Children under the age of 18 are eligible for Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, payments, if they meet the Social Security Administration's definition of disability and if their resources---including family income---fall within certain limits. The amount of the monthly SSI payment varies from state to state because some states supplement the payments. The evaluation process involves documentation and consultation with medical professionals and normally takes three to five months.
Definition
The Social Security Administration considers a child disabled if he has physical and/or mental limitations that result in "marked and severe functional limitations." Social Security adjudicators look for indications that the child's disabilities profoundly limit his activities. To make this determination, they will compare your child's abilities to the normal range for children of his age. In addition, the disability must last a minimum of 12 months or must be a terminal condition. Also, if the child works and earns more than $1,000 per month as of 2010, the Social Security Administration will not consider him disabled.
Documentation
When you apply for SSI benefits for your child, you must provide detailed information about her condition and how the disability impacts on her daily activities. You also must provide contact information for her doctors, therapists, teachers and other care givers and you must authorize those individuals to provide information about your child's condition to the Social Security Administration. To speed up the process, be sure to bring medical and school records as well as dates of hospitalization and treatments when you visit the Social Security office to apply for benefits. You also must present your child's birth certificate and Social Security number when you apply. You can apply online, but this may delay the process because the online application goes to federal authorities and they send your documentation to the state office closest to you.
Case Review
Your local Social Security office will send the information and the records you provide to the Disability Determination Services office for your state, where staff members, including doctors, will review the case. They will contact your child's doctors and other care providers and may request additional information from you. If they cannot make a decision based on written records, they may require you to take your child for medical testing or further evaluation. The Social Security Administration will pay for any required medical examinations or tests.
Periodic Reviews
Once your child begins receiving SSI payments, the law requires a periodic review. An infant that receives SSI payments based on low birth weight must have a re-evaluation before his first birthday. Children above age 1 whose condition may improve must undergo a review at least every three years. For other children, the Social Security Adminsitration may conduct a re-evaluation at any time at its discretion. During the review, you must provide documentation that your child is receiving medical treatment appropriate for his condition.
Age 18
In the year prior to your child's 18th birthday, she will come up for a review to determine if she is eligible to receive adult SSI benefits. The rules for adults are different and sometimes more beneficial. For example, the Social Security Administration does not consider the income of other household members when considering eligibility.
