SSI

Who is Eligible for SSI?

Eligible children (under age 18) with disabilities must live in households with limited income and few financial resources. The income and resources of the child’s parents determine eligibility for the child. Any income a teenager (or young adult attending school) may make is also taken into account, but the amount considered may be reduced if applied toward keeping a job (e.g., transportation to work) or toward school goals (e.g., saving for college). The first step that the local Social Security office will take is to determine if the family’s income and resources are low enough to qualify.

For children with disabilities (including blindness) to be eligible for SSI, they may not be married or a head of household. In addition, they must be less than age 18, or age 22 if they're regularly attending school.

A physical disability is defined as a condition that results in “marked and severe functional limitations” that have lasted (or are expected to last) at least 12 months. Professionals at each state’s Social Security office determine if the child’s disability qualifies. In addition to looking at application materials, this team may interview doctors, teachers, or others who know the child well. This team may also require an additional medical examination of the child, at no cost to his or her parents.

Finally, to be eligible the child must be a U.S. citizen, national, or a “qualified alien.” The rules relating to who is a "qualified alien" are complicated, and there is more information about this subject at http://www.ssa.gov/notices/supplemental-security-income/text-eligibility-ussi.htm#qualified-alien.