Facts About Disability Claims For Minor Children - By: Art Gib

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are not just for adults who are unable to work due to illness or injury: they are also there to help eligible children. Adults who have not yet made a claim but who became disabled when they were minors may also qualify.

Although specific amounts vary from state to state, children may begin receiving monthly payments providing they meet requirements set by the government. If a child lives at home or spends most of his or her time there, household income is a condition for eligibility. Quite simply, if the family earns too much, no benefits will be paid. Likewise, if a severely disabled child lives in a hospital or other long-term care facility where expenses are paid by insurance, any monthly payout will be minimal.

In other words, SSI is careful in making sure that benefits are reserved for those who truly have a financial need for such benefits and assistance.

Besides financial eligibility, there are strict guidelines in place to determine if a child can be considered disabled. If a minor is able to maintain a paying job, chances are very good that he or she will not be deemed eligible for benefits. Indeed, the child's physical or mental incapacities must be severe enough that normal activity is severely restricted. Additionally, the applicant's condition must be expected to last at least 12 months or have a physician's prognosis of likely early death.

A child's application for benefits follows the same basic rules as those of an adult: a parent or guardian must provide detailed information about the minor's condition and circumstances from teachers, physicians, and anyone else who may be able to give honest appraisals of the applicant's challenges.

Once it is determined that a child is eligible, expect processing to take up to several months before benefits begin to be paid out. Disability eligibility laws designed to safeguard against fraud require regular assessment of a child's situation, particularly if his or her condition is expected to improve over time (as in the case of a baby born with an extremely low birth weight).

When a child is no longer a minor at age 18, he or she is considered an adult regardless of the severity of the disability. This is time when a disabled person who was ineligible due to a higher household income as a minor may now apply to receive benefits based solely on his or her own circumstances.

There is help out there for parents or guardians who are caring for a child with a severe disability. Take the time to find out if SSDI benefits are right for you.

About the Author

Navigating government red tape can be difficult, and hiring an experienced attorney to handle a disability claim is always a smart idea. If you need help, contact the experts at Disability Insurance Advocates (http://www.disabilityinsuranceadvocates.com/). Art Gib is a freelance writer.

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