Social Security Disability Benefits for Children
While the majority of people receiving benefits through the Social Security Administration are adults, there is a substantial group of children who also qualify for benefits. If you have a disabled child or you qualify for SSDI and have minor children, they may be entitled to monthly benefits. As is the case with any SSA program, the requirements are rigorous, and you’ll need to submit plenty of evidence to support your claims.
Wondering how you can help your child get disability benefits? We can help you through this process. Call Thiry & Caddell, LLP to set up a consultation right away.
SSI for Children
Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, is a need-based program that provides money every month to those with qualifying disabilities. Children may qualify if they are blind or have a qualifying medical condition.
Since SSI is a need-based program, much depends on the income and resources available to your child. While your child may not have any income or resources of their own, it’s likely that you do. The SSA does look at the resources of the child’s parents and deems a portion of them to the child. This means that a certain portion of your income will be considered as the child’s income for the sake of the SSI application.
Which conditions qualify for SSI? Per the SSA, a child must have marked and severe functional limitations as a result of their diagnosis. Their disability must be significant enough to hamper their ability to go to school, participate in day-to-day activities, or prepare for the workforce. The condition itself must be permanent, expected to last at least one year, or expected to result in the child’s death.
How Much a Disabled Child Can Receive
The maximum amount a child can receive varies each year, due to cost-of-living increases. If a child is living in a medical facility and has their care paid for by medical insurance, they can receive no more than $30 per month.
Another thing to consider is the fact that many states pay more money on top of what the SSA pays on a federal level. If you live in one of those states, your child’s monthly benefits may exceed the SSA maximum.
In 2022, a child who is disabled must not be earning more than $1350 per month. For a blind child, the maximum is $2260 per month. The maximum monthly payment an individual can receive in 2022 is $841 per month.
Medicaid Qualifications
Recognizing that children with significant disabilities may also be in need of medical care and insurance, the SSA provides information on qualifying for Medicaid. In the vast majority of states, a child who receives SSI qualifies for Medicaid through the state. However, some states have more rigorous limits. In these states, a child may only qualify if they live in an institution or receive institution-level care at home.
What About SSDI for Children?
If a dependent child’s parent or stepparent becomes disabled and begins receiving SSDI benefits, the child may also qualify for monthly payments. To receive SSDI benefits, a child must be unmarried and younger than 18 years old. A child 18 or older may qualify if they meet certain requirements. If the child is younger than 19 but still enrolled in high school, they may receive payments. They may also receive payments if they are disabled, and the disability started before the age of 22.
A qualifying child may receive up to 50% of their parent’s total SSDI payment. However, the SSA does set a maximum amount that a family can receive each month, so if there are multiple qualifying family members, their benefit amounts may be decreased to stay within the monthly limit.
Explore Your Disability Options with Byron A. Lassiter & Associates
We know that applying for SSDI and SSI benefits can be overwhelming and even frustrating, especially if you don’t know what the SSA is looking for. The team at Thiry & Caddell LLP focuses exclusively on disability law, and we want to help you with your application. Take the first step right now and call us at (251) 478-8880 or contact us online. We’ll learn more about your situation and help you understand your options.
