Childhood SSI Benefits
Childhood Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits are available to children from birth up to age eighteen. To qualify for childhood SSI benefits, a child must meet the Social Security Administration’s definition for disability for children and the parents must have low income and few resources.
If under 18, whether or not married or head of household, the child has:
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a medically determinable physical or mental impairment or impairments which result in marked and severe functional limitations;
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the condition(s) must have lasted or be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months or be expected to result in death; or
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if the child is blind, the same definition of “blind” applies as for adults.
SSA has an obligation to provide benefits quickly to applicants whose medical conditions are so serious that their conditions obviously meet disability standards. The Compassionate Allowance initiative allows Social Security to target the most obviously disabled individuals for claims approval based on objective medical information that we can obtain quickly.
If a child is under age 18, not married, and lives at home with parent(s) who do not receive SSI benefits, the SSA may consider a portion of the parents’ income and resources as if they were available to the child. This process is called “deeming.” Deductions are made from deemed income for parents and for other children living in the home. After the deductions are made, the remaining amount is used to decide if the child meets the SSI income and resource requirements.
When an eligible child under age 18, is eligible for certain large past-due payments covering more than six months of benefits, the payments must be paid directly into a separate account in a financial institution.
When the eligible child turns eighteen, the impairments will be reevaluated under the definition of disability for adults.
If you need more information about a Social Security Disability/SSI matter, personal injury matter (car wreck, boating accident, slip and fall, etc.), EEOICPA claim, long or short-term disability, VA disability, or a workers compensation matter, please contact the Law Offices of Tony Farmer and John Dreiser for a free case evaluation. We can be reached at (865) 584-1211 or (800) 806-4611, through Facebook, or through our website. Our office handles claims throughout East Tennessee, including Knoxville, Chattanooga, Kingsport, Bristol, Johnson City, Morristown, Maryville, Rogersville, Dandridge, Tazewell, New Tazewell, Jefferson City, Strawberry Plains, Sevierville, Gatlinburg, Loudon, Kingston, Halls, Maynardville, Crossville, Cookeville, Jamestown, Sweetwater, Lenoir City, Athens, Oak Ridge, Clinton, LaFollette, Lake City, Jacksboro, Bean Station, Cosby, Newport, White Pine, Mosheim, Wartburg, Sunbright, Pigeon Forge, and Deer Lodge.