Supplemental Security Income for Children and Youth With Disabilities
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: September 12, 2024
Nearly 1 million children who have disabilities and limited income and resources receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) every month. That’s money that helps pay for basic needs like food, rent, clothing, and medicine.
The maximum federal SSI payment in 2024 is $943 a month. The amount may be lower based on a child’s income and living arrangements, parents’ income, and other factors. A child who is eligible for SSI is typically eligible for health coverage through Medicaid.
To get SSI, a child must meet non-medical and medical requirements.
Non-medical requirements for a minor child
We consider a child’s income and resources to determine if they are eligible for SSI. We also count the income and resources of the child’s parents (including a stepparent) if they live in the same household. The process of determining how much of the parents’ income and resources we count is called “deeming“. We do not consider the income and resources of other family members.
If a child meets our non-medical requirements, then we will review our medical requirements to decide if the child has a disability.
Medical requirements for a minor child
To be medically eligible for SSI a child younger than age 18 must have a medical condition that:
- Results in “marked and severe functional limitations”.
- Is expected to last for at least 12 months or to result in death.
Compassionate Allowances are a way we quickly identify diseases and other medical conditions that, by definition, meet our standards for disability benefits. Thousands of children receive SSI payments because they have a condition on the list.
What happens when a child turns 18
If a child receives SSI when they turn 18, we will contact them by mail about their age-18 redetermination. We must make a new medical decision to determine if they are eligible for SSI as an adult. They must have a condition(s) that is expected to prevent them from doing “substantial gainful activity” (SGA) for at least 12 months or to result in death.
To be eligible for disability benefits, a person generally must earn less than a certain amount each month. The SGA earnings amounts increase each year. Under the SSI program, the SGA amount in 2024 is $1550 a month.
If a child wasn’t eligible for SSI before their 18th birthday, they may be able to get SSI after age 18. That’s because we only count their income and resources, not their parents.
Visit our SSI page to learn more about our eligibility requirements and to start the application process.
Special rules for children in foster care
Youth who live in foster care who are blind or have a qualifying disability can start the SSI application process before their 18th birthday. They can contact us 180 days before their foster care eligibility will end due to age. For specific requirements, read our Spotlight on SSI Benefits for youth with disabilities in foster care.
Resources for transition-aged youth
We offer many resources at our Youth page to connect young people with disabilities to important information about education, career, and life goals. To learn more about supports for youth transition, read the publications in our updated Youth Toolkit 2024.
Please share this information with families or friends who need our help.
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Tags: equity, SSI, supplemental security income
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Michelle H.
Hi,
I am hoping you can help me understand if anything can be done in a case of a child with autism that has recently been approved for SS benefits in mom’s name, but now the parents are now divorcing.
The parents have a legal arrangement that both parents have equal time with the child. Shared parenting.
They just began receiving the SS last month and it comes in the mother’s name.
Mom says she plans to use it for her housing expenses. (she works) They were told it was to be used for only their son’s needs.
Dad pays for childcare and school for their 2 children.
After that he can barely afford his living expenses let alone purchase groceries and
Mom has always refused to help with the child care expense, but yet they both work, so now dad has asked her to use some of their son’s SS to offset his child care expense. She has also refused this. He feels she is misusing the money that should be used for their son or saved for his future needs. He feels he has no say so as to how it is managed.
Is there a way to have the court order his SS to offset the child care and pre-school fees or to have a third party manage the SS income?
Their little boy has free healthcare, so there are no medical bills. He also has a budget through the Board of Developmental Disabilities and funding for respite care, so his other needs are all being met. Mom has also received grant money.
Dad takes him to all his Dr appointments, OT, ST and meeting the Board of DD.
T.Y.
Hi, Michelle. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. To speak with a representative about your benefits, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.
Quacy M.
Social security office never turn in my new symptoms from hospitals after the hospitals give them to me. Destroying my body hiding it in Canarsie Brooklyn 11236. It leave me in a tight spot and tight jam
Angel V.
tengo 78 anos y resivo ssi desde 1997 los cabios que entraran entran en efecto octubre 31 me ayudaran o todo queda igual?
S.S.
Hi, Angel. For information in Spanish, please visit us at http://www.segurosocial.gov, Administración del Seguro Social http://www.facebook.com/segurosocial. Thanks!