Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program that issues monthly payments to people with disabilities – including children. Thanks to SSI for children, families can often fund otherwise inaccessible treatments and care their child needs to thrive.
How Children Can Receive SSI Payments
Low-income households or households with few resources can apply for SSI if they have a child with a disability. Common items counted toward the “resources” can include money in a bank account or vehicles, but the parent’s own disability benefits, employment, unemployment, or pension are also considered. Single parents cannot have resources over $2,000 and couples cannot earn more than $3,000 when applying for SSI. If doing so for their child, $2,000 is added onto these resource limits.
What Qualifies as a Child Disability?
For a child, the term” disabled” means they have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment, which makes them eligible for a parent to apply for SSI. When it comes to considering SSI for children with a disability, the Social Security Administration needs to consider and confirm the following:
- Must be under age 18 or under age 22 and a student regularly attending school
- Can be eligible from the date of birth – there is no minimum age requirement
- Experiences severe limits to daily activity and functioning
- Has learning or emotional problems
- Is blind or visually impaired
- Disability has lasted or is expected to last continuously for at least 12 months
- Condition is expected to result in death
Completing an SSI Application for Your Child
The SSA is committed to delivering benefits quickly to claimants for their children when serious medical conditions are obvious and meet disability standards. The Compassionate Allowances (CAL) initiative quickly identify diseases that meet Social Security’s standards for disability benefits, including certain cancers or rare disorders in children.
Nevertheless, having an SSI attorney by your side ensures that claims are completed flawlessly and filed appropriately to help secure benefits right away. The SSA will want to know:
- Detailed information about the child’s medical condition
- How the child’s condition affects daily activities
- Names and contact information for doctors, therapists, and teachers who have worked with your child and have information about their condition
- If the child has an IEP and what accommodations it contains
Get Help from an SSI Attorney and Expedite Your Claim
When a child has a disability, whether present from birth or whether it is a recent development, life changes for parents, siblings, and everyone who loves that child. Knowing that SSI benefits are available, especially if ongoing treatment or care is needed and maintaining a full-time job is impossible, can help make every day slightly easier. The resources are there to help your child receive the support they need – you just need guidance about how to capture it.
Rely on Thurswell Law to support your family through the SSI application so it is complete and there are no delays in requesting benefits. Schedule a consultation with Thurswell Law by calling (248) 354-2222 today. We do not charge any fees until we win.