SSDRC

Filing an Application for Disability Benefits

Social Security Disability List of Impairments

Social Security Disability and SSI Back pay

Social Security Disability Status

SSI Disability Benefits

Social Security Disability and SSI Requirements

Social Security, SSI, and Mental Disability

How Long Does It Take To Get Disability Benefits?

Qualifying: What do you Need to Prove to Qualify for Disability?

Are children eligible to receive disability benefits ?

The Social Security disability program does not offer disability benefits for children. The reason for this is that Social Security disability is an adult disability program based upon an insured status that is earned through work activity.

While Social Security does not offer a disability program for children, some children may be able to receive disability benefits through another disability program that is administered by the Social Security Administration.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability offers disability benefits to children. SSI is a needs based disability program meant to protect those who have not worked, have done very little work, children, and workers who have worked in the past but not recently. The SSI disability program has income and resource limits that must be met in order for a child or adult to receive disability benefits through the program.

In the case of children, their parents income and resources will be counted against those limits until they are age eighteen. Children are eligible to receive SSI disability benefits if they are found medically disabled and their parents’ income and resources meet the SSI limits.

What is the disability process for SSI children’s disability benefits?

Children who apply for disability through the SSI program go through a disability process similar to an adult. They (their parent or guardian) must file an application for disability on the basis of a severe medically verifiable mental or physical condition. The applications are sent to a state disability agency (DDS) where a disability examiner gathers their medical records from the medical and educational sources provided during their disability interview.

Since children have not worked, disability examiners review school records along with parental and third party functional questionnaires to determine how well a child is functioning and the severity of their limitations.

Of course, all functional limitations must be supported by objective medical information gathered from treating physicians, hospitals, school counselors, mental health professionals, speech pathologists, etc. If a child’s disabling condition or conditions cause significant restrictions to their functional capacity they may be eligible for disability benefits.

When a disability application for a child is denied

If a child’s SSI disability claim is denied, they have the same disability appeal process that adult disability cases have. They can file a reconsideration appeal if their initial disability claim is denied, and a disability hearing request if their reconsideration appeal is denied.

If a child is denied at the administrative law judge hearing their claim can be sent to the Appeals Council for a review of the administrative law judge’s disability decision. After the Appeals Council review, there is only federal district court. Very few cases go to federal court because it is so expensive and the time it takes for a decision. It is simpler to file another SSI disability claim if the administrative law judge hearing is denied.