Disability Benefits for Alzheimer’s

Is Alzheimer’s Considered a Disability for Medicaid?

For Alzheimer’s patients and people suffering from other forms of dementia, one of the disability listings that they can qualify for is neurocognitive disorder (listing 12.02). The applicants need to present all the medical evidence on how their abilities are affected such as memory, learning, judgment, and planning skills. 

Early onset Alzheimer’s has been added by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to its disability conditions. The disorder has been under the Compassionate Allowances (CAL) initiative. 

It will help the claimants to speed up the process of filing for disability with Alzheimer’s with either Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Moreover, they need to prove the severity of their condition is preventing them from any work.

What is Alzheimer’s?

Alzheimer’s is a progressive form of dementia that causes damage to the brain. While the condition is typically associated with the elderly, people can develop Alzheimer’s in their 40s or 50s. Early signs of Alzheimer’s include mild memory loss and occasional confusion. 

As the disease progresses, these symptoms will become more severe. Symptoms include irritability, changes in mood and personality, confusion, trouble finding the right words during a conversation, trouble sleeping, wandering, inadequate hygiene, and delusions. Alzheimer’s is related to several disabilities such as depression, Parkinson’s disease, dementia, diffuse Lewy body disease, and others.

Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disorder

Early symptoms of Alzheimer’s include short-term memory problems, difficulty in concentrating, changes in behavior and difficulties with routine activities. Those symptoms worsen as the disease progresses.

Some of the most common symptoms of early Alzheimer’s are:

• Forgetting about recent conversations,
• Misplacing items,
• Forgetting the names of places,
• Finding it harder to make decisions,
• Becoming less flexible,
• Facing trouble thinking of the right word,
• Asking repetitive questions repetitively,
• Exercising poor judgment,
• Becoming more hesitant to try new things,
• and more.

As the disease progresses, the symptoms will become more severe. Symptoms include irritability, changes in mood and personality, confusion, trouble finding the right words during a conversation, trouble sleeping, wandering, inadequate hygiene, and delusions.

In severe cases of Alzheimer’s, people experience hallucinations and delusions, problems with communication, difficulty in swallowing, sleep disturbances, changes in personality and behavior. The person suffering from Alzheimer’s may not even be aware of the present or past, and have difficulty recognizing family members and friends. For example, they may believe that they are living in their past and may not recognize loved ones who were not present in the time in which they believe they are living.

Alzheimer’s is also often related to other diseases such as depression, Parkinson’s disease, vascular dementia, diffuse Lewy body disease, and others. This means that other symptoms may also be present. 

Can you get a disability for Alzheimer’s?

The SSA administers whether Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) makes monthly payments to the disabling applicants who are eligible. The aid will provide enormous benefits to individuals who have an early onset of Alzheimer’s disorder.  

SSDI benefits are made available through an insurance program that is managed by the federal government. The insurance program is funded through paycheck deductions, so SSDI benefits are specifically available to people who have worked in the past. The amount of money received from SSDI depends on the number of years one has worked and the taxes paid.

In order to be approved for disability benefits for Alzheimer’s, one must have worked enough to qualify and show that the disability is severe and long-term. As a general rule, applicants must have worked at least 5 of the 10 years leading up to the application date to qualify for benefits.

It is possible for a person to be approved for SSDI even with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, as long as it is shown that the disease will prevent them from doing work for at least a year. To qualify, the applicant must prove that their condition is severe enough to limit their physical or mental capabilities, which could prevent them from doing any kind of work.

The SSA also administers Medicaid to provide health care coverage and support services for eligible individuals with disabilities, including those with Alzheimer’s. In order to qualify for Medicaid due to the disability of Alzheimer’s, one must also meet certain criteria.

How to apply for Alzheimer’s disability?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) maintains that people who have Alzheimer’s may qualify for benefits depending on how far the disease has progressed. To qualify for benefits, the applicant will need to show that they have one or more symptoms that interfere with their ability to complete job tasks.

These symptoms may include:

• Marked memory loss,
• Disorientation,
• Severe mood swings,
• Trouble completing routine tasks,
• Difficulty maintaining relationships,
• Periods of disorientation, and more.

The most important part of the application process is the collection of medical evidence. Medical records completed by a licensed medical provider are used to determine whether a disability for Alzheimer’s exists or not. These records are also used to evaluate if a person can work with reasonable accommodations.

Once all the medical evidence is gathered, the applicant can apply for disability benefits by completing an application at an SSA office or online. After submitting the completed application, it is then reviewed by the SSA who will make a decision on whether to approve or deny benefits. If you are approved, the amount of money received will depend on how much the applicant has worked in the past.

It is important to note that the application process for SSDI and Medicaid benefits will take some time. The applicant should be prepared to wait up to a few months before they will hear back from the SSA. After an individual is approved, they may receive benefits for a lifetime, as long as they are still disabled.

Get legal help with the disability claim process

If you or someone you know is considering applying for disability benefits due to Alzheimer’s, it is important to get legal help. A qualified Disability Lawyers in Philadelphia can help ensure that the application process goes smoothly and that all of the necessary medical evidence is collected.

They can also represent the applicant in their appeal, if needed. An experienced attorney will have a better understanding of the laws and regulations surrounding Alzheimer’s disability benefits and can provide invaluable assistance during this time.