Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome (AGS) and Social Security Disability

Social Security Disability Lawyer

Typically, applying for and receiving social security disability benefits can take many months.  But what if your disabling condition is so severe that you cannot wait?  Aicardi-­‐Goutieres Syndrome (AGS) is considered a disabling condition on the Compassionate Allowance List which qualifies an individual for an expedited approval process.

What is AGS?

AGS is a rare genetic disorder that affects the brain, immune system, and skin of babies and children. AGS causes severe brain dysfunction (encephalopathy), and as a result, most affected individuals do not live past childhood, though some individuals with later-­‐onset and less severe symptoms can live into adulthood. Many newborns with AGS do not present with any immediate symptoms, but about 20% of affected newborns are born with a combination of symptoms that mirrors the immune system’s response to a congenital infection. Most AGS-­‐affected individuals experience a phase of severe neurological dysfunction that typically lasts several months.  The damage from this phase is crippling and permanent, resulting in profound intellectual disability, neuromuscular dysfunction, and, in 40% of affected individuals, painful skin lesions on the fingers, toes, and ears.

AGS Symptoms

Some of the symptoms of AGS include:

• Enlarged liver and spleen at birth
• Elevated levels of liver enzymes at birth
• Abnormal neurological responses at birth
• Irritability and poor appetite in infants
• Fevers in the absence of infection in infants
• Seizures in infants
• Developmental regression in infants
• Small head size
• Itchy skin lesions on the fingers, toes, and ears

If you or a loved one is experiencing these symptoms, it is important to talk with a doctor immediately.

Applying for Social Security Disability Benefits and AGS

AGS automatically qualifies you for social security disability benefits under the Social Security Administration’s guidelines.  If you or a loved one is diagnosed with AGS, then you are considered disabled for at least 24 months from the date of diagnoses.