The Social Security Administration added early-onset/younger onset Alzheimer's!

Social Security Disability - Breaking News

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has added early-onset/younger onset Alzheimer's to the list of conditions under its Compassionate Allowance Initiative, giving those with the disease expedited access to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). 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.

Complete statement from Alzheimer's Association

Washington, DC February 11, 2010 – In its effort to improve and expedite the disability
determination process, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced that it
will add early-onset Alzheimer’s disease to its Compassionate Allowances Initiative. The
initiative identifies debilitating diseases and medical conditions that meet the SSA’s
disability standards for Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental
Security Income (SSI). Inclusion in the initiative allows for faster payment of Social
Security benefits to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer’s Association
applauds Social Security Commissioner Michael Astrue and the SSA for understanding
that the cognitive impairment caused by Alzheimer’s disease leaves individuals unable
to maintain gainful employment and deserving of an expedited disability determination.

“As the leading research, advocacy, and support organization for Alzheimer’s disease,
the Alzheimer’s Association has actively sought the inclusion of early-onset Alzheimer’s
in the Social Security Administration’s Compassionate Allowances Initiative,” says Harry
Johns, President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association. “Now, individuals who are
dealing with the enormous challenges of Alzheimer’s won’t also have to endure the
financial and emotional toll of a long disability decision process.”

Since 2003, the Alzheimer’s Association has been advocating on behalf of individuals
with early-onset Alzheimer’s as they navigate the Social Security disability
determinations process and welcomes the SSA’s decision. Until now, individuals with
early-onset Alzheimer’s disease have faced a myriad of challenges when applying for
SSDI or SSI, including a long decision process, initial denials, and multiple appeals.
Today’s decision will simplify and streamline the SSDI/SSI application process and
decrease the wait time for benefits, which for some has lasted as long as three years.
There are currently an estimated 5.3 million Americans with Alzheimer’s disease.
Although the majority of Alzheimer cases are individuals age 65 and older, a significant
number of people under age 65 are also affected by this fatal disease and have few
financial options other than the Social Security disability program.

In addition to Alzheimer’s disease, mixed-dementia and Primary Progressive Aphasia
were also added to the Compassionate Allowances Initiative under the SSA’s recent
decision. To determine which diseases and conditions to include, SSA has held several
public outreach hearings throughout the country that have included testimony from
medical and scientific experts, as well as those directly affected by these diseases and
conditions. The July 2009 Compassionate Allowance Hearing on Early-Onset
Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias, held in Chicago, included testimony from
Johns, several of the nation’s top Alzheimer researchers, and caregivers and individuals
with early-onset Alzheimer’s who discussed the challenges they faced during the
disability application process. During the day-long hearing, SSA officials heard about the
terminal nature of Alzheimer’s, the disabilities that often prohibit work in even the earliest
stages of the disease, and the lack of effective treatments to modify or halt the
progression of Alzheimer’s.

In addition to participation in the hearing, as many as 600 people with Alzheimer’s and
other dementias and their caregivers responded to the Association’s request to submit
written comments to SSA about their experiences applying for disability benefits. A
sample of these comments are posted on SSA’s Compassionate Allowances website:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances/statements.htm

The Social Security Administration’s proactive efforts to “fast track” certain conditions will
help to reduce the backlog of disability claims and, more importantly, ensure those
claims that fall under this initiative will be decided within days instead of months or
years.

“The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s indicates significant enough cognitive impairment to
interfere with daily living activities, including the ability to work. This decision will help a
significant number of Alzheimer families. It will also help the Social Security
Administration, since long delays and appeals in the disability determination process are
costly for the agency,” says Johns. “The Alzheimer’s Association praises SSA for this
decision and remains committed to continue to work with Commissioner Astrue and his
colleagues at the Social Security Administration in support of its implementation
nationwide.”