Social Security Disability Benefits for Children
Generally, children qualify for Social Security Disability Benefits under two circumstances: 1) the child is disabled and one or both of their parents has qualified for benefits under Title II (2) or Title XVI (16); or 2) the child is disabled and the child’s and his/her parents have limited income and resources.
As with the rules for adult disability, Social Security’s rules to find children disabled are different from those of private insurance and other government entities’. Generally, in order to be found disabled, a child must have severe impairments that seriously limit his or her activities, and the condition must have been disabling for at least one year or would likely be disabling for at least a year. In addition, the child’s condition must either meet or equal the requirements of certain medical listings (https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/ChildhoodListings.htm).
If the child’s condition does not meet these listings, the child’s condition must functionally equal the listings, by showing at least two areas of marked limitations, or one area of extreme limitation in either his or her ability to 1) acquire and use information; 2) attend and complete tasks; 3) interact and relate with others; 4) move about and manipulate objects; 5) care for themselves; and/or 6) health and well-being.
For more general information on benefits for children, please see https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10026.pdf
The above information is not intended to be legal advice. For more information about your claim, please contact us for a free consultation.