Supplemental Security Income for Children with Disabilities

by Kara Dolan-West | May 21, 2014 | Social Security Benefits

SSI makes monthly payments to people with low income and limited resources who are 65 or older, or blind or disabled. Your child younger than age 18 can qualify if he or she meets Social Security’s definition of disability for children, and if his or her income and resources fall within the eligibility limits.

Social Security also considers the income and resources of family members living in the child’s household. These rules apply if your child lives at home. They also apply if he or she is away at school but returns home from time to time and is subject to your control.If your child’s income and resources, or the income and resources of family members living in the child’s household, are more than the amount allowed, Social Security will deny the child’s application for SSI payments.In addition, Social Security limits the monthly SSI payment to $30 when a child is in a medical facility where health insurance pays for his or her care.

Your child must meet all of the following requirements to be considered disabled and therefore eligible for SSI:

• The child must not be working and earning more than $1,070 a month in 2014. (This earnings amount usually changes every year.) If he or she is working and earning that much money, Social Security will find that your child is not disabled.
• The child must have a physical or mental condition, or a combination of conditions, that results in “marked and severe functional limitations.” This means that the condition(s) must very seriously limit your child’s activities.
• The child’s condition(s) must have been disabling, or be expected to be disabling, for at least 12 months; or must be expected to result in death.

If your child’s condition(s) results in “marked and severe functional limitations” for at least 12 continuous months, Social Security will find that your child is disabled. But if it does not result in those limitations, or does not result in those limitations for at least 12 months, Social Security will find that your child is not disabled.

Tags: benefits for children child benefits children Social Security SSI