Living with hemophilia is different for everyone. In some cases, bleeding episodes or hemophilia-related joint damage can become disabling and affect your ability to work.

Although a hemophilia diagnosis doesn’t automatically qualify someone for disability benefits, each case is unique. If you’re disabled due to hemophilia and need to apply for benefits, read on to learn how the process works and some ways to improve your chances of getting approved for assistance.

How Does Hemophilia Affect Working Ability?

Not everyone with hemophilia has challenges with work. Those with milder forms of the blood-clotting disorder may pursue ambitious careers. Others with more severe forms might respond well to treatment, allowing them to work at most jobs without problems.

But some people find it hard to work with hemophilia. One small study of men with hemophilia found that it was common to miss work due to hemophilia complications.

This may be due to issues such as bleeding episodes, joint damage that leads to mobility challenges, or chronic pain.

A larger study of people with hemophilia found that 11.4 percent of participants didn’t work due to disability. This is higher than the 7.4 percent disability rate among the general population.

Some risk factors increase the likelihood of unemployment due to disability in people with hemophilia. These include:

• Having severe hemophilia
• Being of older age
• Having a psychiatric disorder
• Smoking tobacco

How Do Social Security Disability Benefits Work?

In the United States, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is available to people who meet the strict criteria used to define a disability and who have worked (or are working) in jobs covered by Social Security.

People who can’t work for at least a year may qualify for this monthly benefit. If you get approved, you’ll continue to receive benefits for as long as you’re unable to work and remain younger than full retirement age. Note that retirement age can vary from 62 to 70, depending on when you were born.

You’ll also need to have enough work credits to be eligible for the program. One credit represents one unit of a specific dollar amount that you earned from your job. That amount changes every year.

In 2026, the amount is $1,890. You can earn up to four credits per year, so once you make $7,560 in 2026, you’ve earned your yearly credits for this year.

To qualify for disability, you’ll usually need to have earned 40 credits, half of which you earned within 10 years of when your disability started. You may be able to qualify with fewer credits, though, if you’re young.

How To Build Your Case and Apply for Disability

Applying for disability benefits is a complicated process. Not only will you have to fill out forms and provide documentation, but you’ll also need to be interviewed and share records of your employment history.

You’ll have to schedule a specific appointment with the Social Security office and either go in person or have an interview over the phone. It takes about an hour, but it can be faster if you do some of the paperwork online beforehand.

Disability Determination Questions

The basic questions that will determine whether you’re eligible for disability benefits include:

• Are you still working?
• How severe is your condition?
• Is your condition on the list of disabling conditions used by the Social Security Administration (SSA)?
• Can you still work in your previous job?
• Are there other sorts of work you can do?

Hemophilia is listed in section 7 of the disability Blue Book, which details different medical conditions that could count as a disability. It’s considered a hematological condition and grouped with other blood disorders, including cancers like leukemia and multiple myeloma.

Documents You’ll Need

The first thing you’ll need to apply for disability is proof that you have hemophilia in the form of documented lab results or a doctor’s note. You’ll also need detailed proof of any hospitalizations (for your bleeding disorder or complications), treatments, lab work, and medical records.

If you have other conditions, include information about those as well. One study found that people with both hemophilia and mental health disorders were more likely to stop working due to disability than those with hemophilia alone.

The more medical evidence you have to back up your claim that your condition prevents you from being able to work, the stronger your case will be.

When You’ll Get Your First Disability Payments

If you’re approved for benefits, there’s a five-month waiting period. You’ll receive your first payment six months from the date your disability claim officially started.

If you had a disability for longer than that, and you meet the other criteria, you could receive benefit payments for up to 12 months from before you applied.

More than half of initial applications are denied, sometimes because of mistakes on the application that could have been avoided. Although it’s not required, hiring a disability lawyer can give you a better chance of getting approved the first time you apply.

If you don’t hire a disability attorney from the start, you can choose to seek a lawyer to help with the appeals process.

When Is Hemophilia Considered a Disability?

Each disability case is reviewed on an individual basis, so there’s no black-and-white answer as to why one person gets approved and another doesn’t. The reviewer will consider all aspects of your case to determine whether you’re able to work.

Symptoms that could qualify someone with a blood disorder for disability include severe pain, fatigue, and malaise (discomfort). The reviewer looks at how intense your symptoms are, how often you have them, and how much they impact your ability to function.

If a hemophilia-related joint deformity, brain bleed, or other complication is the reason you can’t work, the reviewer will evaluate that aspect of your case under a different section.

Hemophilia can be considered a disability if the reviewer feels you have a strong enough argument for being unable to work based on the combination of your ongoing health issues.

Frustrations and Successes

Members of MyHemophiliaTeam have shared their experiences with trying to secure disability benefits. “I’ve been turned down twice now for disability income. I was told my husband makes $50 too much per month,” said one member.

“I’ve been in a state of depression since the SSA cut me off for making too much money working part time at Walmart,” another member said. “I had my fifth court trial and just received an email from my attorney. It looks like I’ll be getting my disability income reinstated by the end of this year.”

Others have been happy to get off disability and return to work. “Today, I returned to work after 3 1/2 years on medical disability. This is all thanks to the amazing gift of my new liver. I’m grateful,” wrote another member.

No two situations are exactly alike, but sharing your journey with others and learning about theirs can help you feel less alone as you apply, reapply, or wait for disability benefits.

Join the Conversation

On MyHemophiliaTeam, people share their experiences with hemophilia, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

How does hemophilia affect daily life for you? Let others know in the comments below.