A Child Disability Report is a key report used by the SSA to determine if your child is eligible for Social Security Disability benefits or Supplemental Security Income. SSI is designed to supplement insufficient income or resources available to the disabled. The Child Disability Report must be filed with the SSA in conjunction with applying for SSI. It may be completed online from the SSA website for convenience and privacy, but an SSI application must be completed at an SSA field office or over the phone.
Based on the information you provide in the Child Disability Report, your child must be determined to be disabled to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits. This is defined as any physical or mental state that hinders your child from functioning normally. The condition must last a period of twelve months or be considered lifelong and terminal.
In addition to the Child Disability Report, which determines the medical aspect of your child’s eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits, you need to prove financial eligibility. If your child lives with you, your household income is considered the child’s income. Money is not the only form of income, but also includes available food, clothing and shelter, and financial resources such as investments and property. Personal belongings do not usually count as income.
If your child is awarded Social Security Disability benefits, you may be named the child’s representative payee (the adult chosen to administer the benefits). Representatives must give a detailed account of how SSI income is handled, as following the SSA’s guidelines.
If the income of your child’s household exceeds the maximum allowances set by the SSA in order to receive Social Security Disability benefits, you may still qualify for state medical insurance assistance such as Medicare or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.
Completing a Child Disability Report that is accurate is the best way to make sure your disabled child continues to qualify for Social Security Disability benefits.
