Social Security Disability Benefits for Children Under the Age of 18

Social Security Disability for a minor child is not as automatic as you might think.  If you have a child with a significant disability, you might think the child would automatically qualify for government benefits. However, in reality, you will have to jump through several hoops. In addition to any assistance your state might provide, your child might be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Here is an overview of the process for going after Social Security disability benefits for children under the age of 18.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a two-part procedure for determining whether a child is eligible to receive Social Security disability benefits. The adult acting on the child’s behalf must complete and file:

• An Application for Supplemental Security Income, and
• A Child Disability Report

The Application for Supplemental Security Income for a Child Under the Age of 18

The SSA does not provide an online Application for Supplemental Security Income for a child under the age of 18. You will have to fill out the printed form. These forms can be confusing, but do not give up. You can call your local Social Security Office or go by their office to schedule an appointment to complete the application paperwork with an agent of the SSA. The agent can help you in person or over the telephone.

The SSA usually does not publish the telephone numbers of their local offices, so you will have to call the main number to get connected to your local office. The main SSA phone number is 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

Your local office can help you determine whether the child meets the financial requirements for SSI benefits. The countable income and assets of the child and parents must not exceed the allowed amount. The SSA excludes many assets from consideration, which is why they use the term “countable income and assets.”

The Child Disability Report

You can complete the Child Disability Report online. If you want assistance with the form or would prefer not to use the online form, you can call the SSA for help. Whether you complete the Child Disability Report online or at an SSA office, you will have to sign a document that authorizes the SSA to talk with your child’s doctor about the medical condition that is the cause of the disability.

You can provide records you already have, and the SSA will make a copy so you can keep your records. You do not have to collect documents you do not already have. Since you have to give the SSA permission to contact the child’s health care providers, the agency can request the records for their evaluation of the application. Depending on the facts of your situation, the SSA might find these records of the child useful:

• Medical records
• Prescriptions or pharmacy medication containers
• Individualized Education Program (IEP) from the child’s school
• Individualized Family Service Plan

Sometimes people start an online Child Disability Report and realize the need more time or information to complete the form. If you find yourself in that situation, write down the re-entry number you get from the SSA website. You can use that number to go back to the Child Disability Report, when you are ready to finish the form.

It can be useful to talk to an elder law attorney in your area about planning for your child’s future and how your state’s regulations might vary from the general law of this article.

References:

Social Security Administration. “Apply for Disability Benefits – Child (Under Age 18).” (accessed August 29, 2019) https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/apply-child.html