How do you apply for disability for your child or your children ?

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

To apply for SSI disability for your children, you must contact the Social Security Administration to schedule an appointment for your child’s SSI disability claim.

In order to be prepared for your child’s disability interview, you will need to provide Social Security with information about the following:

A) Your child’s condition.
B) Your child’s medical treatment sources (i.e. doctors, hospitals, psychologists, psychiatrists, etc.).
C) Your child’s dates of treatment, medications, and testing.

It is advisable to write this information down prior to filing a disability application if your child has several medical treatment sources.

SSI disability is a needs based disability program that requires all applicants whether they are adults or children to meet strict income and resource limits. These non-disability requirements will be addressed during your child’s disability interview. Parental income and resources are counted toward this.

For instance, you will need to bring proof of your income and resources (for both parents if in the same household) and, of course, you will need to have knowledge of your child’s medical problems, physicians, and school information.

Additionally, you should bring in a certified birth certificate for the child (not the mother’s copy). If you have all of the above information, you are prepared to apply for your child’s disability.

How is a child disability claim evaluated? As with other types of disability claims, the medical evidence (Social Security Disability, SSI, and Medical Evidence). However, unlike claims for adults, SSA will not be looking at work history, obviously. Instead, the focus will be on whether or not your child is able to engage in age-appropriate activities.

Additional information at:

How are children eligible to receive disability benefits?

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

Individual Questions and Answers

Social Security Disability Mental Testing

Social Security Disability Issues and Representation

The Qualification Criteria for Social Security Disability and SSI

Social Security Disability, SSI, and Residual Functional Capacity, RFC

Applying for disability benefits in Ohio

Disability Hearings - Information on the Social Security Hearing Process

The Medical Records That Are Best For A Social Security Disability Claim

How does social security define disability?

The Time Involved on a Social Security Disability Decision

Should you get a Statement from a Personal Physician for your SSD or SSI Disability Case?

Social Security Medical Exam - the purpose

What happens after I file my disability claim with Social Security?

I Need To Apply For SSI or SSD But I Do Not Know Where to Start?

What Will a Disability Lawyer Do to Win a Social Security Case?

Is Social Security required to give you a decision on your disability case in a certain amount of time?

What does a Social Security Disability Lawyer or Representative do for your claim?

When you file for disability and have both Mental and Physical Conditions

What Happens If You Miss Your Social Security Disability Application Appointment?

How Long Do I Get To Keep My Social Security Disability or SSI Benefits?

Should I List My Past Depression Medications on My Social Security Disability Application?

What Can I Do to Improve My Chances of Winning Disability Benefits

After you file for SSD, the Disability Examiner may contact you for additional information

Social Security Disability Health Coverage

How does Social Security determine if I am disabled or not?

Social Security Disability Status

How Likely Is It That A Social Security Disability Claim Will Be Won Prior To The Hearing Level?

Social Security Temporary Disability - Can I get temporary benefits?

Who makes the Determination of a Social Security Disability Claim?

Social Security Disability and Medicare benefits

How do you find out if a Social Security disability claim has been approved or even denied ?

How do you apply for disability if you have depression problems ?

Cirrhosis, Social Security Disability, and Applying for Benefits

How Long Can You Receive Social Security Disability Benefits (SSDI)?

Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in Georgia

Proving a Social Security Disability Case Often Means Getting a Statement from Your Doctor

Can a mental illness qualify you for disability?

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