What is the Social Security Compassionate Allowance Initiative?
The Compassionate Allowance Initiative recognizes certain medical conditions and diseases that are life-threatening and/or prevent individuals from working for at least 12 months. Persons diagnosed with an illness that qualifies for a Compassionate Allowance can apply to receive disability benefits more quickly.
Recently, the Social Security Commissioner has held a series of hearings to determine if certain conditions should qualify for Compassionate Allowances. Previous hearings focused on rare diseases, cancers, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) and stroke. On July 29 in Chicago, a hearing was held to discuss younger-onset Alzheimer’s. Persons diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s often face many challenges when applying for Social Security disability benefits, at a time when they are no longer able to work as they might have planned. Adding younger-onset Alzheimer’s or other dementia to the Compassionate Allowance Initiative list will decrease wait time for benefits and greatly help people access the benefits they need.
Below is a link to a video of the hearing, at which Alzheimer's Association staff and volunteers provided testimony and discussion. We’ll also have a blog post later in the week from one of our own Minnesota volunteers who attended in person!
mms://v2.webcasting.com/archives/drakehotel/07.29.2009drakehotel-ssa.wmv
Monday, August 3, 2009
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