If you are a parent of a disabled child, you may very likely worry about making ends meet or covering expenses related to your child’s disability. On top of that, you may be worried about their possible options when they reach adulthood. The good news is: you may be able to get disability benefits from the Social Security administration for your child. Keep in mind, however, that the criteria for disability benefits differs somewhat when pursuing a disability claim for a child.

Table of Contents

• Overview: Disability Benefits for Children
• Supplemental Security Income for Disabled Children
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Children
• Contact a Social Security Disability Attorney

Overview: Disability Benefits for Children

If you are applying for disability benefits for a child under eighteen, know that the definition of “disability” will differ for children and adults.

For a child to be considered “disabled” by the Social Security Administration, the child has to have a mental or physical impairment that results in marked and severe limitations and is expected to last at least a year or result in death.

The child’s mental or physical impairment must be caused by anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities that can be medically diagnosed and for which there is medical evidence.

The child’s limitations would concern their ability to think, learn new information and apply learned skills, their perception, decision-making, ability to attend to and complete a task, manipulation of objects, interactions and relationships with others, and their ability to care for themselves at a developmentally appropriate level.

Supplemental Security Income for Disabled Children

Children under 18 with medically determinable disabilities can qualify for an SSI child claim if they meet the eligibility requirements regarding their material resources.

In general, the eligibility requirements for SSI concern your combined income and resources. In the case of an SSI child claim, both the child’s income/resources and those of family members in the child’s household are considered. The income and resource limits are updated annually. In 2023, a non-blind child cannot make more than $1,470 per month, and a blind child cannot make more than $2,460.

If you are a disabled parent caring for a disabled child, Social Security Disability Insurance may grant you further options regarding disability claims.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Children

Since SSDI eligibility is partly based on work history, children generally cannot obtain an SSDI claim on their own earnings record. However, if a parent has a qualifying work history and a disability, the parent may be eligible for SSDI, and the parents’ dependent children may be eligible for auxiliary disability benefits for children.

If dependent children were disabled before age 22, they may get SSDI auxiliary benefits well into adulthood. If they have no earnings record of their own, they may be eligible for a Disabled Adult Child claim.

Contact a Social Security Disability Attorney

If you are a parent caring for a disabled child, contact our Social Security disability attorneys to discuss your options. Our consultations are free. You do not pay any upfront costs for our disability representation. We only get paid if we succeed in getting your application approved or appealing a denial of your disability claim.

Call us at 833-MY-DISABILITY (833-693-4722) for a free consultation today.