If you have been diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicare the first month you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or, if you are a railroad worker, a railroad disability annuity check.

Once you are diagnosed with ALS and submit your completed application for SSDI to Social Security or your application for a railroad disability annuity to the Railroad Retirement Board, you are subject to a five-month waiting period for disability benefits. Make sure you explicitly state that you have ALS on your disability benefits application.

To enroll in SSDI, go to your local Social Security office. To apply for a railroad disability annuity, contact your local Railroad Retirement Board field office.

To find your local Social Security office, call the National Social Security Hotline at 800-772-1213 or click on the link in the LINKS box.

To find your local Railroad Retirement Board field office, call the Railroad Retirement Board at 312-751-7139 or click on the link in the LINKS box.

To learn how Medicare from the Railroad Retirement Board differs from Medicare from Social Security, click on the link in the GO TO box.