Social Security Medicaid Benefits for a Minor

The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for disabled minors and may provide a portion of a parent's Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) and Social Security retirement benefits to the minor on behalf of the parent. Medicaid is an income-based program that may provide benefits to minors whose parents or caretakers have low income.

Medicaid

• Medicaid is a state-operated, federally- and state-funded program that provides health insurance coverage to low-income individuals, including children. Eligibility for Medicaid for children is based on the caretaker's income and resources. Medicaid provides coverage for a variety of medical products and services for children, including inpatient hospital care, outpatient medical care, prescription drugs and dental care. You can apply for Medicaid at your local Medicaid office. Keep in mind that, because Medicaid is operated by individual states, your local office may go by a name other than Medicaid. (California's program, for example, is known as "MediCal.")

Supplemental Security income (SSI)

• The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides SSI to certain disabled children under the age of 18. An SSA disability reviewer or administrative law judge must make an official determination that the child is disabled to qualify for SSI. A child must also have little or no income and resources to qualify. You can apply for SSI at www.ssa.gov or at your local SSA office.

SSDI or retirement benefits

• If you are an adopted child, biological child, or in some cases, a stepchild, you may be able to draw money from your parent or step-parent's SSA disability or retirement benefits. If you are unsure of eligibility, you may contact your local SSA office or contact SSA at 1-800-772-1213.