If you have HIV/AIDS, you may qualify for SSDI and SSI benefits

One of the great values of the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program is that it encompasses a wide variety of medical conditions that can prevent an individual from working. You may have suffered a sudden injury from a car accident or a recreational injury, like a diving accident that damages your spine or suffering a traumatic brain injury from an ATV rollover.

And it also covers persons with disabilities caused by illnesses as varied as multiple sclerosis, back pain resulting from degenerative diseases of the spine, and HIV/AIDS. While SSDI provides benefits for individuals suffering from many different illnesses and injuries, it does have a demanding application and you must prove to the Social Security Administration (SSA) that your condition is so severe that it will prevent you from working for at least 12 months or result in your death. 

For those suffering from HIV/AIDS, the advantage is that the SSA recognizes the seriousness of the disease and can quickly provide benefits if you have the proper documentation and medical evidence of your condition.

If you have worked for sufficient number of yearly quarters prior to HIV/AIDS forcing you out of work, you could receive your SSDI benefit payments within six months of your application. In addition to SSDI, if your income and other financial resources are very low, you may also qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

Your attorney can help you understand the requirements for both programs, help you determine if you qualify for one or both and assist you with the application forms and the gathering of your necessary medical and financial records.

Socialsecurty.gov, “Social Security For People Living With HIV/AIDS,” Accessed October 6, 2014