HIV & Social Security Disability

SSI/SSDI Attorneys in Pennsylvania

An estimated 1.2 million Americans are living with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), a lifelong condition that harms your immune system by destroying the white blood cells that help your body fight infection. People with HIV are at an increased risk of developing serious infections and cancers. Without treatment, HIV can develop into AIDS, where the immune system is weakened to such a point that it cannot fight off disease and infection. The life expectancy for a person with AIDS is only three years, if that person does not receive treatment.

There is currently no cure for HIV or AIDS, but advancements in medicine and a treatment called antiretroviral therapy can help people manage and live with HIV for many years.

If you’re living with HIV and are experiencing symptoms and side effects that make it impossible for you to earn a living, you may be entitled to disability benefits. Our Pennsylvania Social Security disability attorneys can talk to you about your options and how to apply, how to file an appeal, and what to do to get the benefits you need.

For a free, confidential review of your HIV disability claim, call Handler, Henning & Rosenberg LLC at (888) 498-3023.

How HIV Affects Body Systems

Because HIV weakens the body’s natural defenses, it can cause a number of grave conditions. These can have a drastic impact on your ability to work, and if you have HIV and are disabled, you should be entitled to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

HIV can cause the following health problems:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Neuropathy
• Balance/coordination issues
• Chronic cough
• Kidney damage
• Dementia
• Flu-like symptoms
• Fatigue
• Difficulty eating
• High blood pressure
• Heart failure
• Respiratory infections
• Aches and pains
• Shingles
• Skin sores

Am I Entitled to Disability Benefits for HIV?

An HIV diagnosis is not an automatic ticket to receive SSDI or SSI benefits. You must file an application and show the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Pennsylvania Bureau of Disability Determination (BDD) that your condition meets the SSA’s definition of "disability", that you cannot perform the work you once did, and that you cannot perform a new type of work. Providing medical evidence and documentation that HIV qualifies you for disability benefits can be complicated, but Handler, Henning & Rosenberg LLC can help.

Living with HIV means you’ll need frequent lab work and testing, medication, therapy, and possibly hospitalization and emergency room visits as your condition progresses. In fact, the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) estimates that the lifetime cost of HIV is about $380,000. Antiviral medications alone may cost $600 to $2,700 each month. Social Security Disability can provide much-needed support to cover living expenses and qualify you for Medicare.

For more information and guidance through this challenging process, contact our team. We’re here to help when you need it most.