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Obtaining Disability Benefits for a Child with Special Needs

By Ram Meyyappan, Social Security Disability Help [1]

Parents of children with special needs are well aware of how costly it can be to provide the best care for their loved one. Fortunately, disability benefits are available to provide financial assistance.

Conditions that May Qualify

Children can medically qualify for disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) for a wide range of disabilities, though a child’s condition must meet a pronounced severity level in order to be eligible.

Just a few of the medical conditions that can qualify a child for disability benefits are:

Severity Level Determinations

To determine if the effects of the condition are severe enough to result in disability, the SSA closely evaluates the child’s medical records, school information and details provided about his or her daily activities and abilities.

With adult disability applicants, the SSA looks at whether or not a medical impairment prevents employment. With children, however, they review whether an impairment causes delays in development– whether physical, mental or emotional- or in social functioning and interpersonal interactions.

Applying for Benefits

To apply for benefits on behalf of a child with special needs, parents must complete an interview with an SSA representative. That interview must be scheduled in advance and generally takes place at a local SSA office.

The following documentation and evidence are required in order to complete an application:

What to Expect

Children will only qualify for disability benefits through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) since SSI is the only program that does not require any work history. This program is need-based and, therefore, your financial information will be crucial to determining eligibility. For more information on the financial eligibility requirements for SSI, visit: https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-child-ussi.htm [2]

You should also keep in mind that most applicants wait at least four months for a decision, and even then your application may be denied. However, you can file appeals and seek assistance, if necessary, in order to get the benefits you need for providing the level of daily care your child deserves.


About this Article: We hope you find this article informative, but it is not legal advice. You should consult your own attorney, who can review your specific situation and account for variations in state law and local practices. Laws and regulations are constantly changing, so the longer it has been since an article was written, the greater the likelihood that the article might be out of date. SNA members focus on this complex, evolving area of law. To locate a member in your state, visit Find an Attorney [3].

 Requirements for Reproducing this Article: The above article may be reprinted only if it appears unmodified, including both the author description above the title and the “About this Article” paragraph immediately following the article, accompanied by the following statement: “Reprinted with permission of the Special Needs Alliance – www.specialneedsalliance.org [4].” The article may not be reproduced online. Instead, references to it should link to it on the SNA website.