| Collecting SSI or SSDI benefits for disabled children | | | | SSA – it must be proven that the impairment(s) |
| Children who are diagnosed as disabled may be eligible | | | | have caused marked or severe limitations to the child's |
| for SSI or SSDI benefits. The SSA employs special | | | | functions and that these may eventually result in the |
| rules in order to evaluate the medical basis for which | | | | child's death, as well as the condition being expected to |
| the child has become disabled. Only when the child | | | | last or has lasted for 12 consecutive months. |
| meets the medical requirements for their specific | | | | -The parent's and disabled child's income and |
| disability (which are published by the SSA) will benefits | | | | resources fall within the SSA's allowable limits. |
| be approved and payable. Additionally, the total | | | | Program #2 – SSDI benefits |
| household income will also be taken into | | | | Under this program an "adult child" is defined as a |
| consideration. Oftentimes, if both parents are | | | | person who is 18 years old (or older) and may be |
| working, those benefits may be denied. | | | | eligible for monthly benefits based on either their |
| Qualification requirements | | | | disability or blindness provided the following |
| The SSA has two disability programs available for | | | | requirements are met: |
| disabled children just like they do with adults who are | | | | -The adult child has an impairment or a combination of |
| disabled – SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) | | | | impairments which meets the SSA's definition of |
| and SSI (Supplemental Security Income). These differ | | | | disability. |
| based on the age of the child whose benefits are | | | | -The onset of their disability occurred before they |
| being applied for. The following is a listing of the | | | | reached the age of 22. |
| requirements for both. | | | | -The parent of the adult child has worked a sufficient |
| Program #1- SSI benefits | | | | amount of time so that they are insured by Social |
| A child from birth to the age of 18 may be able to | | | | Security, is receiving either disability or retirement |
| receive SSI benefits under this particular program | | | | benefits, or is deceased. |
| based on a medical condition or blindness. There are | | | | On a closing note, it should be noted that there is a |
| 2 requirements they must meet in order to qualify for | | | | common thread between both of these programs and |
| SSI benefits: | | | | that is that the child in question is not performing any |
| -They have an impairment or multiple impairments | | | | substantial work. |
| which meets the disability definition according to the | | | | |