Social Security Insurance Children

SSI for a child can be difficult to get.  .  You can apply for SSI for children online.  There are medical and non-medical requirements that must be met.

Medical Requirements

In order to get SSI for a child:

• The child must have a physical or mental condition, or a combination of conditions, that result in “marked and severe functional limitations.”  This means that the condition(s) must very seriously limit the child’s activities.
• The child’s condition(s) must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least 12 months; or must be expected to result in death.
• If the child’s condition(s) results in “marked and severe functional limitations” for at least 12 continuous months, Social Security will find that the child qualifies for SSI .  However, if it does not result in those limitations, or does not last for at least 12 months, Social Security will find that the child is not eligible for SSI.

There is a Listing of Impairments for children and SSI.  A child whose condition meets or equals the Listing of impairment will be found to be disabled by a matter of law.

Social Security will give a child SSI benefits while a case is pending if the child’s circumstances meet the certain conditions.  The child can receive the SSI benefits for up to six months.  The some of the medical conditions are:

• HIV infection;
• Total blindness;
• Total deafness;
• Cerebral palsy;
• Down syndrome;
• Muscular dystrophy;
• Severe mental retardation
• (Child age 7 or older); and
• Birth weight below 2 pounds, 10 ounces

If the Disability Determination Services later determines that the child is not eligible for SSI , these payments do not have to be paid back.  In all other cases, a claim for SSI for children can take three to five months to be decided

Income Requirements for Supplemental Security Income

A child who meets the medical requirements for SSI will also have to meet the income guidelines in that program.  The child must not be working and earning more than $980 a month in 2009.  (This earnings amount changes every year.)  If the child is working and earning that much money, Social Security will find the child is not eligible for SSI.

Income and resources of the parents and other family members will also be considered when determining whether the child meets the income limitations.  If a child does not qualify for SSI because of family resources before they reach age 18 they may qualify after they reach 18 without considering family resources.

Do you need a Lawyer?

A child can be eligible for SSI benefits.  There are medical and income requirements for SSI for children.  There is a special listing of impairments for children.  This is a complicated legal area.  Good legal representation is necessary for a positive result. You do have the right to have representation concerning any aspect of social security including SSI for children.  Your representative can be an attorney or other qualified person.  Legal representation is advisable when dealing with the technical nature of disability claims or issues involving eligibility.  Social Security will pay fees to this person if you have a fee agreement or a fee petition is filed.  Social Security will not pay more than 25% of past due benefits or $6,000 whichever is less.