Revise Social Security HIV Disability Requirements Says Institute of Medicine

[Roon]

A new report issued by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) on September 13 says the criteria used by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) to gauge HIV-related disability is outdated and should be overhauled to include new qualifications based on CD4 cell counts and specific sets of medical conditions.
http://aidsmeds.com/articles/hiv_disability_ssa_1667_19133.shtml

I have to admit, this probably should be done. I applied for SSDI back in 1993 and I got my first check three months later,no appeals needed. It was a scary time though, people were dropping dead all around me, all around the world actually.

When I was first diagnosed in 1990 I started off taking AZT,I took every drug that they threw at me, religiously. Now over 20 years later I am still here. I might live to 60-years-old,that would be the greatest gift I have ever gotten.

I don't know, there is still a part of me nagging how I should have worked the last 20 years and it was a waste.

[dkf]

1. My understanding is that ssdi is supposed to be for people that will never work again.

Since it takes so long to get now it's not something you start and stop and start and stop.

[Roon]

2. It is also for people who have a condition that will end in death

or it was when I applied, I don't know about now.