Child Social Security Disability Application Requirements

Child Social Security Disability

• Child SSDI Overview
• Qualifying for Child SSDI
• Child Disability Medical Exams
• Eligible Child Disabilities
• Child Disability Claim Evaluations
• Approved Child Disability Claims
• Denied Child SSDI Claims and Appeals
• Special Circumstances for Child SSI and SSDI

A child can become eligible for benefits at any age, from birth to age 18 if the child meets the medical and income requirements.

Qualifications for Child SSI and Disability

Your child must meet all of the following requirements to be considered disabled and therefore eligible for SSI:

• The child not working and earning more than $980 a month in 2009.
• Has physical or mental condition, or combination thereof, that result in “marked and severe functional limitations.
• 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.

Application Process

Where and how do you apply?--Social Security’s toll free number 1-800-772-1213allows you to:

• apply for benefits on the phone
• Make an appointment with your local Social Security Office to apply in the office.
• You can also apply for benefits online

Information Needed to Apply

• Social security number
• Birth or baptismal certificate

Medical Information and Records

• Names, addresses and phone numbers of the doctors, caseworkers, hospitals and clinics that take care of you child and dates of you’re the child’s visits;
• Names and dosage of all the medicine your child takes;
• Medical records from the child’s doctors, therapists, hospitals, clinics and caseworkers that you already have in your possession;
• Laboratory and test results

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) --Social Security collects the child’s activities of daily living on the Disability Report.

On the disability report you give information about how your condition affects your child’s ability to go to school and daily tasks such as getting dressed, taking care of their room, or chores, how they interact with family and friends.

Important note: You must do reverse thinking when completing the disability report and focus on the negative aspects as opposed to the positive aspects of how your child is progressing. This is an important area of the application because most children do not have a work history to assess.

Income and asset information:

Income and asset information is important when applying for SSI benefits as income and assets can affect your child’s SSI payments and eligibility. Social security will request information about the parent’s income as well as the child’s.

How long does the application process take?

It can take up to three to five months to get a decision once your application is complete. You should apply for benefits as soon as you feel you are disabled.

Presumptive Disability: Recieve Benefits While Applying? 

Qualifications for Presumptive Disability payments – Social Security pays presumptive disability benefits in the following situations.

• If you are applying for the first time for SSI based on disability or blindness
• You child’s medical condition is such that it presents a strong likelihood that the child will be found disabled under Social Security rules and
• The child meets all non-medical factors of eligibility

Your child can only get presumptive benefits for six months; benefits will end in six months even if you have not received a decision on the application. If denied you will not have to repay the benefits received.

Some of the conditions that qualify for presumptive disability payments are:

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