Compassionate allowance

Question: Could my mom might be able to qualify for a Social Security Disability “compassionate allowance” because of her early onset Alzheimer’s?

Answer: She might, but the only way to know for sure is for her to submit an application for Social Security disability benefits. Compassionate Allowances are a way of quickly identifying diseases and other medical conditions that clearly qualify for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits. The process allows us to identify and make speedy decisions for the most obviously disabled individuals. Recently 12 cardiac conditions were added to our original list, which now includes cancers, brain disorders, and rare diseases. Americans with these devastating disabilities, such as early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, now can get approved for benefits in a matter of days, rather than months or years. To see a complete list of the Compassionate Allowance conditions, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/compassionateallowances.