Disabled children may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income, but many families who apply for it find that getting approved is difficult. If your child is under the age of 18, suffers from a disability, and comes from a low-income home, you should entertain the idea that they may be entitled to SSI benefits.
Does Your Child Qualify for SSI?
Normally, SSI is awarded to low-income disabled adults and low-income adults aged 65 and older. Children, who normally do not have income, must be evaluated on the basis of their disability.
A child may qualify for SSI if they meet the following conditions:
1. The child must have a mental or physical disability that severely inhibits their ability to complete normal daily tasks.
2. The child’s disability is expected to impair them for at least 12 months. In a worst case scenario, the disability is terminal.
3. The child must come from a low income household.
Qualifying disabilities include, but are not limited to: blindness, cancer, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, intellectual disorders, lupus, autism, severe asthma, severe heart conditions, etc. You can check the SSA’s Listing of Impairments for a full spectrum of qualifying disabilities.
If you are still unsure about your eligibility, you can contact the Law Office of Sheryl Gandel Mazur to speak with a local and experienced SSD lawyer in New Jersey.
How Do You Apply for Child Disability Benefits?
Anyone who cares for a disabled child can apply for their SSI benefits. You will need to visit your Social Security office or complete an online application to get the process started. SSA will need information about your child’s identity and condition. You will need to supply medical evidence to support your claim, and the SSA may even interview other caregivers during their evaluation.
After your child gets approved for SSI benefits, they will need to be reevaluated about every three years. The Social Security Administration may conduct reviews on children younger than 18 whose condition is expected to improve with age. When these reviews happen, you, as the caregiver, must be able to provide medical evidence to prove that your child is still impaired by their disability. When the child turns 18, they’re considered an adult, and they will be reevaluated using the adult disability guidelines.
What Happens if Your SSD Child Disability Application Gets Denied?
If the initial application gets denied, and you feel as if your child needs SSI benefits, appeal it with the help the Law Office of Sheryl Gandel Mazur. Our disability lawyers in New Jersey have experience helping families like yours with the complex process of getting disabled children approved for SSI.
