| Jump       to content      Social Security Online | Electronic       Fact Sheet                                                                                                                                                            |
|---------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| www.socialsecurity.gov                            | Home Questions?             How to Contact Us Search                                                                                                                                   |
| Publications       Home                           | Social Security Benefits For People Living With HIV/AIDSSSA       Publication No. 05-10019, May 1995 *(May 1994       edition may be used)*, ICN 480099       (.pdf)       (.txt) |

|   | Contents
Benefits You May Be Able To Get

What We Mean By Disabled
How To File For BenefitsWhat We Will AskHow We Make A Decision             On Your ClaimHow You Can Help Speed Up             Your ClaimWhat We Are Doing             To Help You Get Benefits FasterWhat Will Happen If You Go             Back To Work                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |   |
|--------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|
|   | Benefits You May Be Able To Get
People with HIV/AIDS may qualify for disability benefits from the Social         Security Administration under two programs: Social Security Disability         Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The medical eligibility         rules for receiving SSDI and SSI are the same, but there are some differences         between these two programs. 
SSDI 
You pay for SSDI with your Social Security taxes when you work. The amount         of your monthly benefits depends on how much you earned when you were         working. You also will qualify for Medicare after you have been getting         SSDI benefits for 24 months. Medicare helps pay for hospital and hospice         care, lab tests, home health care, and other medical services. For more         information see our brochure called *Medicare* (Publication No. 05-10043). 
SSI
 People who have not worked enough to qualify for Social Security or         whose Social Security benefits are low may qualify for SSI payments if         they have low income and limited resources. Children with disabilities         who live in low income households also may qualify for SSI. If you get         SSI, you will most likely be eligible for food stamps and Medicaid, a         state medical assistance program. Medicaid takes care of your medical         bills while you are in the hospital or receiving outpatient care. In some         states, Medicaid pays for hospice care, a private nurse, and prescription         drugs used to fight HIV disease. For more information about Medicaid,         contact your local social services office.       
[Back to top] 
  What We Mean By Disabled
 To be disabled you must have a medical condition that is expected to         last at least a year or end in death, and is serious enough to prevent         you from doing substantial work. Monthly earnings of $500 or more are         considered an indication of substantial work. If you can no longer work         and your medical records show that the problems you are having are severe         enough, the chances are very good that you will be found disabled.       
[Back to top] 
  How To File For Benefits
 For confidential help in applying for benefits, call your nearest Social         Security office to make an appointment. The toll-free number is **1-800-772-1213**.         You may visit your local office or your entire application can be taken         over the phone and by mail.       
[Back to top] 
  What We Will Ask
 You will need to have certain information when you apply. This includes:       
-  your Social Security number and birth certificate and the Social             Security numbers and birth certificates of any family members who             may be applying for benefits; and 
-  a copy of your most recent W-2 form. (If you're applying for SSI,             we also will need information about your income and assets; for example,             bank statements, unemployment records, rent receipts, and car registration.)            

To learn about your medical condition we will also ask for information         about: 
-  the names and addresses of any doctors, hospitals, or clinics you             have been to for treatment;  
-  how HIV/AIDS has affected your daily activities, such as cleaning,             shopping, cooking, taking the bus, etc.; and  
-  the kinds of jobs you've had over the past 15 years 

Even if you don't have all this information now, you should file a claim.         We can get any other information we need later.

[Back to top] 
  How We Make A Decision On Your Claim
Social Security works with an agency in each state called a Disability         Determination Service (DDS). The DDS will look at the medical and other         information you and your doctor give us and decide if you qualify for         benefits. For details on how they make this decision, see our brochure,         *A Guide to Social Security & SSI Disability Benefits for         People with HIV Infection,* (Publication No. 05-10020). 

[Back to top] 
  How You Can Help Speed Up Your Claim- If you are able, bring copies of your medical reports with you when           you file your application. These reports may come from your doctor,           clinic, hospital, etc. If you cannot get your medical reports right           away, make an appointment to file an application anyway. We can request           your medical records later directly from your doctor, clinic, hospital,           etc.            Use a calendar or notebook to write down short notes about how you           feel and what you are able to do each day, and the kinds of things that           you need help doing. This will help you provide specific information           about any physical or psychological problems you've had since you first           became sick with HIV/AIDS and how they affect your functioning.           
Ask your doctor or case manager to keep track of your problems over           the course of your illness so we can have information on when and how           often you have been tired, depressed, had fevers, lost weight, etc.           
If you were working, but lost your job, write down what it is about           your condition that made you stop working.           
Cooperate with the DDS if it needs additional information about your           medical condition and how it affects your daily activities.       
[Back to top] 
 
 What We Are Doing To Help You Get Benefits         Faster
All applications we receive from people with HIV/AIDS are processed as         quickly as possible. We can begin paying you SSI benefits right away for         up to six months before we make a final decision on your claim if:
-  you are not working, 
-  you meet the SSI rules about income and resources, and 
-  your doctor or other medical source certifies that your HIV infection           is severe enough to meet our medical eligibility rules. (You may have           your medical source complete a checklist form telling how the HIV infection           has affected you and bring it with you when you apply. Call Social Security's           tollfree number,  1-800-772-1213 , for copies of the           form SSA 4814 for adults and SSA 4815 for children). 

[Back to top] 
 
 What Will Happen If You Go Back To Work
If you return to work there are special rules that can let your benefits         continue while you work. These rules are important for people with HIV/AIDS         who may be able to go back to work when they are feeling better. For more         information on these rules, ask any Social Security office for a copy         of the brochure, *Working While Disabled...How We Can Help* (Publication         No. 05-10095).

[Back to top]   
 
  Privacy Policy       | Accessibility Policy | Linking       Policy | Site Map |