Social Security for Children

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) For Children Under 18

What is SSI: a federal program that gives cash assistance on a monthly basis to children who are disabled and have little income and few assets.

Who is Eligible - Child must meet the following criteria:

Medical requirements:

  1. Must have a physical or mental impairment (or both) that causes severe functional limitation, and
  2. The impairment has or is expected to last for a continuous period of 12 months or result in death

Financial requirements:

  1. Child and parents must have limited income. For more information about income, see this link: https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-income-ussi.htm
  2.  Child and parents must have limited assets
    1. assets include cash, bank accounts, stocks, bonds and other sources
    2. assets exclude house and first car. There is a $2,000 limit for assets.

How to apply:

  1. Complete the online Child Disability Report - the Report collects information about the child’s condition. ssa.gov/benefits/disability/apply-child.html

    Before completing, you may want to look at the Child Disability Starter Kit. The kit answers some common questions about applying for SSI benefits and includes a worksheet that will help you gather the information you need.

    If you do not want to fill out the report online or need help completing the report, you can call 1-800-772-1213 or your local social security office.

  2. Complete the Application for SSI: The Social Security Administration (SSA) should contact you after you have submitted the Report. They will review the Report, discuss the household’s financial limits and start the application process.

    You may need to call the SSA by phone to schedule an appointment to complete the SSI application.

What you’ll need:

  1. A medical diagnosis and records or reports that includes the existence of any impairment and the severity of impairment.
      • May want to include any school reports, Individualized Family Service Plan or Individualized Education Plan and
      • Reports or letters from social service programs or caseworkers

    In addition to above requirements, claims for children under 18 should include information about the child’s impairment-related limitations and restrictions in comparison to other children his or her age.

  2. Financial records-Records showing income and assets. For example, pay stubs and bank statements. For a more detailed list, visit www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-documents-ussi.htm

If your child qualifies:

  • Social Security determines the monthly benefit amount based on the income of the parents.
  • The income amounts are adjusted for inflation as needed by Social Security but are based on the number of parents and the number of children in the household.
  • If your child qualifies for SSI, they will automatically qualify for Medicaid.

If your child does not qualify:

May appeal within 60 days:
Online ssa.gov/benefits/disability/appeal.html
Via phone 1-800-772-1213
Contact local social security office

Additional Information:

Your child’s eligibility will be under a continuing disability review and income and assets must remain below requirements to maintain eligibility.