SSI for children

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

What kinds of disability benefits are available to children who are disabled? Only one of the Social Security disability programs addresses disability for children, and that is the Supplemental Security disability program, or SSI program as it is more commonly referred to.

How does a child qualify to receive SSI disability benefits? Remember Supplemental Security Income is a need-based program, so the parents of the disabled child must meet the income and resource limits established by the Social Security Administration.

Once it has been established that the family meets the income and resource rules of SSI, the child must meet the medical disability criteria of the SSI disability program.

How does the Social Security Administration establish the child’s medical entitlement to SSI benefits? Social Security will set up a disability interview with a parent or guardian, so that information about the child’s medical history can be obtained.

You (parent or guardian) should be prepared to provide functional information about your child, as well as the names, telephone numbers, and address of the child’s treating physicians, clinics, hospitals, and dates of treatment.

The Social Security office will send your child’s claim to the state disability-processing agency for processing. If the state disability agency is able to acquire enough current information from the sources you provided, they will make a disability determination. However, if the available medical information is not enough to make a decision, your child will have to attend a consultative examination with a physician provided by Social Security.

If the state disability agency finds your child to be disabled, your local Social Security office will contact you to make an appointment to review your income and resources. This is to make sure that you (parents or guardian) still meet the income and resource limits. Of course if you will meet all the income and resource criteria for the SSI program, your child will be entitled to receive a disability benefit.

Additional information:

Will my children get benefits if I get approved for disability?

How to apply for social security disability SSI benefits for children

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

Individual Questions and Answers

The chances of winning a social security hearing for disability benefits

Can You Avoid Being Denied on a Social Security Disability Claim?

Why Will A Social Security Disability Application Get Denied? (SSDI Denial)

Applying for disability benefits in Pennsylvania

Denied For Social Security Disability Because I Can Work -- What are my Options?

The Social Security Disability Denial Letter

Filing for SSI Disability

What are the Odds or Chances of Being Approved for Disability?

Who handles my case if I apply for Social Security disability ?

How can you speed up a Social Security Disability case?

Medical Records for Social Security Disability and SSI Cases

Can a Disability Examiner or Judge make a Social Security Approval with Old Medical Records?

SSI Disability Application Wait Time

After I File For Disability Will Social Security Pay For Me To See A Doctor?

Can I get SSI for RA, Rheumatoid Arthritis?

How Do I Find Out How My Disability Appeal Is Going?

What Income Will Affect Your Disability Benefits?

Is multiple sclerosis considered a disability by Social Security?

How to Qualify for Disability - How severe must a condition be?

Depression, Social Security Disability, and Applying for Benefits

Can You Get SSD or SSI Disability Benefits If you are Injured In An Accident?

Hiring a Qualified Disability Lawyer in Louisiana

If You Get Workers Comp, Will You Get Disability From Social Security?

Being Determined Medically Disabled for Social Security Disability

Applying for disability benefits in Nebraska

Can I Qualify For Disability and Receive Benefits based on Depression?

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