A New Bill Aims To Help Patients With Als

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A New Bill Aims To Help Patients With Als

For most people in Georgia, applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) means dealing with the five-month waiting period. Some people get lucky as their physical injuries heal during that time, and they don’t need SSDI after all. However, other people are suffering from permanent, degenerative diseases, like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), that have no cure. For these people, it’s imperative they receive their disability benefits as quickly as possible.

The U.S. Senate passes the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act of 2019

In December 2020, the United States Senate passed a bill concerning ALS and SSDI. If the bill passes in the House of Representatives, individuals with ALS will be able to bypass the five-month waiting period. Unlike people with other medical conditions, they’ll be able to start receiving their benefits as soon as possible.

ALS is a degenerative disease with rapid progression. As a result, when someone must wait five months for his or her SSDI, that person could easily die or become incapacitated before those benefits arrive. This new bill could make it easier for ALS patients to care for themselves and their families. Since both parties back the bill, its supporters are hopeful that it will clear the House of Representatives and become law within the next few months.

Since most ALS patients are unable to work, especially as the disease reaches the later stages, disability benefits can help them compensate for their lost wages. These benefits could also help them pay household bills, buy groceries and take care of their loved ones. The benefits may also cover certain treatments and medical procedures. For these reasons and more, ALS patients need to get their benefits as soon as they can.

Do you need an attorney to apply for disability benefits?

While you don’t necessarily need an attorney to file for SSDI, he or she can make the process much easier. A lawyer could walk you through the entire process, so you won’t have to figure it out by yourself. He or she could also help you appeal a claim and provide more evidence, so you can secure your disability benefits.