Disability Benefits for People with LBD

People diagnosed with Lewy body dementia are eligible for Social Security disability benefits under the Compassionate Allowance program of the Social Security Administration (SSA). This program, also known as the CAL initiative, shortens the Administration’s process to identify and decide on claims for applicants with the most serious diseases and disorders.

Social Security Administration recognizes an LBD diagnosis as eligible for disability benefits.

Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a progressive and irreversible disease that impairs thinking, perception, behavior, memory, movement and autonomic functions. As the disease progresses, people lose their capacity to work. For those in their 50s or 60s who planned to work into their 70s or later, sometimes out of financial necessity, LBD can be devastating. When they’re no longer able to carry out basic activities of daily living on their own, 24-hour care and increased medical intervention may be needed. This places a significant psychological, physical and financial burden on the person with the disease and on family caregivers.

Despite the SSA’s approval of Lewy body dementia under the Compassionate Allowance in 2011, many people are unaware of the disability benefits, which may be claimed through Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. Visit the Social Security Administration online to learn more.

To learn about our work, read more.