Social Security Q&A

LITTLE ROCK — Q. Do disabled children qualify for benefits?

A. Yes. There are two Social Security disability programs that include disabled children.

Under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, a child from birth to age 18 may receive monthly payments based on disability or blindness if:

He has an impairment or combination of impairments that meet the definition of disability for children; and

The income and resources of the parents and the child are within the allowed limits.

Under the Social Security Disability Insurance program, an adult child (a person age 18 or older) may receive monthly benefits based on disability or blindness if:

He has an impairment or combination of impairments that meet the definition of disability for adults;

The disability began before age 22; and

The adult child’s parent worked long enough to be insured under Social Security and is receiving retirement or disability benefits or is deceased.

Under both programs, the child must not be doing any “substantial” work and must have a medical condition that has lasted or is expected to last for at least 12 months or to result in death.

You will find helpful links to the online forms and the steps you need to take to apply for childhood disability benefits at socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability. At this time, you cannot complete an application for SSI childhood disability online, but you can complete the Child Disability Report Form online. You also can view the fact sheet and checklist in the Child Disability Starter Kit to see what information you will need and the kinds of questions we will ask when you have your disability interview in your local Social Security office or over the phone. The Disability Report asks for information about the child’s conditions or impairments.

Call or visit your local Social Security office right away so that you do not lose potential benefits, even if you complete the Disability Report Form online.

More information is available by calling (800) 772-1213 or TTY, (800) 325-0778. On the web, go to socialsecurity.gov.

This column was prepared by the Social Security Administration.