SSA Commissioner Astrue Honored by Alzheimer’s Association

Each year the Alzheimer’s Association honors a public official who has made a significant contribution to helping people with Alzheimer’s, the debilitating and fatal brain disease that impacts the lives of over five million Americans. Michael J. Astrue, the commissioner of the Social Security Administration, is the recipient of the 2010 Humanitarian Award. The honor is given in recognition of Astrue’s work in creating the Compassionate Allowance initiative and for including early-onset Alzheimer’s disease as one of 30 newly identified conditions that qualify for Compassionate Allowance.

The Compassionate Allowance initiative quickly identifies individuals who undeniably qualify for disability benefits because they have early-onset Alzheimer’s, or any one of the other 88 current conditions that meets SSA’s definition of disability. SSA is continuing its work in identifying other medical conditions to add to Compassionate Allowance so that the people who critically need benefits can get them as soon as possible.

In response to the Astrue’s receiving the award, President Obama said, “Commissioner Astrue has worked tirelessly to ensure that disabled Americans receive the Social Security disability benefits they’ve earned in a timely way. I congratulate Mike for receiving this honor, and I know he joins me in admiration for the tremendous work that the Alzheimer’s Association does every day.”