We wanted to pass on some information that could be helpful to some of you. This article was sent to us by Cendy Moliere, she has worked with the Disability Benefits Center for a year and a half. DBC has been around since 2012 and they are dedicated to helping people of all ages receive the Social Security disability benefits they deserve. They provide information on the disability process and what conditions qualify.
Raising a child with special needs can be challenging for parents who don’t have a lot of resources. A parent may not be able to work because of the extra care that a child needs or the parents may need some financial help paying for things the child needs that aren’t covered by insurance. The Social Security Administration created Supplement Security Income benefits to help the parents of special needs kids cover any extra costs so that the parents can focus on caring for their child instead of worrying about money.
Who Qualifies for SSI Benefits?
There are two parts to qualifying for SSI benefits. A child must first qualify for benefits due to their disability or health condition. The Social Security Administrations’ Blue Book lists all of the disabling conditions that qualify for benefits. In order to qualify the child’s condition must meet all of the requirements that are listed in the Blue Book. For example, a child that has Autism Spectrum Disorder must meet both of these requirements:
In addition to those two conditions a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder must all have an extreme limitation in one of the following or marked limitation of two of the following areas:
Parents will need to submit medical documentation showing that the child meets all of those conditions in order for the child to be eligible for SSI benefits. Parents can also submit statements from caseworkers and teachers or other professionals that can speak to the child’s impairments.
Financial Requirements
The child meeting the Blue Book conditions for their disability is only half of the hurdle when it comes to qualifying for SSI benefits. There is also a financial requirement for parents. There is an income cap that must be met in order to be eligible for SSI benefits. That means that the total household income of all the working adults in the home must fall below the cap in order for the child to be able to receive SSI benefits. The cap is based on the number of adults working in the home so each adult that’s working will need to submit financial verification like W-2s or Federal tax returns in order to prove their income.
Getting Started Filing for SSI Benefits
In order to start a claim for SSI benefits for a disabled child, parents will need to make an appointment at the closest Social Security Administration office. When you go to the appointment make sure that you have copies of all of the child’s medical records with you as well as your financial documentation and other information. Someone at the SSA will be able to walk you through the process of filling out and filing a claim for SSI benefits for a disabled child.
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