By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist
Are you a sickle cell warrior, or do you know someone with sickle cell disease? The Social Security Administration is committed to supporting sickle cell warriors and the people who care for them.
An adult or child with sickle cell disease may be eligible for benefits through Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
SSDI benefits are based on earnings and are not subject to income and resource limits. SSI is a needs-based program that provides payments to people who are age 65 or older, blind or have a disability and have limited income and resources.
The Social Security Administration’s publications provide information, examples and tips to help you understand the disability application and evaluation process. You can learn more by reading:
- Sickle Cell Disease and the Social Security Disability Evaluation Process for Adults at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-60-003.pdf.
- Sickle Cell Disease and the Social Security Disability Evaluation Process for Children at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-60-004.pdf.
The publication, “Sickle Cell Disease: A Guide for Health Professionals on Providing Medical Evidence for Social Security Disability Claims“ at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-60-005.pdf, explains the medical evidence needed to make medical decisions for people with sickle cell disease. For more information about the disability programs and related topics, visit the blog article titled “Understanding Social Security Disability Benefits” at blog.ssa.gov/understanding-social-security-disability-benefits. These resources help ensure timely, equitable and accurate disability evaluations for people with sickle cell disease.
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