Social Security Disability for People living with HIV

If you’ve been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and you can’t work because of the illnesses associated with HIV/AIDS but you have worked in the past you can apply for Social Security disability benefits.

Disability benefits can help you pay for living expenses like housing and food while you can’t work. As long as you have worked in the past and you expect that you won’t be able to work for at least 12 months because of your illness you can apply for disability benefits.

When you apply for Social Security disability benefits you must show that you meet the requirements set by the Social Security Administration (SSA). All of the requirements for each unique medical condition recognized by the SSA are listed in the Blue Book. You can search the Blue Book on the SSA’s website.

To be approved for disability benefits because of HIV/AIDS you will need to submit medical records with your application that show that you meet at least one of these requirements:

• You experience frequent or persistent bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic infections

• You’ve developed cancer and that the cancer is advanced or terminal

• There is fluid collecting on the brain or brain swelling that causes severe disruption in your ability to think or move effectively

• You’ve had severe weight loss associated with wasting syndrome.

• You need IV fluids or a feeding tube for a month or more because of uncontrolled and persistent diarrhea.

• You experience other types of infections (sinusitis, encephalitis, sepsis, etc) that require hospitalization, IV therapy, or which are resistant to treatment

• Your frequent infections and other complications have severely compromised your ability to perform daily activities.

Medical evidence is critically important to proving that you meet the requirements. Submit any and all medical records that are relevant like a letter of diagnosis, blood tests, MRIs, PET scans, disability forms for your doctor to fill out, or X-rays. If you can’t meet the Blue Book requirements but you also can’t work you can include an RFC with your application.

RFC stands for Residual Functional Capacity. The RFC form, which is available on the SSA’s website, is a form your doctor needs to fill out for you. The doctor should write in detail how your condition limits your ability to work. The more details the doctor provides the stronger your case will be.

The SSA will look at the RFC form, your work history, your education, your age, and other factors to decide if there is any type of job that you would be able to do. If they can’t find a job that you’d be able to do with the limitations that you have then you will likely be approved for disability benefits.

You can start filling out the application for Social Security disability benefits online through the Social Security Administration’s website. If you need help filling for disability or submitting your medical records make an appointment at your local Social Security Administration office and someone there will help you.

• https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/

• https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/general-info.htm

• https://www.disabilitybenefitscenter.org/faq/forms-doctor-fills-out

• https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms/images/SSA4/G-SSA-4734-U8-1.pdf

• https://www.disabilitybenefitscenter.org/blog/help-apply-for-benefits