Listing code
14.11
Adult (Part A)
Body system
14.00
Immune system disorders
Subsections
9
Lettered criteria paths
Step in evaluation
3 of 5
Listing match approves the claim
SSA listing text and criteria
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. With documentation as described in 14.00F1 and one of the following:
Subsection A
Multicentric (not localized or unicentric) Castleman disease affecting multiple groups of lymph nodes or organs containing lymphoid tissue (see 14.00F3a ). OR
Subsection B
Primary central nervous system lymphoma (see 14.00F3b ). OR
Subsection C
Primary effusion lymphoma (see 14.00F3c ). OR
Subsection D
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (see 14.00F3d ). OR
Subsection E
Pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma (see 14.00F3e ). OR
Subsection F
Absolute CD4 count of 50 cells/mm3 or less (see 14.00F4 ). OR
Subsection G
Absolute CD4 count of less than 200 cells/mm3 or CD4 percentage of less than 14 percent, and one of the following (values do not have to be measured on the same date) (see 14.00F5 ): 1. BMI measurement of less than 18.5; or 2. Hemoglobin measurement of less than 8.0 grams per deciliter (g/dL). OR
- BMI measurement of less than 18.5; or
- Hemoglobin measurement of less than 8.0 grams per deciliter (g/dL). OR
Subsection H
Complication(s) of HIV infection requiring at least three hospitalizations within a 12-month period and at least 30 days apart (see 14.00F6 ). Each hospitalization must last at least 48 hours, including hours in a hospital emergency department immediately before the hospitalization. OR
Subsection I
Repeated (as defined in 14.00I3 ) manifestations of HIV infection, including those listed in 14.11A-H , but without the requisite findings for those listings (for example, Kaposi sarcoma not meeting the criteria in 14.11E ), or other manifestations (including, but not limited to, cardiovascular disease (including myocarditis, pericardial effusion, pericarditis, endocarditis, or pulmonary arteritis), diarrhea, distal sensory polyneuropathy, glucose intolerance, gynecologic conditions (including cervical cancer or pelvic inflammatory disease, see 14.00F7 ), hepatitis, HIV-associated dementia, immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), infections (bacterial, fungal, parasitic, or viral), lipodystrophy (lipoatrophy or lipohypertrophy), malnutrition, muscle weakness, myositis, neurocognitive or other mental limitations not meeting the criteria in 12.00 , oral hairy leukoplakia, osteoporosis, pancreatitis, peripheral neuropathy) resulting in significant, documented symptoms or signs (for example, but not limited to, fever, headaches, insomnia, involuntary weight loss, malaise, nausea, night sweats, pain, severe fatigue, or vomiting) and one of the following at the marked level: 1. Limitation of activities of daily living. 2. Limitation in maintaining social functioning. 3. Limitation in completing tasks in a timely manner due to deficiencies in concentration, persistence, or pace. Back to Top Support Contact us Find an office Forms Publications Report fraud Languages Español Other languages Plain language Services for Employers & businesses Government agencies Other groups Representatives About Careers Chief actuary data Communications Financial reports I
- Limitation of activities of daily living.
- Limitation in maintaining social functioning.
- Limitation in completing tasks in a timely manner due to deficiencies in concentration, persistence, or pace. Back to Top Support Contact us Find an office Forms Publications Report fraud Languages Español Other languages Plain language Services for Employers & businesses Government agencies Other groups Representatives About Careers Chief actuary data Communications Financial reports I
Source: SSA Blue Book listing 14.11. Last synced 2026-05-04.
Where claims under 14.11 usually fail
Many claims fail because they do not include the required "documentation as described in 14.00F1" and then also miss a lettered criterion A through I. Other frequent misses involve the CD4 criteria: 14.11F uses an absolute CD4 count of 50 cells/mm3 or less, while 14.11G uses either an absolute CD4 count below 200 cells/mm3 or a CD4 percentage below 14 percent together with a BMI under 18.5 or hemoglobin under 8.0 g/dL. Some people try to fit 14.11H with hospital stays that do not match the structure, because each hospitalization must last at least 48 hours and must include hours in an emergency department immediately before the hospitalization, and there must be at least three hospitalizations within 12 months at least 30 days apart. For 14.11I, another failure mode is listing repeated HIV manifestations but not showing the "significant, documented symptoms or signs" and the required "marked level" limitation in activities of daily living, social functioning, or timely task completion due to concentration, persistence, or pace.
Medical evidence that strengthens this claim
The listing requires "documentation as described in 14.00F1" and then one of the specific clinical pathways in 14.11A through I. For cancer and brain disease pathways, documentation should support the specific diagnoses named in 14.11A-E: multicentric Castleman disease affecting multiple groups of lymph nodes or organs with lymphoid tissue, primary central nervous system lymphoma, primary effusion lymphoma, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, or pulmonary Kaposi sarcoma. For immune marker pathways, documentation should include the absolute CD4 count and/or CD4 percentage to match 14.11F (50 cells/mm3 or less) or 14.11G (absolute CD4 count less than 200 cells/mm3 or CD4 percentage less than 14 percent) and also support BMI under 18.5 and/or hemoglobin under 8.0 g/dL. For hospitalization pattern claims under 14.11H, documentation must show at least three hospitalizations within 12 months, each lasting at least 48 hours, at least 30 days apart, and including emergency department hours immediately before each hospitalization. For the broader manifestation pathway under 14.11I, it
What happens if your records do not meet this listing
When 14.11 is not met or equaled, the process generally moves to the later disability decision steps using the residual functional capacity (RFC) concept to decide what work-related abilities remain despite HIV and its complications. If symptoms and limitations do not meet a listing's exact criteria, the decision still considers how the medical evidence describes functional limits. For many claimants, the medical-vocational analysis that follows can still lead to approval based on the real-life ability to work, even if a specific listing pathway like 14.11F, 14.11H, or 14.11I is not satisfied.
Work activity and the SGA gate for this condition
At the start of an SSDI claim, SSA uses the substantial gainful activity (SGA) rule as a threshold gate. If work at or above SGA level is being performed, SSA generally will not find a disability for that period, even when HIV complications are present. For people with conditions that match 14.11A-E, 14.11F-G, or the hospitalization pattern in 14.11H, the required medical severity often makes sustained work difficult, but the key point is that SGA is assessed first based on actual work activity. If approved, the trial work period and then the extended period of eligibility apply, and that process continues after the disability finding for eligible beneficiaries.
Listing 14.11 FAQ
Questions that come up repeatedly for human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) infection disability claims.