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What Qualifies a Child to Receive Disability

Children with physical or mental disabilities whose families are lacking in income or resources may be eligible to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments to help cover basic costs of living. SSI is not the same as Medicaid and does not cover health care; many children who qualify for SSI also qualify for Medicaid and many families apply for both at the same time.

  1. Qualifications

    • Disabled children are eligible to receive payments from the time of their birth until their 18th birthday. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has strict definitions of disability that applicants must meet. The child must have a physical or mental disability so severe that it limits many activities and daily functions and the condition must have lasted or be expected to last at least a year. SSA also considers terminal conditions and looks at the income and resources of the child's family before approving benefits.

    Application Process

    • Parents and guardians of disabled children who believe they may qualify for SSI payments should call the SSA to find out if their income is within the allowed limits. They then need to fill out an online Child Disability Report and give the SSA permission to contact the child's doctors, teachers and other care providers for more information. The SSA will schedule an interview, to which parents should bring all medical information available, including lists of medications and contact information for any treatment facility the child has visited in the past year.

    Post-Application

    • The SSA will notify the parents or caregivers by mail of its decision. Typically, decisions take three to five months but sometimes additional testing or observation is necessary to determine the extent of a disability. The SSA pays for any additional requirements. In certain circumstances, such as HIV infection, total blindness, cerebral palsy and others, the SSA will approve immediate temporary benefits while the case is being reviewed. If the SSA denies benefits, the family must pay back the temporary benefits received.

    Disability Reviews and End of Benefits

    • Medical conditions of children receiving SSI payments are reviewed periodically to ensure that disability payments are still necessary and appropriate. Children whose conditions are expected to improve will be reviewed at least once every three years. Children with poor, stable conditions might be reviewed to verify that the child has been receiving treatment. Children who turn 18 while still receiving benefits are reviewed to determine if they qualify for adult disability; if so, the family must reapply for adult benefits.

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