Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is available for people with limited income and resources if they are 65 or older, but children under 18 also can qualify in certain situations. Learn more about the requirements for children’s Social Security disability in this article, and speak to our Illinois Social Security disability lawyer today if you have questions about a case.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) considers a child’s income and resources when determining if they can receive Social Security disability. SSA also will consider the income and resources of all family members in the household. These rules are in effect if your child lives in the home and applies if the child is away at school but comes home occasionally and is supervised by you.
SSA states that the child’s income and resources, or that of the family members in the home, could be more than the allowed amount. In that case, SSA could deny the child’s application for disability. Furthermore, the child must meet the following requirements to be considered eligible for disability:
When you apply for Social Security disability for your child, SSA will ask for detailed information about the medical condition. It also will ask how the medical condition affects your child’s daily ability to perform regular activities. Further, SSA will ask you to provide permission to teachers, doctors, and therapists who possess information about the child’s condition to provide it to the administration.
All of the information you provide about your child’s disability is sent to the Disability Determination Services office in your area. Doctors and other professionals in the agency will review the provided information and will request the child’s school and medical records and related information to determine if the child is eligible for disability.
The state agency might be unable to determine if the child is disabled with only the information provided. If so, you may need your child to take a medical examination that SSA will pay for.
Your state agency could take three to six months to determine if your child can receive disability. However, for specific medical conditions, the SSA will make payments immediately for up to six months, if the state agency determines if the child has a qualifying disability. Some conditions that could qualify include total blindness, total deafness, Down Syndrome, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy.
Are you trying to get Social Security disability for your child? It can be challenging to do so without an attorney’s assistance. Please contact our Illinois Social Security disability lawyer at Harold W. Conick & Associates at (800) 608-8881 for help with your disability case.
