A child under the age of 18 who has sustained a disability can be considered for Supplemental Security Income benefits or social security disability insurance benefits, if they meet the qualifications for disabled children under Social Security regulations and rules.
In general, a child may not be earning more than $1000 a month and must be suffering from a mental or physical condition that is associated with marked and severe functional limitations. This means that the condition must be serious as far as limiting the child’s activities.
Furthermore, the child’s condition must be expected to last a minimum of12 months or have already lasted for 12 months or longer or is expected to cause his or her result in death.
Some of the most common conditions associated with qualifying for disability benefits as a child include:
- Total deafness
- Total blindness
- HIV infection
- Severe mental retardation for children aged 7 or older
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Down Syndrome
- Cerebral Palsy
- Low birth weight (less than 2lbs 10ozs.)
Under current Social Security Administration guidelines, a child becomes an adult at age 18. At that stage, social security uses non-medical and medical rules for determining whether a child can continue to receive benefits beyond the age of 18.
In advance of your child reaching this milestone, you need to consult with an experienced New Jersey disability benefits attorney to discuss the potential for his or her case.
What Parents of Disabled Children Should Do
It is obviously quite important to you if your child is still suffering from disability to be able to ensure his or her benefits by initiating the application process early and understanding as much as possible about how the Social Security Administration determines whether your child is still disabled. Do not hesitate to reach out to the offices of an experienced New Jersey disability attorney today.