Is My Child Eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in Chicago?

Having a child with disabilities alters almost every aspect of your life. It’s difficult to even explain what it’s like to other people.

Could you use financial help as you work hard to provide everything your child needs?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) runs a disability benefits program for children. It’s a form of supplemental security income (SSI) benefits.

Many people recognize SSI as a disability benefits program for adults with limited financial means—but they don’t realize children and their families can also get economic assistance through this program.

Childhood SSI provides payments totaling hundreds of dollars per month, making it easier for parents to afford important resources for their children.

But as with any type of Social Security Disability Benefits, it can be hard to get approved for Childhood SSI. most people get denied when they first apply for benefits.

You can go to a Social Security Disability attorney for help, but many disability lawyers won’t take Childhood SSI cases.

Nash Disability Law, however, does help families get Supplemental Security Income for children in Chicago.

In fact, we’re proud to help Chicago area parents secure the best care and opportunities for children with disabilities—so you can rest easier knowing your child is getting the support they need.

Let’s look closer at what it takes for your child to be eligible for SSI in Chicago.

What Kinds of Health Impairments Make My Child Eligible for SSI?

The idea behind disability benefits for adults is that they provide a financial lifeline when someone is unable to work for health reasons before they can get Social Security retirement benefits.

Nobody expects children to have worked for a living, so Childhood SSI applications don’t have the element of determining whether a person could or should be able to hold a job.

Instead, qualifying for Childhood SSI requires showing how a child’s physical or mental impairments leave them functioning differently from other children their age.

These are the medical requirements for receiving Childhood SSI disability benefits:

• Your child is under 18, or age 18 but not yet graduated from high school.
• The child must have a “marked and severe” functional limitation. This limitation must severely interfere with the child’s ability to function on the same level as other children the same age.
• The child’s disability has lasted 12 months, or is expected to last at least 12 months.

Hundreds of specific medical conditions may qualify for benefits. Social Security has special rules for evaluating medical impairments in children because many diseases affect children differently than adults and some diseases only occur in children.

You children’s SSI claim can include submitting your child’s medical records, your child’s special education Individualized Education Program (IEP) documents, your child’s 504 plan documents from your school, and statements from people who know and observe your child.

An experienced disability lawyer will know what you need for your child’s SSI claim—and how to put it together for you.
If you’re wondering whether your child could qualify for childhood SSI disability benefits, the SSI lawyers at Nash Disability Law can review your situation for free.

What Are the Financial Qualifications for Children’s SSI Benefits?

The other piece of getting children’s SSI benefits is that your family must meet certain financial requirements.
These benefits are meant to assist people in financial need, so making an income over set amounts disqualifies your family for benefits.

These are the financial qualifications for childhood SSI:

• The child must live in a household with limited income and other economic resources. This can include some forms of savings and property.
• If your family is receiving state assistance, food stamps or Medicaid, your child will likely qualify. But every family’s situation is unique.
• If you’re NOT receiving other benefits, and you’re working, you must meet certain household income limits. The eligibility limits change over time. As a general rule, if you’re a single parent and have an earned household income of $39,612 or less (as of 2021), you will meet the financial requirement.
• A two-parent household must have earned income under $49,140 to meet the financial requirement. Social Security has a chart that lays out how different income levels and family sizes apply.

The money you receive from SSI for children can make a major difference for you, your family and your child.

You could use it to pay for occupational therapy, speech therapy, medical equipment, tutoring and more.

Don’t let the legwork of applying for children’s SSI block you from getting support for a better future for your child.

Let Nash Disability Law help you get there. Contact our Childhood SSI attorneys today.