Methods of Eligibility for Social Security Disability Children Benefits

How to prove you are disabled
and win disability benefits

There are two ways for children to receive benefits from disability-related Social Security programs: the Supplemental Security Income program, also known as SSI, and the Social Security disability program. Note: reqardless of whether a claim is for an adult or a child, eligibility requirements will not change between the two programs, SSD and SSI

Receiving by being a dependent of a disabled adult beneficiary

How can a child receive benefits through the Social Security disability program? Children may be entitled as an auxiliary (dependent) on a disability beneficiary’s record. In this situation, the child does is not disabled; the child is simply a dependent of a disabled worker.

The amount of money, if any, that is available for dependents of a Social Security disability beneficiary is directly related to the disabled individual's work activity during their years prior to becoming disabled. Consequently, some Social Security disability beneficiaries have no money payable for dependents, because their work activity was low, while other Social Security disability beneficiaries have significant money available for their dependents.

Receiving on the basis of being a disabled minor-age child

Contrary to Social Security disability, SSI actually offers a disability benefit to children who are considered to have a disabling condition. Supplemental Security Income disability is a need-based program aimed at assisting A) individuals who have not worked, B) individuals who have not been able to work enough to be insured for Social Security disability, or C) individuals who may have worked enough to be entitled to a small Social Security benefit that does not exceed the current disability benefit payable under the SSI disability program.

Children’s parents must meet the income and resource requirements of the Supplemental Security Income program for a minor child to be entitled to benefits even if they are found to medically disabled. In other words, even if a child is considered to be disabled according to the medical records, they may not receive benefits if their household exceeds the income and asset/resource limits for the SSI program.

However, once a child turns eighteen, their parent's income will not be counted against them for entitlement to Supplemental Security Income benefits. At this point, the SSI beneficiary would have the same eligibility requirements as an adult. Therefore an eighteen year old person's living arrangement would be considered in determining what monetary amount is actually payable as a monthly disability benefit (through SSI).

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

Individual Questions and Answers

How does Social Security use Evidence to Decide an SSDI or SSI Disability Claim and Make a Decision?

The Qualification Criteria for Social Security Disability

Filing a Social Security Disability Application - How to File & the Information that is Needed by SSA

Is getting social security disability easier for mental or physical problems?

Will SSD Be Based On Newer Or Older Medical Records?

Questions about Disability Lawyers and Hiring a Disability Attorney

What does SSA consider a severe impairment for Social Security Disability or SSI Disability Benefits?

If You are Denied for Disability, What Should You do First?

Does The Social Security Disability Reconsideration Have A Time Limit?

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To Win Benefits, You may have to Appeal a Social Security Disability Denial or SSI denial

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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