In our last post we continued our discussion about Supplemental Security Income. This program helps provide payments to those that are disabled, aged or blind and who have limited resources. Another aspect of this program is that it also provides payments to qualifying children that are disabled.
The Social Security Administration takes into account the child’s resources and income. It may also take into account the income and resources of family members that the child lives with. For 2016, the child cannot be working and earning more than $1,130 per month. The child’s medical condition, whether physical or mental, must seriously limit the child’s activities. Similar to the guidelines for adults, the disability or condition must be disabling for a year or expected to be disabling for at least a year, or is expected to result in death.
Information such as school records and medical records will be very important to prove your child’s case. This is where an attorney can be very helpful. Your attorney understands the process and can help you gather the needed information and records in order to apply for SSI. The administration will want permission from the child’s doctors, teachers and therapists to send them information, if it is needed.
According to the administration, they may take around three to five months to make a decision. For certain conditions, the administration may start paying benefits immediately. Some of the conditions that may qualify include total blindness or deafness, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and HIV infection.
In our next post we will continue our discussion about disability benefits for children.