Children who are disabled may qualify for benefits through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The application process is, however, not that easy. A child SSI lawyer at Disability Partners can be invaluable for helping you get through it.
The SSI program pays monthly benefits to children younger than 18 years old who meet the SSA definition of disability that applies specifically to child SSI benefits. According to the definition, a disabled child must meet the following requirements:
Children who are blind may qualify for child SSI provided they have central visual acuity for distance of 20/200 or less in their better eye with corrective lenses or have visual field limitation in their better eye with the widest diameter of the visual field subtending at an angle not greater than 20 degrees.
SSI is a need-based program, so an applicant cannot have income or resources, which are assets or things that you own and can use to acquire food and shelter, that exceed limits established for the program. For example, the value of all resources for an individual cannot exceed $2,000. While the resource and income limitations apply to adults and children, deeming rules come into play when you apply for child SSI.
Deeming allows the SSA to consider the income and resources of a child’s parents and deem a portion of them as available to the child. Federal regulations also allow the SSA to deem a portion of the assets and income of a stepparent living with the child and the child’s parent.
There are circumstances when deeming may not apply, such as after a child reaches age 18, no longer lives with a parent, or when the child marries. A child SSI lawyer can be of assistance by determining whether deeming applies to your child and how the income and resource limitations will affect eligibility for benefits.
Medicaid is a federally funded program that pays for medical care of eligible adults and children. Although funded by the federal government, the Medicaid program is administered by the states, which also determine eligibility.
Most states grant Medicaid benefits to children who qualify for federal SSI benefits, and they also supplement the federal benefit. Only six states do not supplement the federal benefit, which is $914 for an individual in 2022.
If you have a child who is disabled, Disability Partners, PLLC, would want to help with information, advice, and assistance to qualify for child SSI. Speak to a member of our team during a free consultation by contacting us today.