There are various medical conditions associated with dementia such as head injuries, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, and more. Generally, dementia occurs in elderly patients but its symptoms can occur at any age.
Dementia symptoms can prevent individuals from working consistently, and as a result such individuals likely qualify for Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability benefits. Individuals can submit applications for SSDI benefits if they aren’t receiving any retirement benefits currently. After reaching the full retirement age the SSDI benefits are categorized as retirement benefits.
Conditions to qualify for dementia disability benefits
The Social Security Administration (SSA) will provide benefits to a disabled individual if their disability meets the requirements set forth in SSA’s official listing of impairments. If an applicant’s disability has decreased their functioning to an extent that they are unable to work, then they may qualify for the benefits. Meeting the disability listing requirements is the quickest and simplest way to qualify for disability benefits.
The most common listing associated with dementia is under neurocognitive disorders. To meet the requirements of this listing, applicants must provide medical evidence to show that their abilities have declined significantly in the areas listed below:
- Short-term memory and learning
- Judgment and planning
- Ability to recall words or use proper words
- Physical coordination
- Social judgment
If medical records and documents highlight that the applicant’s condition has declined significantly, SSA then checks whether their ability to function has been affected severely because of the decline. The applicant seeking disability for dementia must also have extreme limitations in the following areas:
- Using information, understanding, or remembering. Dementia affects the ability of a person to learn new things, handle new tasks, understand instructions, and more.
- Focusing on or completing tasks.
- Managing or adapting oneself to normal hazards and taking necessary precautions.
How the Residual Functional Capacity of the person is determined
If the applicant’s mental condition doesn’t meet the specific requirements of the SSA’s disability listing, the individual’s “residual functional capacity” is calculated based on the evidence submitted by the individual. The RFC refers to the individual’s physical and mental limitations and how well they can perform at work.
Physically, an individual with dementia may be limited to medium, sedentary, or light work. Mentally, they may have limitations in handling skilled or semi-skilled work which may affect their ability to complete tasks. Also, dementia patients typically have poor attention skills and memory. Hence, their doctor may limit them to unskilled, simple work.
In some cases, a dementia patient’s cognitive skills decline so significantly they are unable to perform any kind of work. In severe cases, they may even suffer from changes in personality which hinder their ability to work alongside other people. As a result, the individual could be restricted from work or jobs that require close contact with supervisors, co-workers, or the general public.
Additionally, if the patient is taking any treatment or medication for dementia, the drugs may cause some side effects such as fatigue and drowsiness. A person with dementia may be eligible to claim disability benefits if this fatigue restricts their ability to perform physical demands.
Using RFC for determining if the individual can work
The SSA uses their RFC assessment to determine the claimant’s performance of their past work. The SSA also uses the RFC as well as the applicant’s work skills, education level, and age to see whether or not the individual can do any job.
Additionally, the SSA also uses its Medical-Vocational Guidelines to determine work limitations in relation to an applicant’s skill group, age, and education. If the claimant’s age is 50 or older, the SSA is more likely to decide that they can’t perform any kind of job and will be considered disabled.
You can check the medical-vocational guidelines before applying for disability for dementia benefits.
Third Party Statements
In the application for disability benefits, the claimant should show that they have been diagnosed clinically with the disease and that their condition is severe enough to prevent them from engaging in consistent work.
The SSA mainly focuses on the opinions of the claimant’s doctors, medical history, and neuropsychological or psychological testing. However, it is worth noting that the SSA also considers the statements of third parties such as the claimant’s caretakers and family members.
These statements allow the SSA to better understand the applicant’s condition. They can also learn about the applicant’s ability to interact with others, concentrate on tasks, and perform daily activities. The statements and documents submitted to the SSA should feature detailed info of the applicant’s condition in order to ensure easy and quick approval of the application.
Many people seeking legal assistance for their loved ones who have dementia have been led to believe that only attorneys can provide them with the best help possible. This simply is not true. There are a number of non-attorney representatives that can help families understand their dementia options and those options include helping manage the costs of care.
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