Doctors and researchers know a lot more about dementia than they used to. It’s more easily diagnosed – which means that those who have it and their families can begin to prepare for the future. That future will likely involve a person with a dementia-related condition no longer being able to work.
While Alzheimer’s disease – the most widely known dementia condition – typically strikes people who are near or past retirement age, people who aren’t even close to retirement age can also suffer from dementia. Even Alzheimer’s has an “early onset” version that can strike people in their 40s or 50s.
What is the CAL initiative?
Fortunately, those with a dementia-related condition who are no longer able to work can qualify to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). In fact, a number of conditions are covered under the Compassionate Allowances (CAL) initiative. That program allows people suffering from a wide range of serious and irreversible conditions to have their SSDI applications expedited.
In addition to Alzheimer’s disease, the CAL initiative covers dementia-related conditions including:
- Adult-onset Huntington disease
- Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)
- Lewy body dementia
- Primary progressive aphasia (PPA)
- Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)
This isn’t a complete list, and the CAL initiative’s list of qualifying medical conditions is regularly updated.
It’s important not to assume that because a condition is included in the CAL list, an SSDI application will just sail through. Nothing involving the Social Security Administration (SSA) can be expected to move quickly and without any hiccups. That’s especially true with so much uncertainty and upheaval in federal agencies right now.
By submitting a complete and accurate application, with all the necessary medical and other documentation, those seeking SSDI benefits can improve their chances of beginning to get their benefits as soon as possible. It’s crucial to show how their condition affects an applicant’s ability to work. Even a minor mistake can cause an application to be delayed. It’s often worthwhile to seek legal guidance to help ensure that an SSDI application meets all the requirements and that benefits aren’t unnecessarily delayed or denied.