SSA Listing 7.00

Hematological Disorders: Social Security Disability Listings

Can You Get Disability for Sickle Cell Disease or Another Blood Disorder?

Yes. A hematological disorders disability claim is judged under SSA's 7.00 listings for non-cancerous blood disorders: sickle cell disease and other hemolytic anemias, clotting and bleeding disorders such as hemophilia, bone marrow failure such as aplastic anemia, and bone marrow or stem cell transplants. Blood cancers are judged under the cancer listings instead. See who qualifies for Social Security disability.

Reviewed by Michael Rupe ·October 1, 2026

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What the Hematological Listings Cover

A hematological disorders disability claim is judged against section 7.00 of SSA’s Listing of Impairments. It covers blood disorders that aren’t cancer. These disrupt how your body makes or uses red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and clotting proteins. The section groups them three ways:

Hemolytic anemias (7.05): red blood cells break down too early, as in sickle cell disease, thalassemia and hereditary spherocytosis.
Clotting and bleeding disorders (7.08): blood clots too much, as with Factor V Leiden, or too little, as with hemophilia, von Willebrand disease and low platelets.
Bone marrow failure (7.10): the marrow doesn’t make enough healthy cells, as in aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes and myelofibrosis.

Leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma are judged under the cancer listings in 13.00.

What SSA Looks for in the Blood Disorder Listings

Listing	What SSA looks for, in plain words
7.05 Sickle cell and other hemolytic anemias	Any one of: six painful crises in 12 months that needed IV or injected pain medicine, 30 days apart; three hospital stays of at least 48 hours in 12 months; hemoglobin of 7.0 g/dL or less three times in 12 months; or beta thalassemia major needing transfusions at least every 6 weeks
7.08 Clotting and bleeding disorders	Complications needing three hospital stays of at least 48 hours within 12 months, 30 days apart
7.10 Bone marrow failure	Three hospital stays of at least 48 hours within 12 months, or aplastic anemia or myelodysplastic syndrome needing transfusions at least every 6 weeks to stay alive
7.17 Bone marrow or stem cell transplant	Disabled for at least 12 months from the transplant, longer with serious complications such as graft-versus-host disease
7.18 Repeated complications	Complications about three times a year, each lasting 2 weeks or more, plus a marked limit in daily activities, social functioning or finishing tasks on time

Under 7.05, 7.08 and 7.10, events must be at least 30 days apart so SSA knows they’re separate. The hospital stays don’t have to be for the same complication. For sickle cell disease, they can be for a pain crisis, acute chest syndrome, a stroke or an infection.

How SSA Counts Hospital Time and Crises

Some sickle cell and hemophilia care happens in specialty centers instead of an ER. SSA counts emergency treatment hours in a comprehensive sickle cell disease center or hemophilia treatment center right before an admission toward the 48-hour minimum, if the care is comparable to an emergency department.

For hemophilia and other clotting disorders, SSA counts any surgery as a complication if you needed clotting-factor treatment or blood thinners to manage bleeding around it. That holds even if the surgery itself was unrelated.

For 7.05C, your hemoglobin doesn’t have to be measured when you feel well. SSA accepts readings taken during a crisis or complication.

The Evidence SSA Asks for

The 7.00 introduction says SSA needs a lab report of a definitive test that establishes your blood disorder, signed by a physician. An unsigned lab report plus a physician’s statement also works. So does a persuasive report from your doctor explaining how the diagnosis was confirmed.

SSA will try to get results of testing you’ve already had. It won’t pay for complex or invasive tests such as clotting-factor studies or bone marrow aspirations. Keep copies of:

Hemoglobin electrophoresis or other diagnostic lab reports.
Hospital and treatment center records with dates and hours.
Transfusion logs.
Notes describing pain, fatigue and how they limit you.

SSA weighs pain, severe fatigue and malaise when lab or medical findings show a condition that could cause them. It won’t hold a gap in treatment against you without considering your reasons.

SSA's Hematological Disorders Listings (7.00)

SSA listings in section 7.00
Listing	Name
7.05	Hemolytic anemias, including sickle cell disease, thalassemia, and their variants
7.08	Disorders of thrombosis and hemostasis
7.10	Disorders of bone marrow failure
7.17	Hematological disorders treated by bone marrow or stem cell transplantation
7.18	Repeated complications of hematological disorders

For children, SSA uses section 107.00 (Hematological Disorders), with 4 listings. See childhood conditions.

From SSA's Listing of Impairments (ssa.gov), checked October 2, 2026.

If Your Blood Disorder Doesn’t Meet a Listing

SSA first checks whether a listing in another body system fits. Hemophilia joint damage, for example, is judged under the musculoskeletal listings. Stroke from sickle cell disease is judged under the neurological or mental disorders listings. Iron overload from repeated transfusions can fit the respiratory, cardiovascular or digestive listings.

If no listing is met or equaled, SSA assesses your residual functional capacity (RFC). For blood disorders, the RFC can reflect fatigue, pain flares, temperature limits, avoiding cuts or falls, and days missed for crises or treatment. SSA compares the RFC with your past work, then asks whether you can adjust to other work given your age, education and experience. The full process is on who qualifies for Social Security disability.

Compassionate Allowances for Blood Disorders

These blood disorders are on SSA’s Compassionate Allowances list, which speeds decisions for conditions that by definition meet SSA’s standard:

Aplastic Anemia
Beta Thalassemia Major
Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia
Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) - Familial Type
Myelodysplastic Syndrome with Excess Blasts

The CAL process works the same for SSDI and SSI.

Children’s Blood Disorders: Listing 107.00

Children under 18 applying for SSI are judged first under section 107.00. It covers hemolytic anemias, clotting and bleeding disorders, bone marrow failure, and bone marrow or stem cell transplants. Blood cancers in children are judged under the childhood cancer listings. See SSI for children with disabilities and the childhood conditions overview.

Workplace Accommodations for Blood Disorders

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) lists ideas for sickle cell anemia:

A flexible schedule and telework for treatment.
Anti-fatigue matting, ergonomic chairs and a modified break schedule for pain.
Heated gloves or a space heater for cold sensitivity; cooling clothing or fans for heat.
Telework when your immune system is suppressed.

For bleeding disorders, JAN suggests:

Rest breaks and telework.
Fall protection.
Cut and puncture resistant gloves and sleeves.

See workplace accommodations under the ADA.

Leukemia and lymphoma are covered on the cancer page, and joint damage from bleeding on musculoskeletal disorders. Check work credits and income first with the disability eligibility screener, then use how to apply for disability. If you’re denied, you have 60 days to appeal; how to appeal a disability denial covers every level. See all body systems on conditions SSA lists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Pain Crises Treated at Home Count Toward Listing 7.05?

Listing 7.05A counts documented painful crises that needed parenteral narcotic medication, meaning given by IV or injection. Crises managed only with pills at home don't count toward that option, though SSA weighs them under 7.18 and in your residual functional capacity.

Does Time at a Sickle Cell or Hemophilia Center Count as Hospital Time?

Yes, in some cases. SSA counts hours of emergency treatment in a comprehensive sickle cell disease center or hemophilia treatment center right before a hospital admission toward the 48-hour minimum, if that care is comparable to a hospital emergency department.

Can My Disability Start Before My Transplant Date?

Yes. SSA says it doesn't restrict the onset of disability under listing 7.17 to the transplant date, and it may set an earlier onset date if the evidence in your case record supports it. An earlier onset can affect back pay.

Will SSA Pay for a Bone Marrow Biopsy?

No. SSA says it will make every reasonable effort to get the results of tests you've had, but it won't purchase complex, costly or invasive tests, such as clotting-factor tests or bone marrow aspirations.

Is Leukemia Covered Here?

No. SSA evaluates leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma under the cancer listings in 13.00. Acute Leukemia is on SSA's Compassionate Allowances list.

Other Body Systems in SSA's Listings

This page explains SSA's published rules. It isn't medical or legal advice; SSA decides each claim from your records.