Being HIV positive or having the AIDS diagnosis no longer means immediate disability. In 2017, the Social Security Administration announced some changes to eligibility for HIV and AIDS patients. If you or a loved one is unable to work due to HIV or AIDS, read on to learn about qualifying for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.
General Requirements for SSDI
A person who applies for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits must meet the following requirements:
- Have a medical condition that prevents them from working.
- Have the required number of work credits.
Someone with HIV or AIDS can receive SSDI benefits, as long as their condition meets the Social Security Administration’s definition of disability.
Symptoms That May Qualify for SSDI
HIV is a complicated immune disease with multiple associated conditions. In 2017, the Social Security Administration revised its listing for people with the HIV or AIDS diagnosis. Now, to qualify for SSDI, assuming you are qualified in every other way, you must be experiencing one of the following conditions:
- Multicentric Castleman disease affecting lymph nodes or organs
- Primary central nervous system lymphoma
- Primary effusion lymphoma
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
- Pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma
- Absolute CD4 count of 50 cells/mm3 or less
- Absolute CD4 count of less than 200 cells/mm3 or CD4 percentage of less than 14 percent and one of the following: BMI measurement of less than 18.5 or hemoglobin measurement of less than 8.0 grams per deciliter.
- Complications of HIV infection with at least 3 hospitalizations within a year, at least 30 days apart
- Repeated symptoms of HIV infection described in 14.11 of the list of impairments.
Another Change to HIV and AIDS Treatment
In 2017, the Social Security Administration also announced that disabled people with HIV or AIDS will now be medically reviewed every one to seven years. This is a slight change and really just brings HIV/AIDS workers in line with just about everyone else.
The attorneys at The Law Offices of Martin Taller have more than 50 years’ experience in the legal field. Much of their work involves Social Security disability cases. For a free consultation, call us at 714-385-8100. Though our office is located in Anaheim, we assist clients throughout Southern California.
