Receiving a diagnosis of a serious illness is life altering. One is not only shocked by this event, but they are also battling with the disease itself. When the condition is severe, impacting a person’s life on various levels, it is vital to take the time to understand what options there are. The Social Security Administration has various programs to help those living with disabling condition, assisting with financial support while individuals in Colorado and elsewhere are unable to work because of the disease they are living with.
The compassionate allowance program is designed to help those living with serious diseases. The disease is so serious that is significantly impacts a person’s length or quality of life. Because of this, the SSA has established a way to cut the wait time for Social Security disability benefits. Various illnesses and diseases are listed on the compassionate allowance list, and if an applicant is suffering from one of these listed diseases, it is possible to receive SSD benefits quickly.
Early onset Alzheimer’s disease is one of those listed diseases. This occurs when a person under the age of 65 is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, which is a irreversible brain disease that typically effects older people. This disease can cause dementia, which is characterized by the gradual loss of cognitive abilities that were previously attained. This includes the loss of memory, language, judgment and the ability to function.
When a person is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, the individual will experience a gradual cognitive decline until death. The death of a person suffering from this disease is typically from pneumonia, malnutrition or general body wasting. The average survival time after diagnosis is 8 to 10 years.
Living with a serious illness is not only challenging, but it might also be the reality that a person’s lifespan is shortened. Because of this, it is important that these individuals can quickly obtain the necessary resources, such as SSD benefits, as soon as possible.