ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) and disability benefits
Short answer: als (lou gehrig's disease) does not qualify you for disability benefits by itself — and neither does any other diagnosis. Social Security decides on what your condition stops you doing across a full working day. Here is what that means in practice.
What Social Security looks at
ALS is one of the conditions SSA processes under Compassionate Allowances, which is a fast-track for the medical decision. A confirmed diagnosis from an acceptable medical source is generally the substance of the claim. Note that ALS claims are also exempt from the usual five-month SSDI waiting period.
Considered under 11.00 Neurological disorders.
What makes the difference in a file
- Records from the doctor treating you for this condition, covering months rather than a single visit.
- A treating source who has written down what you can and cannot do — not just the diagnosis and the medication list.
- Consistency: what you tell Social Security matching what the notes say, over time.
- An explanation in the record for any gap in treatment. Gaps are read as improvement unless something says otherwise.
Age changes the maths
From 50, and again from 55, Social Security's rules make it progressively harder to deny a claim on the grounds that you could learn different work. If you are between 55 and 65, that is genuinely in your favour, and it is the single most under-appreciated part of the process.
See where you stand — 3 questionsCommon questions
Where does als (lou gehrig's disease) sit in Social Security's rules?
It is considered under 11.00 Neurological disorders. Being covered there does not mean automatic approval — it means criteria have been published. Most approvals actually happen through an assessment of what you can still do, rather than by meeting a listing exactly.
Does my age change anything?
Yes, considerably. From age 50, and again at 55, Social Security's rules make it progressively harder to deny a claim on the basis that you could retrain for different work. The same medical evidence can produce a different outcome at 56 than at 36.
What if I was already denied?
A denial is not the end, and it is common — most initial applications are denied. You generally have 60 days to appeal. Appealing keeps your original filing date, which protects the back pay a fresh application would forfeit.
Does als (lou gehrig's disease) automatically qualify for disability?
No. There is no condition that qualifies automatically on the diagnosis alone. Social Security decides on what the condition stops you doing over a sustained working day, which is why two people with the same diagnosis can get opposite decisions.
How long does a decision take?
An initial decision commonly takes several months. If it is denied, an appeal takes longer again — but appealing is almost always better than starting a fresh application, because a new claim gives up the earlier filing date that back pay is calculated from.
Related conditions
Talk it through with someone.
A Disability Info Specialistcan tell you plainly whether your situation is worth pursuing. Free, and you're never obligated.
Call (207) 368-7925Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 6:30pm Eastern