Living with a disability can often mean that certain matters are more urgent than they are for other individuals. When it comes to receiving disability benefits, having access to those benefits and the provided income could make a substantial difference a person’s ability to make ends meet. Fortunately, a new law is making way for individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, to receive their benefits sooner.
Florida readers may be interested in a recent report discussing a bill that was signed into law in December. The ALS Disability Insurance Access Act allows individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis to bypass the typical five-month waiting period required by the Social Security Administration for receiving disability benefits. However, the SSA will still need to create proper procedures for putting the law into effect.
The elimination of this waiting period is helpful to individuals with ALS because it is a fast-moving and debilitating disease. Individuals can find their conditions worsening rapidly, and in just a few months, they could be completely disabled, meaning unable to work and likely facing mounting medical bills. Receiving their disability benefits as soon as possible could allow them to gain much-needed income, qualify for Medicaid and reap other benefits that could help them handle the effects of their condition.
Receiving disability benefits can make a substantial difference in a person’s life. This new law may help individuals living with ALS in Florida and elsewhere in the United States feel less of the financial burden that their condition can easily create. Of course, individuals will still need to apply for benefits through the SSA and gain approval before qualifying.
