Getting SSI for Premature Babies or Infants With Low Birth Weight

Babies born before 37 weeks gestation are considered premature. Many “preemies” can face significant medical challenges on their way to robust health, such as low birth weight. (Some full-term infants can also have low birth weight as well). During these early stages, medical bills can pile up, and parents may find that their finances are stretched tight as they take time off work or dip into their savings in order to care for their new child.

If your baby was born prematurely or was full-term but had a low birth weight, you might be able to get financial help from Social Security’s Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. SSI is a needs-based disability benefit for low-income families who have children with disabilities. Before you submit your SSI application, it’s a good idea to get familiar with the medical and non-medical criteria for the program so you can build the strongest case for your child.

How to Get SSI Benefits For Your Preemie or Low Birth Weight Child

Children who have complications or disorders caused by premature birth, low birth weight, or both may qualify for SSI benefits if your family meets the preliminary income and asset limits for the program. In order for Social Security to determine that your child qualifies medically for SSI, your child’s medical condition must meet the requirements of a Blue Book listed impairment or be functionally equivalent to the listings.

Getting Social Security Benefits by Meeting a Listing

The Blue Book is a list of medical conditions that Social Security considers especially serious. Children who “meet a listing” will qualify for SSI benefits. Section 100.00 contains two listings relevant to children with a low birth weight or who don’t develop properly soon after birth (“failure to thrive”).

Your child may meet the requirements of Listing 100.04, Low birth weight in infants from birth to attainment of age 1, if they are within that age range and either have a birth weight of less than 1200 grams (about 2.65 pounds) or they fall within the following chart for a gestational age and birth weight:

Children younger than 3 years old who don’t meet the exact criteria of the low birth weight listing may meet the requirements of Listing 100.05, Failure to thrive in children from birth to attainment of age 3.

In order to get disability under this listing, your child’s medical records must first show consistent growth failure as demonstrated by three measurements, taken at least 60 days apart within one year, that are less than the third percentile of expected growth (as determined by a weight-for-length metric for children younger than 2 and a BMI-for-age metric for children between 2 and 3 years old). In addition to well below average physical growth, your child must also show significant delays in mental development relative to other children, such as standardized test results at least two-thirds below the mean for children their age.

Getting Social Security Benefits by Functionally Equaling the Listings

Meeting one of the listings above isn’t the only way a premature baby or an infant with a low birth weight can qualify for SSI benefits. If Social Security agrees that your child’s limitations are functionally equal to the listings—meaning their limitations are as severe as those caused by other conditions listed in the Blue Book—the child will qualify medically.

Social Security looks at six "domains of functioning," intended to cover all aspects of a child’s daily life, to determine whether your child's condition is severe enough to equal a listing. These domains are as follows:

• learning and applying information
• completing tasks
• interacting socially
• moving about and manipulating objects
• caring for oneself, and
• health and physical well-being.

To equal a listing, your child must have a "marked" limitation in two domains of functioning or an “extreme” limitation in one domain. Marked limitations are in areas where your child can function independently but only with a lot of help. Extreme limitations are more severe than marked limitations, and represent areas where your child can barely function independently, if at all.

Social Security will consider both physical and mental impairments when deciding whether your preemie functionally equals a listing. Children with a low birth weight can suffer from physical impairments that can make it hard to move and manipulate objects (picking up toys, for example) or care for themselves (like getting dressed). Mental impairments caused by inadequate oxygen to the brain during development can make it harder for your child to learn how to speak or read. These physical and mental impairments can limit your child's ability to function in the six domains.

What Other Conditions Could Qualify My Child for Social Security Disability?

Even if your child doesn’t meet or functionally equal the listings for low birth weight or failure to thrive, that doesn’t mean they won’t qualify for SSI. The Blue Book manual for childhood impairments is extensive and contains listings for many common conditions and complications in premature babies and children born with low birth weights. Depending on how severe these impairments are, they may qualify your child for disability benefits.

Short-Term Medical Problems Preemies Can Face

The organs of babies born prematurely often haven’t fully developed. Because these organs haven’t grown enough to function fully, preemies can suffer from serious short-term or immediate medical issues, including trouble breathing, bleeding or fluid accumulation on the brain, a gap in the heart known as patent ductus arteriosus, trouble maintaining body temperature, difficulty feeding due to an underdeveloped gastrointestinal system, and infections.

Long-Term Impairments Premature Babies Can Develop

Long-term problems caused by premature birth might not show up until later in childhood or even adulthood, especially neurocognitive and psychological disorders. For example, respiratory distress syndrome—a condition that causes lung tissue to collapse in preemies who can’t yet produce a chemical called a surfactant—can lead to an obstructive lung disease called bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Babies who have a birth weight of less than three pounds can develop an eye problem called retinopathy of prematurity, which can cause vision loss over time. And because preemies are more vulnerable to ear infections, they’re also more prone to hearing impairments.

Other long-term conditions babies born prematurely or with a low birth weight can develop include cerebral palsy, intellectual disorder (low IQ), growth impairment, learning disabilities, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and asthma, among others. Babies born prematurely and with low birth weights are also more likely to develop type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease as adults.

How Long Does It Take to Get SSI Benefits for Preemies?

Social Security recognizes that some impairments are almost always found to be disabling. For these impairments—which include low birth weight for children under the age of 1—the agency can begin presumptive SSI payments immediately after you apply for SSI and continue them for up to six months while a decision is made on your application. Presumptive payments are available to children younger than 1 who meet the same gestational age-to-birth-weight metrics of listing 100.04 (see the table above) or have a birth weight of less than 1200 grams.

If your baby was a preemie but doesn’t meet the requirements for low birth weight or have another condition likely to qualify for presumptive payments (such as total deafness or blindness), you’ll have to wait for Social Security to make a disability determination. The initial decision process can take three to five months. If you have to file an appeal, you can expect to wait much longer. (Learn more about your options if your baby’s SSI claim was denied.)

How Much Is a Preemie’s SSI Benefit Check?

Because SSI is a needs-based program, the amount of disability benefits your preemie or low birth weight infant can get is based largely on your family income. Generally, an adult who gets SSI is eligible for up to $994 per month (for 2026). But the actual benefit payments your child would receive depends on factors like where you live (some states pay a supplement, increasing the total monthly benefit amount),how much you and your child’s other parent have in countable income and assets, and how many other dependent children you have.

If your baby is still in the hospital, your child’s monthly SSI benefit might be limited to $30. Social Security limits the amount of SSI payments for hospitalized babies if the child is covered by health insurance or Medicaid. Social Security also limits what your child’s SSI payment can be used for. (Learn more about how your child’s SSI payment can be spent.)

When Do Benefits for Preemies and Low Birth Weight Babies End?

The time it takes before your child’s SSI benefits will end depends on several factors, such as the baby’s age, their medical condition, and any changes to your family income.

When a child receives SSI benefits, the parents are required to report changes to their incomes. Your child’s SSI benefits could be reduced or stopped if your countable income increases.

Social Security will conduct periodic continuing disability reviews (CDRs) to determine if your child is still disabled. Disability claims for premature babies and those with low birth weights are reviewed around age one. If, after that first year, your child is gaining weight and meeting developmental goals, the SSI benefits will expire. But if your child isn’t progressing adequately, the SSI benefits will continue until it’s time for another review (generally once every three years). For more information on CDRs, see our section on continuing disability reviews.