Child Social Security Income
To determine if a child is eligible for social security income (SSI), first you must understand how social security defines a child. A child is someone who is under 18 years of age, is not the head of a household and is not married. Someone may also be considered a child if he or she is under 22 years of age and a full-time student.
Eligibility for Children
There is no minimum age requirement, so a child may be eligible at birth. Unless the child is in school, the child must be under 18 years of age. A child must have a physical or mental disability that causes significant functional limitations. The disability must have been continuous for 12 months or expected to result in death. Blindness is included among Social Security eligible disabilities.
The Social Security Administration must adhere to the Compassionate Allowance Initiative, which requires them to target the most disabled individuals and to expedite the process.
Any child with significant disabilities may be eligible for benefits. Since children cannot perform work activities, how the disability affects their school work may be the most important factor. Is the child able to perform at an age appropriate level? How much does the child's impairment limit his/her ability to function?
Can a child get SSI benefits and Medicaid as well?
Most states allow children who get SSI payments to also receive Medicaid disability benefits, which can help cover medical costs. Children of a parent in the military service are not eligible for Medicaid. There are examples of children who are not eligible for SSI benefits but are eligible for Medicaid.
How much a child is eligible for may depend on the amount of income the parent or parents receive. Once all pertinent deductions are made, it is determined if a child meets the resources and income requirements for benefits. A child may not be eligible if the income of the parents is too great or the child has significant income of his or her own.
Make no mistake -- child disability cases are by no means easy. Claims for children are often harder to get than claims for adults. Children's' claims usually involve conditions such as asthma, ADHD, seizure disorders and learning disabilities. With asthma, the severity of the disability is taken into consideration. With ADHD, the observations of teachers and psychological testing may determine their fate. It can take up to three years to get an application filed. If the health and status of the child has improved over that time, the disability insurance may be denied. Disability cases for a child may prove to be more difficult if the status of the child changes over the years.
Contacting a Child Disability Attorney
Call 1-877-527-5529 today to discuss social security income for children if you have a child with disabilities. The disability lawyers at Kazmierczak & Kazmierczak, LLP have a long history of representing disabled children and making sure they get the compensation they deserve. Your consultation is free and you pay nothing unless your claim is successful. Let us guide you through the complicated process of applying for SSI for children.
Please Call 1-877-527-5529 or fill out our Contact Form to schedule a free consultation to start the application process for your disability.