Disability

Social Security Benefits for Children with Disabilities

September 24, 2020 • By

Reading Time: 1 Minute

Last Updated: July 19, 2021

SSA’s Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program helps children with qualifying disabilities and their families. For this program, a child must meet all of the following requirements to be considered disabled and medically eligible:

 

  • The child must have a medical condition, or a combination of conditions, that result in “marked and severe functional limitations.” This means that the condition(s) must very seriously limit the child’s activities.
  • The child’s condition(s) must have been disabling, or be expected to be disabling, for at least 12 months; or the condition(s) must be expected to result in death.

Compassionate Allowances are a way we quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that, by definition, meet Social Security’s standards for disability benefits. Thousands of children receive benefits because they have one of the conditions on the list.

A child must also meet other eligibility requirements. Since we only pay SSI to disabled people with low income and limited resources, a child, who is not blind, must not be working or earning more than $1,260 a month in 2020. A child who is blind must not be working or earning more than $2,110. This earnings amount usually changes every year. In addition, if the parents of the child or children have more resources than are allowed, then the child or children will not qualify for SSI. You can read more about children’s benefits by reading our publication, Benefits for Children with Disabilities.

Visit Parents and Guardians page to learn more about all we do to care for children. Please share these resources if you know a family or friend who needs our help.

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About the Author

Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner

Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner

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Comments

  1. David

    How is it that they think 600 plus unemployment weekly and then 300 plus their unemployment is a fair reasonable pay status to survive when people on SSI only get a hundred a month that’s five weeks half a year it makes it so much harder and it’s unfair

  2. Barry K.

    My son has one kidney since birth cant he get ssi

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Barry, thanks for using our blog. SSI makes monthly payments to people with low income and limited resources who are 65 or older, or blind, or disabled. Your child, if younger than age 18, can qualify if they have a medical condition or combination of conditions that meets Social Security’s definition of disability for children, and if the child’s income and resources fall within the eligibility limits. Check out the publication Benefits for Children with Disabilities for more details.

      If you would like to apply for your child, you can call us call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.

  3. Elizabeth

    Me urge contactarme con ustedes llamo al número nacional y nadie me contesta comuníquense conmigo

  4. Anthony r.

    Where do I apply for benefits?

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Anthony, thanks for the question. You can file for the following benefits online:
      •Retirement/Spouses/Divorced Spouses;
      •Medicare; and
      •Disability.

      If you are unable or do not want to apply for benefits online, you can schedule an appointment calling us at 1-800-772-1213 or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.

  5. Jack

    Sorry. You must pay into the plan to receive .

  6. Sharon K.

    Question: If the parent of a disabled child is now retired. Does the amount the child receives increase?

    • BETTY G.

      AMOUNTS REMAIN THE SAME FOR KIDS.

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Sharon, thanks for using our blog. If you’re getting Social Security retirement benefits, some members of your family may also qualify to receive benefits on your record. If you qualify, your child may receive a monthly payment of up to one-half of your retirement benefit amount. Check out our factsheet on Benefits for Children for more information.

  7. martha m.

    IS THERE A LIST FOR MENTAL DISORDERS?

    • BETTY G.

      here you go, https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/12.00-MentalDisorders-Adult.htm

      this is adult list; if child, go to CHILD’S IMPAIRMENT LIST.

    • Vonda V.

      Thanks for your question, Martha. Social Security pays disability benefits to people if they have a medical condition that has prevented them from working or is expected to prevent them from working for at least 12 months. We use the same five-step process to make a decision on each application. You may find our listing of impairments useful. We hope this helps.

  8. Concernedn M.

    How about a child that was left in a closet for a better party of her life. He is 5 and can’t speak well, and he has the mentality of a 3 year old

  9. Brenda B.

    Well, my grandson’s SSI got stopped. He has to have accommodations at school, he has a learning disability, goes to a psychiatrist, and the psychologist is weekly. He has Social Phobia and other health issues. Asthma which he cannot be involved in too much strenuous activity and also on limited foods. He cannot have Eggs, Peanuts, Treenuts, Dairy or Soy per the Doctors recommendations. He sees a pediatric gastroenterologist, peds Asthma Immunologist, Psychiatrist, Psychologist, has a C-Pap and has to go to a pediatric Cardiologist for possibility of an enlarged heart because of his years of Apnea. So…….there IS NO help for our children

    • Vonda V.

      For your security, Brenda, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.

    • BETTY G.

      what were the specific reasons ssi stopped your child’s payments??

    • BETTY G.

      read thru the sections here which apply to your child’s diagnosis, etc.

      then APPLY them to their approved list!

      https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/ChildhoodListings.htm

  10. S. R.

    Does a 5 year old child qualify for SSI if he has had Hepatitis C from birth.

    • Vonda V.

      Hi Sharon, thanks for using our blog. SSI makes monthly payments to people with low income and limited resources who are 65 or older, or blind, or disabled. Your child, if younger than age 18, can qualify if they have a medical condition or combination of conditions that meets Social Security’s definition of disability for children, and if the child’s income and resources fall within the eligibility limits. Check out the publication Benefits for Children with Disabilities for more details.

      If you would like to apply for your child, you can call us call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.

    • BETTY G.

      s. robinson, check out and read this section thoroughly, it mentions CHILD HEPATITIS C.

      https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/105.00-Digestive-Childhood.htm

    • BETTY G.

      read thru this detailed 105.00 section that can apply to hepatitis c; good luck.

      https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/105.00-Digestive-Childhood.htm

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