Social Security Administration Approves Early Onset Alzheimer’s for Disability Benefits

Early onset of Alzheimer’s disease is now considered one of a growing list of Compassionate Allowance
Conditions. If a patient is deemed to have one of the allowance conditions, as determined by a disability
case manager, then they may be eligible to access Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

Social Security disability benefits are paid to individuals who have worked for enough years and have a condition that is so severe that they are not able to work any longer. Administered by the SSA, SSDI makes monthly payments to eligible disabled individuals and is a significant benefit for individuals with early-onset (younger-onset) Alzheimer’s disease. In addition to a monthly payment, it serves as entry to Medicare benefits for those under the age of 65. Family members (i.e. spouses and minor children) may also be eligible
for benefits based on the applicant’s work record. They can then use those benefits to pay for things they need, such as home care.

Once eligible patients receive their monthly payment, they can spend it on whatever they chose, but it will likely go towards their living expenses. However, after they receive disability benefits for 24 months, they will be eligible for Medicare.

Source: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10153.html

Additional Resources:

Full List of Compassionate Allowance Conditions:
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0423022080.

The Alzheimer’s’ Association’s Checklist for Applying for Social Security Disability and Supplemental
Security Income Benefits due to Early-Onset (Younger-Onset) Alzheimer’s Disease:
http://www.alz.org/documents/national/SSDI_checklist.pdf