Can You Qualify for Social Security Disability with an Immune System Disorder?

Immune system disorders can lead to infection, tissue inflammation, and organ failure. As a result, a person suffering from one of these disorders can lose the ability to function at their job. Individuals who suffer from immune system disorders that prevent them from working for a living may qualify for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits.

Hardison & Cochran can help you to apply for these benefits or handle your appeal of a denied claim. Our social security disability lawyers serve disabled workers and their families throughout North Carolina. Simply call or contact us online today to receive a free review of your case.

Common Immune System Disorders

For purposes of determining SSD benefits, the Social Security Administration’s List of Impairments, or “Blue Book,” groups immune system disorders in three categories:

  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Immune deficiency disorders
  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.

Autoimmune Disorders

Can autoimmune disorders qualify for SSD?

Yes. The SSA recognizes several autoimmune disorders, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and connective tissue diseases.

What the SSA looks for:

  • The disorder affects at least two organ systems
  • There is moderate severity in at least one of those systems
  • The claimant experiences constitutional symptoms such as severe fatigue, fever, malaise, or involuntary weight loss

Example: A person with lupus who has kidney complications and significant fatigue may meet SSA criteria. Our attorneys at Hardison & Cochran can help demonstrate how these symptoms limit your ability to work.

Immune Deficiency Disorders

What counts as an immune deficiency disorder for SSD?

Immune deficiency disorders can qualify if they result in:

  • Frequent, severe infections such as pneumonia, sepsis, or meningitis
  • Infections that are resistant to treatment
  • Multiple hospitalizations or IV treatments within a single year

Example: A claimant hospitalized for pneumonia three times in twelve months could meet SSA standards. At Hardison & Cochran, we work with medical providers to collect the records needed to prove these patterns of illness.

HIV and AIDS

Does HIV/AIDS qualify for SSD?

Yes. SSA includes HIV/AIDS within its immune system disorder listings. Benefits may be approved when the condition leads to:

  • Severe or recurrent infections, including tuberculosis or pneumonia
  • Neurological complications affecting daily functioning
  • Chronic diarrhea or weight loss that limits overall health

Our North Carolina disability lawyers have experience presenting these cases and ensuring that documentation reflects the seriousness of the illness.

Can You Qualify for SSD Benefits with an Immune System Disorder?autoimmune disease

When you apply for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) forwards your claim to North Carolina Disability Determination Services (DDS) for review.

A DDS caseworker and medical consultant will collect medical information from your doctors and other health care providers. This may include:

  • Your medical history
  • Laboratory test results
  • Imaging reports and other clinical findings

In some cases, the DDS may also require you to undergo an additional medical examination.

How does DDS evaluate immune system disorders?

The SSA and DDS have established medically appropriate indicators for each immune system disorder. In general, reviewers look for evidence that:

  • The condition affects a significant area of the body
  • The claimant experiences constitutional symptoms such as severe fatigue, fever, malaise, or involuntary weight loss
  • One or more of the body’s regulatory mechanisms are impaired
  • The condition is resistant to prescribed treatment

These are the signs that typically demonstrate an immune system disorder is severe enough to qualify for disability benefits.

Are There Other Ways to Qualify for SSD Benefits with an Immune System Disorder?

Do you have to meet the SSA’s exact criteria?

Not always. Even if your condition does not perfectly match the SSA’s listings, you may still qualify by showing that your disorder is “medically equal” to a listing. This process is called equaling a disability listing.

How does equalization work?

  • If your medical evidence shows that your impairment produces the same level of severity as a listed disorder, you may still be considered disabled.
  • For example, disorders of the immune system can cause involuntary weight loss, which can reduce strength, stamina, and even cognitive function. Documented weight loss may amount to a disabling condition, even if the disorder is not specifically named in the Blue Book.
  • In other cases, your disorder may produce multiple symptoms that do not fall neatly into one SSA listing. If the combined effect is equal to the criteria in the listings, you can still qualify.

What documentation is needed?

You must provide medical records that demonstrate the severity of your symptoms and how they interfere with your ability to work. This includes:

  • Test results and lab findings
  • Treatment notes from your doctors
  • Hospitalization records or specialist reports

Providing clear and complete documentation is the key to proving that your condition equals an SSA listing.

Our North Carolina Lawyers Help You Seek SSD Benefits for an Immune System Disorder

Hardison & Cochran understands the medical evidence that is needed when you are seeking SSD benefits based on an immune system disorder. We can help you apply for these benefits or assist in getting your claim back on track if it has been denied.

Contact us today to get started with a free case review.