By Chris Sharry on September 26th, 2024 in Disability Children
SSI provides monthly payments to people with limited income and resources who are 65 or older, or blind, or have a disability. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for children younger than age 18 is available if they have a medical condition or combination of conditions that meets Social Security’s definition of disability. Their income and resources must fall within the eligibility limits. The amount of the SSI payment differs from state to state because some states add to the SSI payment. Your local Social Security office can tell you more about your state’s total SSI payment.
WHO IS A “CHILD” FOR SSI?
A person who is neither married (as determined by Social Security) nor head of a household and:
- is under age 18; or
- is under age 22 and is a student regularly attending school (as determined by Social Security).
HOW DOES THE SSI DISABILITY PROGRAM WORK FOR A CHILD?
To be eligible for SSI benefits, a child must be either blind or disabled:
- A child may be eligible for SSI disability benefits beginning as early as the date of birth; there is no minimum age requirement.
- A child may be eligible for SSI disability benefits until attainment of age 18 (see definition of disability for children).
- When the child attains age 18, we evaluate impairments based on the definition of disability for adults (see definition of disability for adults).
- A child with a visual impairment may be eligible for SSI benefits based on blindness if the impairment meets the definition of blindness (see blindness requirements).
WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR A “DISABLED” OR “BLIND” CHILD?
- If under age 18, whether or not married or head of household, the child has a medically determinable physical or mental impairment or impairments which result in marked and severe functional limitations; and
- The impairment(s) has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of at least 12 months or be expected to result in death; or
- If the child is blind, he or she meets the same definition of “blind” as applies for adults. See WHAT IS “BLINDNESS” FOR AN ADULT OR CHILD?. Unlike the requirement for SSI disability benefits, there is no duration requirement for SSI blindness benefits.