Can I file for disability benefits on behalf of my son?

If your son is a child and he is disabled, then you may not generally file for social security disability benefits on his behalf. Social security disability benefits do not provide child disability benefits. SSDI benefits offered through the social security administration are for adults who have worked for a set amount of time and who have become eligible for disability. These adults must be able to prove that they cannot work and they must show they have a listed disability. This program is not open to children.

However, another social security program may provide benefits for a disabled child. This program is called Supplemental Security Income, or SSI. In order to qualify for SSI on the basis of your child's disability, you will need to prove a few things.

• You'll need to show that your child is disabled by providing appropriate medical evidence. This can include medical records and other details about treatments that your child has undergone. It can also include details about how the disability affects your child's life
• You will also have to show that your family income is below the levels required for eligibility for SSI. This program is an income contingent program and if your family makes too much, you will not be eligible to file for SSI benefits on behalf of your son.

For assistance in determining if you can file for benefits for your son, or for help going through the process of getting benefits for your disabled child through the SSA, you should strongly consider speaking with a lawyer for advice.