Disabled children who live in a home with low or no income resources are able to get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits from birth until the age of 18. However, the process of getting these benefits can be difficult, which makes understanding the steps of the process important.
First, in order to apply a child must be deemed to have a severe physical or mental condition that hinders him or her from doing normal tasks. A state agency will scrutinize all the information available and may ask other people and sources who know the applicant in order to assess the extent of the disability.
The resources and income of the child’s family will then be assessed to determine if they are unable to adequately provide for the daily needs of the child. Those whose family has little or no source of income at all and meet the agency’s definition of disability are often awarded SSI. The agency will then send a letter, which could take 3-5 months, if an applicant is qualified for benefits.
If you have questions regarding disability benefits, including SSI for adults and children, get in touch with the legal team at Hankey Marks & Crider, P.C., by calling (317) 634-8565.