In December 2020, Social Security disability law changed for people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The ALS Disability Insurance Access Act eliminated the five-month waiting period that most Social Security disability applicants have before they can begin receiving benefits.
History of the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act
The ALS Disability Insurance Access Act was first introduced to Congress by one member of the House Representatives in 2016.
It took four years of hard work and dedication from ALS Advocates to get the bill passed. Over the years, ALS advocates reached out to members of Congress an estimated 54,000 times by various means, including phone calls, letters, social media posts, and personal meetings.
By the time the bill was voted on in late 2020, it had broad bipartisan support. Here’s what happened after the first Representative introduced the law:
- By the end of 2016, the bill had 55 cosponsors in the House of Representatives and 20 cosponsors in the Senate
- When the bill was reintroduced in 2017, the bill had 33 cosponsors rather than just one sponsor
- By 2020, the bill had support from 67 senators and 305 Representatives
- The Senate voted on the bill on December 2, 2020, with tremendous bipartisan support. The final vote was 96 Senators in favor of the bill, one Senator voting against the bill, and three Senators not voting on the bill.
- The bill passed the House of Representatives on December 8, 2020
- The President of the United States signed the bill into law on December 22, 2020.
In the four years between when this bill was introduced and its vote in the Senate, only 3% of bills were made into law.
The new law only applies to Social Security disability applicants seeking benefits after the law was enacted.
How People With ALS Qualify for Social Security Disability
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that is always fatal. Currently, there is no cure, and life expectancy is approximately two to five years. During the time from diagnosis to death, people lose control of their muscles and are often unable to breathe, eat, move, or speak independently as the disease progresses. Accordingly, they are unable to work.
However, even with this serious prognosis and the new law that eliminates the five-month wait period, an ALS diagnosis alone is not enough to qualify for Social Security disability benefits. You must still complete a Social Security disability application and provide supporting medical documentation to have your application approved.
While the Social Security Administration used to require people with ALS to have specific disabling symptoms before they could get benefits, that is no longer the case. Now, people with Lou Gehrig’s disease may qualify for benefits pursuant to Section 11.10 of the Listing Impairments. Section 11.10 requires that an applicant have:
- Documentation of an ALS diagnosis based on generally accepted methods consistent with the prevailing state of medical knowledge and clinical practice
- Lab testing to establish the diagnosis when the clinical findings of upper and lower motor neuron disease are not present in three or more regions
Electrophysiological studies, such as nerve conduction velocity studies and electromyography (EMG), may support your diagnosis of ALS and may be submitted with your application.
Additionally, you must establish that you have worked long enough and acquired enough work credits to qualify for Social Security disability benefits.
Why You Still Need a Social Security Disability Lawyer
People with ALS qualify for Social Security disability benefits without the typical five-month wait period. However, a mistake on your application or a missing piece of documentation could delay your benefits considerably.
You don’t need the stress of completing your own application and hoping that everything is in order. Instead, we encourage you to contact our experienced Massachusetts disability lawyers for a free consultation if you, or someone you love, are seeking Social Security disability benefits in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, or Rhode Island.
Are You Looking for a Social Security Disability Attorney in Boston, MA?
If you are looking to apply for social security disability, you need to speak with an experienced social security disability lawyer as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Natick Office directly at 508.283.5500 to schedule your free consultation.
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