ALS and Social Security disability benefits

In December 2020, the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act was signed into law. This act allows individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis to begin collecting their Social Security benefits without having to wait the five-month period. The waiting period is very familiar to those seeking Social Security disability benefits.

SSD benefits and serious issues with the waiting period

The rule of having to wait for five months to collect SSD benefits was created in order to prevent individuals from collecting benefits for short-term injuries. However, that only makes sense to a certain point because most requests will take longer than the five-month period, during which the government checks on applicants’ claims. However, in terms of ALS, the five-month period does not make sense as ALS diagnoses are irreversible; a person can’t recover from it within a month or two.

ALS disability care prior to the act

Before the new act, people with ALS had to rely on getting their medical expenses covered by Medicare. However, they still needed to wait for the five-month period to obtain a cent from their Social Security benefits. This was typically a difficult time for those with ALS as much of their medical equipment and services are very expensive to obtain.

If you have been denied your right to Social Security benefits, it is important to consult with an attorney as soon as possible. Under the new legislation, you should be able to collect your benefits, but unfortunately, you might run into a number of legal obstacles. An attorney experienced in dealing with SSD claims may provide you with the best possible path to finally seeing those benefits come through.