Parkinson’s Disease Increasing In U.S., Highlighting Importance Of SSDI Benefits, Allsup Explains
April 16 2024 - 12:32PM
The number of Americans with Parkinson’s disease (PD) continues to
increase, highlighting the importance of financial supports for
individuals during Parkinson’s Awareness Month in April, according
to Allsup, a leading provider of Social Security Disability
Insurance (SSDI) representation, return to work and veterans
disability appeals services. This month-long observance shines a
spotlight on the challenges faced by nearly 1 million people in the
U.S., a number expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2030, according
to the Parkinson’s Foundation. PD is the second-most common
neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease. According to
the World Health Organization, PD is a progressive disorder that
affects over 10 million people worldwide characterized by movement
issues, tremors, stiffness and related symptoms that lead to
disability and care needs.
“Individuals can experience onset of Parkinson’s disease in
their 40s and 50s, which means it’s important to understand their
financial options, including applying for Social Security
disability benefits if they must stop working,” said T.J. Geist,
Principal Advocate at Allsup. Young onset is defined as individuals
who receive a PD diagnosis before age 50. The annual economic
impact of Parkinson’s disease on patients, families, and the U.S.
government is reported to be $51.9 billion, according to research
from The Michael J. Fox Foundation. This highlights the substantial
financial burden of the disease on both individuals and the wider
economy.
For those living with Parkinson’s disease, Allsup provides
support by navigating the SSDI application process, aiming to
ensure individuals receive the benefits and assistance they
rightfully need, as timely as possible. “SSDI benefits are a key
support for individuals navigating the path to medical stability,”
Geist said. Through its exclusive Disability Financial Solutions ®,
Allsup offers specialized assistance to its customers, including
patients with Parkinson’s disease, underscoring the critical role
of financial resources in their treatment journey.
Innovations in PD research offer new paths for understanding and
treatment. Scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine have discovered
that the protein alpha-synuclein plays a significant role in the
progression of PD, opening potential avenues for slowing or halting
the disease’s advancement. Furthermore, The Michael J. Fox
Foundation’s development of a spinal fluid test that accurately
detects Parkinson’s before symptom onset marks a significant leap
forward in early intervention and personalized medicine. This test,
which examines spinal fluid for Parkinson's pathology with over 90%
accuracy, is a major step forward in understanding and treating
Parkinson's more effectively, promising to revolutionize both
research and patient care.
These insights are crucial in shaping both medical treatment and
financial strategies for individuals with Parkinson’s disease.
“Medical diagnosis and treatment is important because of the
medical documentation that is required for SSDI benefits approval,”
Geist explained. “Our Allsup professionals and claimants have seen
incredible advances in medical treatment over the years, and these
trends are important for individuals who are facing important
decisions about their healthcare, choices about continuing to work,
and planning for their financial futures.”
The unveiling of groundbreaking studies heralds new avenues for
understanding the disease and innovative treatments, spearheading a
hopeful era in Parkinson’s care. Additionally, the importance of a
supportive network cannot be overstated; for those diagnosed under
50 years of age, organizations like the Young Onset Parkinson’s
Network (YOPN) play a crucial role in connecting individuals with
young onset Parkinson’s disease (YOPD) to resources, community and
support, emphasizing the collective journey towards managing and
combating the disease.
For more information about applying for SSDI benefits, filing
your appeal if you were denied, or to see if you are eligible,
visit FileSSDI.Allsup.com or call 1-800-678-3276. Be sure to ask
about our Disability Financial Solutions for SSDI customers. Allsup
helps more claimants get approved at the applicant level than any
other representative nationwide.
ABOUT YOPNYoung Onset Parkinson’s Network is a nonprofit,
501(c)(3) educational and charitable organization for those
diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease (YOPD) as well as
the individuals related to and/or caring for those with the
disease. The organization seeks to increase awareness of YOPD by
providing information, resources, and services to help members
strengthen their mind and body within a supportive community.
Through its network, YOPN members have the holistic support needed
not only to manage, but to thrive with this unexpected, early
diagnosis. To learn more, visit www.yopnetwork.org.
ABOUT ALLSUPAllsup and its subsidiaries provide
nationwide Social Security disability, veterans disability appeal,
disability financial solutions, return to work, and healthcare
benefits services for individuals, their employers and insurance
carriers. Allsup professionals deliver specialized services
supporting people with disabilities and seniors so they may lead
lives that are as financially secure and as healthy as possible.
Founded in 1984, the company is based in Belleville, Illinois, near
St. Louis. Learn more at Allsup.com and @Allsup or download a free
PDF of Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance: Getting
It Right The First Time.
- T.J. Geist, Principal Advocate at Allsup
Rebecca Ray
Allsup
(618) 236-5065
r.ray@allsup.com
Laura C. Sala
Allsup
(618) 409-7079
l.sala@allsup.com