A Factsheet from Social Security
_______________________________________________________________
                                Social Security Administration
                                SSA Publication No. 05-10019 
                                May 1995 
                                (May 1994 edition may be used)
 
   Social Security Benefits For People Living With HIV/AIDS
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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).
 
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.
 
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).
 
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 Social Security Can Help"
(Publication No. 05-10095).