Social Security Disability Information for Dementia Patients

2010-04-25T06:57:00.000-07:00

Social Security Adds New Compassionate Allowances Covering Lewy Body Dementia

In March, 2010, the Social Security Administration added 38 new Compassionate Allowance conditions covering dementias, including Lewy Body Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Dementia, Vascular Dementia, Huntington’s Dementia, Prion Dementia and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP). Victims of these diseases, who are not eligible for regular Social Benefits because they haven’t reached regular retirement age, now can receive Social Security Disability Benefits early.
The new Compassionate Allowances means the Social Security Administration has an obligation to provide disability benefits quickly to applicants whose medical conditions are so serious that their conditions obviously meet disability standards. Compassionate allowances are a way the Social Security Administration has of quickly identifying diseases and other medical conditions that invariably qualify under the Listing of Impairments based on minimal objective medical information. This allows Social Security to quickly target the most obviously disabled individuals for benefits based on objective medical information that is quickly provided to them by the patient or their loved ones.
It’s extremely important, if you suspect a loved one has dementia, to call the Social Security Administration and start a claim immediately. All you need to do to start a claim, is call them and the claim is retroactive to the day you called. Anyone can call for someone else. The phone number for Social Security is 1-800-772-1213. You can also apply online at www.ssa.gov and click on DISABILITY near the top of the page.
If you want more information on Social Security, applying for it and what to do if your claim is denied, see the book, Living With Lewy’s; Empowering Today’s Dementia Caregiver. Find the book at www.candobooks.us