Can My Child Get SSI? Is My Child Eligible for Supplemental Security Income?

Is my child eligible for supplemental security income? You may be able to get SSI (Supplemental Security Income) for your child if your child is suffering from a severe medical condition that affects their ability to learn or engage in activities such as play like a normal child would. Disabling conditions can include physical problems, like asthma, cerebral palsy, scoliosis, eczema, or psoriasis, depending on their severity. They can also include behavioral and mental health conditions, like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiance disorder, depression, anxiety, mental retardation, borderline intellectual functioning, or other kinds of learning disabilities. To receive SSI, you will need to show that, despite medical treatment, your child is seriously limited by his or her conditions. For example, Social Security will want to review your child’s school records to see if they are on an IEP or 504 Plan, if they have poor grades, or if they are disciplined often at school due to behavioral issues. Social Security will also want to review your child’s medical records to see what kind of treatment they are getting for their conditions. For example, if your child has asthma, SSA will expect that your child is using prescribed inhalers or other medications to address this.  The same goes for conditions like psoriasis or eczema. If your child is having mental health problems, Social Security will want to know if your child is taking medications to treat their symptoms and if they are receiving counseling or other services that could help them. If your child is still having severe symptoms despite getting these kinds of treatment, your child maybe eligible for supplemental security income benefits. However, your family will also have to meet the financial requirements for SSI.

SSI is a needs-based program. Financially eligibility guidelines change often and vary depending on the sources of household income you have, how many people are residing in your household, and so forth. Please feel free to contact us via our website or give the attorneys at Smith & Godios a call anytime and we can check to see if you may be eligible for SSI payments.