Is A Three Year Old With Disabilities Eligible For SSD Or Only SSI?

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

SSD, or Social Security disability, does not have a disability program for children. Most likely, this is due to the fact that Social Security disability benefits are reserved for individuals who have worked enough to gain insured status. Of course, there is no way for a three-year-old child to have insured status.

It does seem unfair because disabled children of individuals who are working often do not meet the requirements of the need-based Supplemental Security Income disability program, yet their medical needs often cause significant financial hardship.

Unfortunately, the only way a three-year-old child can receive any kind of Social Security benefit is through a parent who receives disability or retirement benefits. Social Security dependent child benefits are not considered disability benefits; entitlement depends upon the continued eligibility of the parent.

Currently, SSI disability benefits is the only disability program that provides disability benefits to children. Children, whose parents meet the income and resource limits of the need based program, are able to receive Medicaid along with a monthly disability benefit if they are found medically disabled.

Return to: SSDRC, or the Questions, Answers, Tips, and Advice page

Individual Questions and Answers

Can Social Security Turn You Down If You Can Do Your Past Work?

What are the SSI disability qualifications for Adults and Children?

Can I lose my disability benefits at some point ?

What is an expedited reinstatement for social security disability ?

How do you get an SSI disability application started?

Applying for disability benefits in Florida

The Medical Requirements for Receiving Social Security Disability or SSI

Are SSI claims denied more than Social Security disability claims ?

When do you receive a Hearing for Disability?

What is usually the status of your social security disability or SSI case?

Can I Collect Unemployment While I File For Disability Benefits (SSD or SSI)?

What is the Role of a Social Security Disability Representative?

Can you be denied for SSDI or SSI disability if social security cannot find your medical records?

Social Security Disability Hearings - what to expect

Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in North Carolina

Medical Evidence for Social Security Disability

If You Get Approved For SSDI Will You Also Get Medicare?

Being Determined Medically Disabled for Social Security Disability

Appealing a Social Security Disability Denial – How Often Is This Successful?

If I Apply For Disability And Go Back To Work, Do I Need To Report This?

SSD and SSI are Federal Programs

The title II Social Security Disability and title 16 SSI Disability programs operate under federal guidelines and, therefore, the program requirements--medical and non-medical--apply to all states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Recent approval and denial statistics for various states can be viewed here:

Social Security Disability, SSI Approval and Denial Statistics by state

Special Section: Disability Lawyers and unnecessary claim denials