SSI Benefits for Children: Problems with Cases

Disability benefits for minor children are covered by title 16 of the social security act, known as SSI, or supplemental security income (adult children can potentially draw benefits from a parent's earnings record provided that their disability onset is prior to age 22 and that the parent in question is deceased, receiving disability benefits, or drawing retirement benefits).

Fundamentally, the process of applying for disability benefits for a child is no different than filing a disability claim for an adult. In either case, someone must contact the social security administration (usually through a local office) and request that a disability application be taken. And, after an interview has been conducted and an application has been put on file, the evaluation process for either an adult or a child essentially mirror each other. Records (medical and/or school records, such as IEP's, grade reports, and teacher questionaires) are gathered and after sufficient evaluation, a determination is reached. In instances where an approval is granted, the process "mainly" comes to a close. In instances where a denial is made, the individual or the individual's parent(s) will need to decide if an appeal will be filed.

Having said this, however, cases involving SSI benefits and children with disabilities sometimes have problems that set them apart from social security disability and SSI cases involving adults.