When Can a Dementia Diagnosis Result in SSDI Eligibility?

If an adult is diagnosed with a form of dementia, can they be eligible to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits? There is no straightforward yes-or-no answer. Instead, it will depend on the individual’s circumstances and the degree of impairment caused by their dementia, as well as their age. Our national SSDI lawyers can tell you more about dementia and SSDI eligibility, and we are here to assist you with your SSDI application whether you are just getting ready to apply or you need help appealing an initial denial.

Age, SSDI Benefits, and a Dementia Diagnosis

One of the first things to consider with a dementia diagnosis is whether the person who has been diagnosed (and may be considered disabled as a result of their dementia) is already receiving benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA) due to age. The SSA administers disability benefits, but it also administers retirement benefits regardless of a person’s disability, and a person who reaches retirement age will automatically have their SSDI benefits converted to regular retirement benefits.

Accordingly, if you (or a loved one diagnosed with dementia) is already at the SSA’s identified retirement age and receiving retirement benefits through the SSA, there is no additional disability benefit through the SSDI.

Dementia and SSDI Eligibility

For an adult who has not yet reached retirement age according to the SSA, it may be possible to obtain SSDI benefits after a dementia diagnosis. It will largely depend on whether the person’s experience with dementia involves the inability to engage in substantial gainful activity. To qualify for SSDI benefits, a person must have a medical condition that is expected to last at least 12 months or to result in death (which is generally true of all forms of dementia, a series of diseases that cannot be reversed) and to prevent the person from engaging in substantial gainful activity, or SGA.

The issue will be whether or not the person’s dementia is severe enough, or has advanced enough, to prevent the person from engaging in SGA. In the early stages of some forms of dementia, a person may not qualify for SSDI benefits, but as the condition progresses, that person may become eligible for SSDI payments. It will be critical to discuss your current medical circumstances with your health care providers and with an SSDI attorney who can assist you.

Contact Our National Disability Benefits Lawyers for Assistance 

If you were recently diagnosed with dementia, or if a spouse or parent recently received a dementia diagnosis, it is important to find out more about applying for SSDI benefits. Depending on the person’s age and other eligibility factors, it may be possible to begin receiving SSDI benefits due to the disabling nature of dementia. It is important to seek assistance with your SSDI application from one of the experienced national SSDI benefits attorneys at the Law Offices of Stephen Barszcz. Many initial SSDI applicants are denied benefits because of minor errors or omissions, and our firm can help you to ensure that your first application is accurate and complete. We can also assist you with your reconsideration or appeal if you have been initially denied benefits. Contact us today for help with your SSDI claim.

Sources:

ssa.gov/disability

nia.nih.gov/health/alzheimers-and-dementia/understanding-different-types-dementia