There is no nightmare as great for a parent as hearing that their child has a terminal illness or a condition that causes a loss of functioning. To find out your child has a progressive condition that will rob them of functional capacity and eventually end in death is heartbreaking.
There is nothing that can make up for news like that. On top of the obvious concern for the child, a parent must deal with uncertainties about the future of the rest of their family. How will they make ends meet while still caring for the needs of a terminally disabled child? How can they get the best care possible for the child while they are with them?
While it certainly doesn’t solve all of those problems, knowing that the Social Security Disability program is designed in part to help families in these kinds of situations can give a parent some comfort, knowing that some of the costs of the situation can be defrayed by programs such as Medicaid, Medicare and Supplemental Security Income.
You can collect Social Security Disability benefits on behalf of your disabled son or daughter if they meet the criteria set out by the SSA for childhood disabilities. When determining whether a child qualifies for disability benefits, the SSA looks at whether the child has a significant developmental incapacity that hinders them from age appropriate activity.
In most cases, it can take several months of filling out forms, taking your child to medical examinations, and otherwise making your case that your child is genuinely disabled before you can start collecting Social Security Disability benefits. It almost goes without saying that this causes a great deal of hardship for many parents who are already going through a lot.
Fortunately, the Social Security Administration is looking at ways of fixing this problem. While they still need to screen applications to make sure that disability funding only goes to those who are truly disabled, the SSA has come up with a list of conditions, called Compassionate Allowance Listings, which results in automatic qualification for disability.
These conditions, several of which pertain to childhood conditions, also allow claimants to start receiving benefits much faster than others. In most cases, Compassionate Allowance cases are approved within three weeks, and benefit payments begin in the following benefit cycle.
Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses – Condition and Symptoms
Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses is a neurodegenerative disorder that results from a build up of lipofuscin pigments in a child’s body tissues. Lipofuscin is made up of proteins and fats and gathers in nerve cells and other organs (typically the spleen, liver, and kidneys).
Children who have Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses generally appear normal when they are born, but begin to lose their vision around six months of age. By the age of two, they are generally completely blind. Children with this disease then fall into an increasingly vegetative state, until they are brain dead by their fourth birthday. With medical attention, physical death can sometimes be averted until the child is ten to twelve years old. Typical symptoms of Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses include a very small head, muscle contractions (generally sharp and short), and delayed development of motor skills, especially if the motor skills deteriorate.
There is no cure, or even effective treatment for Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses. Doctors can and do treat those who also have seizures as a result of Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses with epilepsy medication, but there is no medication currently available to address the actual disease.
Filing for Social Security Disability Benefits with Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses
The main thing to be concerned with when applying for Social Security Disability benefits with Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses is to make sure that all of the medical documentation is complete. At a minimum, you will need the lab reports that show the activity of the PPT1 enzyme, which causes the condition. You will also need complete mental, neurological, psychological, and ophthalmologic exam results. In most cases, one or two of these exams is sufficient to make your case for disability when dealing with INCL, but you should have all of them in your file.
Your Infantile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses Social Security Disability Case
If you want to make sure to avoid the hassles that can come with incorrect or missing documentation, hiring a Social Security Disability lawyer is the best way to save yourself a lot of time, trouble, and headaches. While your child’s condition automatically qualifies him or her for a Compassionate Allowance, you still should consider having a professional file your claim for you, as this will virtually eliminate the chances of anything coming between you and the disability benefits your chilled needs.
To have your case reviewed by a Social Security Disability attorney, fill out the request for a free evaluation of your case now.
