Child Disability Lawyer
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for Children with Disabilities
While Supplemental Security Income (SSI) supplies monthly income to individuals with low earnings and insufficient resources who are disabled or are 65 years of age or older, a child younger than age 18 may be eligible if they match certain Social Security guidelines, which include medical and financial status.
To qualify for SSI, a disabled child must meet all of the following criteria:
- The child must not earn greater than $1,000 a month in 2011. (This earnings amount is subject to change each year.)
- The child must have a physical or mental ailment, or a mix of medical conditions, that causes "marked and severe functional limitations," and severely restricts the child's life.
- The child's medical problem(s) must have continued, or be expected to continue, at least 12 months, or to potentially result in death.
Specific medical conditions that may qualify a child for SSI include:
- A birth weight below 2 pounds, 10 ounces.
- Cerebral palsy
- Down syndrome
- HIV infection
- Muscular dystrophy
- Severe mental retardation (child age 7 or older)
- Total blindness
- Total deafness
Supplying Information about a Child's Condition
Those applying for SSI on a child's behalf will be asked for comprehensive information regarding the child's medical problems. Relevant medical and school records should be brought to application review meetings. Permission must also be granted for any teachers, doctors, therapists, and other professionals to submit information to the Social Security office, if requested.
The SSI Application Process for Disabled Children
The federal office of Social Security submits all of the application material regarding a disabled child to the Disability Determination Services in the state where the child is located. Physicians and assorted trained professionals in that bureau will examine the data. Those professionals may ask for more information regarding a child's school or medical records if necessary to determine the case. If unable to determine disability eligibility at that point, an agency mandated medical examinations may be requested, which will be paid for by the government.
When to Expect SSI Payments for a Disabled Child
Once a child is deemed qualified, they will receive SSI payments immediately. The state bureau may take three to five months reviewing a case to determine if a child is eligible for disability benefits. For certain medical conditions, SSI payments are made immediately and for as long as six months while the bureau determines the status of the claim. If the state agency ultimately determines that a child's disability is not serious enough to qualify, any SSI payments already received are not considered reimbursable.
SSI Disability Reviews for Disabled Children
When a child begins receiving SSI, the law requires that the government evaluate their medical condition from time to time to confirm that they are still disabled. A review must be completed 1) a minimum of every three years for children under the age of 18 whose conditions are anticipated to get better; 2) and by one year of age for babies receiving SSI payments due to low birth weight. In the case of babies with low birth rate, if the bureau concludes a medical affliction is not anticipated to get better by their first birthday, a review is scheduled for a future date. A disability review may also be performed even when a child's medical problem is not expected to get better. During such a review, parents or guardians must present evidence that the child is receiving treatment deemed medically essential.
The Amount a Disabled Child Can Expect to Receive from SSI
SSI payment amounts vary from one state to another; some states add additional funds to the federal payments. If you are filing for SSI benefits for a disabled child, Page Law can help you navigate the complex application process, as well as assist with disability denials and reconsiderations. Aligning with an experienced disability attorney will make sure your case is represented correctly and aggressively at every stage of a claim or appeal. Call Page Law today at (314) PAGE-LAW (724-3529) for a free review of your case.
