Persons who suffer from HIV/AIDS may qualify for Social Security disability benefits under certain circumstances. The Social Security Administration (SSA) requires that the HIV/AIDS condition has lasted for, and is expected to last for, at least 12 months, or is expected to result in the death of the person.
SSA requires evidence that the infection has resulted in a condition which prohibits the person from working. An HIV diagnosis, although difficult emotionally, will not automatically qualify a person for Social Security disability benefits. It is important to provide evidence that your symptoms are so severe that they make it difficult for you to engage in what the SSA refers to as Substantial Gainful Activity. Persons who are asymptomatic, or do not have severe symptoms of HIV/ AIDS symptoms, may therefore not qualify for benefits under these criteria.
You must provide strong medical evidence about your eligibility for benefits, such as a full medical history, complete clinical course of the illness, diagnostic lab results, and any other documents that detail your condition and symptoms.
Your medical report must also provide your statement about the limited physical and intellectual work that you can do. For example, if your HIV /AIDS condition causes you to experience symptoms such as fever, poor energy, lethargy, fatigue, shortness of breath, chronic cough and depression that make it difficult for you to maintain productively at work, your statement must include all of this information.