24-hour care during the late stages of the disease.
The diagnosis of Huntington’s Disease by itself it not likely to be sufficient to receive Social Security benefits. The Social Security Administration will consider the severity of your Huntington’s Disease to establish how this degenerative disorder is affecting your work-related abilities and daily functioning. By adding this disorder to the Compassionate Allowance list, Commissioner Astrue is allowing people who are experiencing severe symptoms of this tragic disease to have their claims for benefits considered faster than other applicants.
For more information on compassionate allowance conditions please visit: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances/
