Unless your disabled child has a medical condition that the Social Security Administration has green-lighted to receive benefits immediately, you might wait up to five months for a decision on your application for benefits. However, there are several things you can do to speed up the process. Bring his Social Security card and birth certificate to the appointment, along with proof of your own income and resources, or assets. If your child has a job, bring his pay stubs, as well.
The Basics
Children under age 18 who meet the Social Security Administration (SSA) definition of disability will receive benefits under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Besides the disability, SSA also looks at your income and resources, along with your child's, when making an eligibility determination. Whether your child lives at home with you or is attending school in another location, the same rules apply.
Disability Requirements
In order for your child to be considered disabled for SSI purposes, his condition, whether mental or physical, must impose significant limitations on his ability to function every day. Temporary illnesses and disabilities lasting less than 12 months don't qualify, but those that have lasted or are expected to last for more than a year meet the definition of a disability. A child with a terminal illness is also eligible. If the disabled child is able to work, he can't earn more than $1,000 monthly as of 2010.
Applying for SSI
Be prepared to provide details about your child's disability and the way it impacts her life. Gather any medical records you have and take them to your application appointment. Make a list of any medical professionals who have treated her, and the treatment dates, since the SSA representative will need to request information from them. Once SSA has all the information it needs, your application will be forwarded to an agency in your state for an eligibility determination. SSA will issue benefits before the determination is made if your child has a qualifying condition such as muscular dystrophy, is completely blind or deaf or is a newborn weighing less than 2 lbs., 10 oz.
To apply, call SSA's toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213.
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