More than 5 million Americans suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and Social Security is highlighting a program that offers faster processing for those with a disability claims.

Since the onset of Alzheimer’s can occur in people before they retire, it may strike during a person’s working years. Social Security or SSI disability benefits and services can be vital to people with early-onset Alzheimer’s who are unable to work. Jack Myers with Social Security points out that for more than a decade, Social Security has included early-onset Alzheimer’s disease on their Compassionate Allowance list. The Compassionate Allowance program identifies debilitating diseases and medical conditions that are so severe they meet the Social Security disability standards by themselves. 

If a disability applicant is diagnosed with one of the 250+ conditions on the list, Social Security can approve the medical portion of the disability application much faster. Myers points out to identify CAL conditions, Social Security receives information from the public, disability determination service communities, medical and scientific experts, and the National Institutes of Health. On that website you can submit conditions that you think should be included on the list.  

You can learn more about the Compassionate Allowance program at www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances.