Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia are largely considered diseases that affect senior citizens. However, early-onset Alzheimer’s can begin to seriously impair a person’s cognitive abilities when they’re in their 40s or 50s – and sometimes even younger.
Since Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, a person who’s diagnosed with the early-onset type can see their professional life cut short by decades. Even if they’re only at the stage where they’re occasionally forgetting the names of loved ones or getting lost when they go for a walk or drive, the future is an uncertain one. Researchers have been able to slow the progress of the disease in some people. However, they haven’t yet found a cure.
What the Compassionate Allowances initiative can do
As you plan for your financial future, you’re likely considering applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). You should know that early-onset Alzheimer’s and a number of related types of dementia are included in SSDI’s Compassionate Allowances (CAL) initiative. This program allows people with serious and irreversible diseases and medical conditions to receive expedited approval.
In addition to early-onset Alzheimer’s, other dementia conditions are included in the CAL initiative. Among them are:
- Adult-onset Huntington disease
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)
- Frontotemporal dementia (FTD)
- Lewy body dementia
- Primary progressive aphasia (PPA)
- Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)
Even if you have a condition that’s included in the CAL initiative, SSDI is still a federal government program. That means that simple errors and omissions can slow down or even derail your application. If you or a loved one is having difficulty getting approved for the benefits you need, having legal guidance can help.