Benefits For Children With Disabilities

Adults are typically the focus when it comes to SSDI and SSI. But, there are times when a family supports a disabled child, and they need benefits to care for the child and themselves. Someone under 18 years of age can get benefits due to their disability, but they will need a representative (like a caretaker, guardian, or loved one) to get their application completed. With the right information and enough time, you can obtain benefits to help care for your child. 

SSDI for Those Disabled Since Childhood  

An adult can receive SSDI benefits if they have been disabled since childhood, before the age of 22. This is considered a child’s benefit because the applicant qualifies for the benefits under their parent’s case. One of two things must be true to get these benefits: 

• The parent received Social Security retirement or disability benefits. 
• The parent died but earned enough work credits to receive benefits.

Because the application is based on the parent’s qualifications, the SSA will evaluate the case using adult qualification rules. The benefits that the person receives on their parent’s behalf can continue until they turn 18, when they can open their own SSDI case. For adults with a disability since childhood, the benefits will continue as long as their disability continues. There are no work requirements to continue these benefits. 

SSI for Children 

SSI for children is very similar to applying for SSI as an adult. The requirements are essentially the same, with a slightly higher standard for disabled children. SSI is based on disability and lack of resources (both income and assets), meaning certain information must be shown to the SSA to get benefits. To receive SSI as a child, the following must be true if they are applicable to the child’s case: 

• If the child is blind, they must have earned less than $2,260 a month in 2022.
• If the child is not blind, their monthly income must be below $1,350 in 2022.
• The child must have serious functional limitations caused by a disabling medical condition (or a combination of two or more).
• The child’s disability has or will be a disability for at least 12 months or will result in death.

Applying for Benefits for a Child

Applying for a child to get disability is not much more difficult than applying for an adult. To begin, you’ll have to complete the application in person at your local office or online. The application can be found at https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/apply-child.html. A representative of the SSA can help you if you find the process difficult or intimidating, so be sure to call if you need help. 

You will first be asked to provide documentation to prove and show the effects of your child’s disability. The SSA will ask that you permit various people to send over medical and school records. This should include teachers, therapists, doctors, and anyone else who has information about your child’s disability or its effects on the way they live their daily life. Providing a complete record of any information or documentation that you have will help expedite the decision-making process. The SSA may ask that your child have a medical evaluation to confirm portions of the application or get a better idea of their disability. 

Like an adult’s SSDI application, the SSA will not pay benefits until a decision has been made on the case. Typical cases take 3-5 months to accept and get payments. But, the SSA has a list of childhood disabilities that will immediately qualify a child for benefits. This is overlapped with the Compassionate Allowance conditions that allow adults to get benefits quickly, of which a complete list can be accessed here: https://www.ssa.gov/compassionateallowances/conditions.htm. The following are examples offered by the SSA: 

• Down Syndrome
• Birth weight less than 2 lbs, 10 ounces
• Symptomatic HIV
• Cerebral palsy 

A complete guide to SSDI benefits for children can be found here: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10026.pdf. The guide contains information to help you complete your child’s SSDI application as quickly as possible. 

Apply Today!

There are resources to assist with the application process if you encounter an issue. If the application is denied in the initial stage of applying, you will have to follow the same appeals process that an adult application would. If you need help or things get away from you during everything, you can call your local SSA office to get help from a representative. If you’re facing issues with the appeals process or something that halts the application entirely, consider contacting a local attorney who is familiar with disability law. They will know how to work the process to your favor and know what to expect from each step you encounter. Call us today for help with your child’s SSDI application.