Shanice Harris | Feb 26, 2017

ALS group urges exemption from SSDI waiting period

A bill to eliminate the five-month waiting period for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) “can mean the difference between life and death,” the president of the ALS Association said recently.

“Nearly half of those living with ALS will die within 16 months of diagnosis, so it’s critical that they receive the benefits they deserve and have paid for as quickly as possible,” Barbara Newhouse said. “This effort is truly bipartisan and we applaud those champions in the Senate and House for fighting for people with ALS and working to ensure they have access to the vital health and disability benefits.”

 

The legislation was introduced on the Senate floor by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Tom Cotton (R-AR). A companion bill, sponsored by Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Peter King (R-NY), was delivered to the House of Representatives.

ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting the brain’s ability to send messages to the nervous system. People suffering from the disease eventually lose their ability to control muscle movement.

While SSDI provides benefits to ALS patients who might not be able to work, under current law they still must wait five months before they can begin to receive benefits.

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