Last Updated September 17, 2026
Conditions Center · Cancer · Social Security Disability
Also called non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, acute leukemia, chronic leukemia.
Lymphoma and leukemia can support SSDI or SSI under Listings 13.05 and 13.06, through current Compassionate Allowances pathways when applicable, or through lasting effects of the disease and treatment. The exact diagnosis, treatment course, response to treatment, relapse history, and transplant status can affect how SSA evaluates the claim.
What is Lymphoma and Leukemia?
NCI describes lymphomas as cancers of the lymphatic system (Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin) and leukemias as cancers of blood-forming tissues. Acute leukemias progress quickly; chronic leukemias may be present for years. Treatment can include chemoimmunotherapy, targeted drugs, radiation, CAR T-cell therapy, or stem-cell transplantation. T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma is treated like acute leukemia and is evaluated under 13.06.
Common symptoms of Lymphoma and Leukemia
- Fatigue, fever, night sweats, or unexplained weight loss
- Enlarged lymph nodes, spleen, or liver in some lymphomas
- Infections, bleeding, or anemia from marrow involvement or treatment
- Neuropathy, mucositis, or graft-versus-host disease after intensive therapy
- Need for frequent laboratory monitoring and clinic visits
How can Lymphoma and Leukemia affect a person’s ability to work?
- Absences for infusion, radiation, transplant, and laboratory monitoring
- Reduced stamina and infection precautions during cytopenias
- Hand or walking limits from treatment neuropathy
- Off-task time from fatigue, nausea, or brain-fog after therapy
- Difficulty sustaining regular attendance during intensive treatment, recovery, or medically necessary infection precautions
Does Social Security have a Listing for Lymphoma and Leukemia?
Social Security currently has listing criteria that may apply: 13.05 (Lymphoma); 13.06 (Leukemia). Meeting a listing requires the specific medical findings in that listing, not only the diagnosis.
Listing 13.05 covers lymphoma (including mycosis fungoides) but excludes T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, which is evaluated under 13.06. Pathways include aggressive NHL persistent or recurrent after initial therapy, indolent lymphoma requiring more than one treatment regimen within 12 months, Hodgkin lymphoma that fails to achieve complete remission or recurs within 12 months, bone-marrow or stem-cell transplantation (disability until at least 12 months from transplant), and mantle-cell lymphoma. Listing 13.06 covers acute leukemia (disability until at least 24 months from diagnosis or relapse, or 12 months from transplant, whichever is later) and specified CML phases. CLL complications may be evaluated under 13.05A2 or hematological listings in 7.00.
SSA matches the diagnosis and treatment history to the applicable listing and any time-limited disability period after transplantation or acute leukemia. Some diagnoses, including acute leukemia and adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma, are currently on SSA's Compassionate Allowances list. When no listing is met, or when a listing's specified period ends, SSA evaluates any residual impairments under the affected body system and through residual functional capacity when applicable.
Can you qualify if you do not meet an SSA Listing?
Yes. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia or treated Hodgkin disease that does not meet 13.05 or 13.06 may still preclude work during intensive therapy or from residual impairments.
What medical evidence may help document Lymphoma and Leukemia?
- Pathology and immunophenotype or cytogenetics
- Oncology staging and a complete treatment calendar
- Transplant records and dates
- Response assessments (PET, bone marrow, or molecular residual disease when used)
- Records of neuropathy, heart, lung, or graft-versus-host complications
Testing, imaging, and laboratory studies
- Lymph-node or marrow pathology
- Flow cytometry, cytogenetics, and molecular studies used for classification
- Serial blood counts during treatment
A change of therapy because of failure to achieve stability can matter under 13.05A2; a change solely by preference does not. Dates of diagnosis, relapse, and transplant control the listing clocks in 13.05C and 13.06.
How SSA may evaluate residual functional capacity
After a listing period ends, RFC should address lasting cytopenias, neuropathy, fatigue, and infection risk—not only “in remission.”
Common issues that can weaken a disability claim involving Lymphoma and Leukemia
A claim may be harder to evaluate accurately when pathology is missing, when the exact lymphoma or leukemia subtype is unclear, or when current information about remission, relapse, treatment toxicity, or transplantation is not documented.
What may strengthen the medical documentation
Pathology, a regimen-by-regimen timeline, transplant dates, and current treatment-toxicity notes.
Lymphoma and Leukemia and related medical conditions
- Blood Disorders — Adult Listing 7.00 addresses nonmalignant hematological disorders, including hemolytic anemias, disorders of thrombosis and hemostasis, bone marrow failure, hematological transplantation, and repeated complications. Malignant blood cancers are generally evaluated under Listing 13.00, with specified HIV-associated lymphomas evaluated under Listing 14.11.
- Cancer — SSA evaluates cancer under site- and type-specific listings in Chapter 13.00, considering the primary site, extent of disease, treatment and response, recurrence or persistence when applicable, and significant residual effects. Some specifically named cancers also qualify for Compassionate Allowances fast-track processing.
- HIV — SSA evaluates HIV infection under Listing 14.11 through several pathways involving specified manifestations, laboratory findings, hospitalizations, or repeated manifestations with the required functional limitation. If the listing is not met, SSA considers the documented effects of HIV and treatment through the remaining disability evaluation.
- Peripheral Neuropathy — Damage to peripheral nerves that may cause pain, numbness, weakness, or balance problems. Listing 11.14 applies only when its specified functional criteria are met.
- Sickle Cell Disease — SSA evaluates sickle cell disease under Listing 7.05. Specified crises, hospitalizations, hemoglobin findings, or transfusion-related criteria may satisfy the listing. If the listing is not met, SSA considers documented complications and remaining functional limitations.
How Brock & Stout may help
We map histology onto 13.05 or 13.06, verify named CAL entries, and develop RFC for treatment or residual effects. Representation cannot guarantee approval.
Frequently asked questions
No. Adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma and some other named hematologic cancers appear on the current CAL list. Verify the exact diagnosis. Hodgkin disease in remission is not automatically a CAL condition.
Listing 13.06A considers the person under a disability until at least 24 months from diagnosis or relapse, or at least 12 months from bone-marrow or stem-cell transplantation, whichever is later. Thereafter SSA evaluates residual impairments.
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Speak with a Social Security Disability attorney
If Lymphoma and Leukemia is affecting your ability to work, Brock & Stout can review the claim, look for missing medical evidence, and discuss next steps. If we represent you, you do not owe attorney fees or case costs if the claim is denied.
Prefer to send us your information? Request a case evaluation.
This page is general educational information about Social Security Disability as of the date of this publication. It is not legal or medical advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not guarantee results. Eligibility depends on individual facts and current Social Security rules.
