A maximum of $943 monthly can be sent to your children residing in the US by the Social Security Administration (SSA). This financial aid is given by the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, which is designed to help low-income families with children who have impairments.
This program helps pay for necessities including food, housing, clothes, and medicine for almost a million kids every month. A child’s specific amount is determined by the family’s financial position and income level. The maximum payout for 2024 is $943 per month, however, it can be less than that based on things like the income of the parents or guardians.
Who is eligible to get benefits from Social Security?
For children to be eligible for financial assistance, they must meet the standards outlined in the Social Security program.
Medical requirements and non-medical requirements are the two primary groups into which these needs fall. In order to help you decide whether your child could qualify for this financial assistance, we have included all the information you need below.
SSI needs that are not medical
When deciding whether or not to grant SSI payments to a child, the Social Security Administration takes the family’s financial situation into account. The income and assets of the parents, the kid, and any stepparents or guardians living in the same home are specifically considered.
When determining whether a kid is eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, this procedure, known as “deeming,” takes into account the income and assets of the parents. But it doesn’t include in the income of other relatives who aren’t parents or legal guardians.
In determining what ways are assets and income measured?
In order to establish whether a kid is eligible, the SSA takes into account a number of criteria, such as:
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Salary from parents or employment
Extra money coming in from things like pensions or benefits
Property, savings, and other family assets
The following phase in the application procedure is to assess the medical needs; if the family’s income and resources are within the restrictions set by the SSA, the kid can move on to that stage.
The SSI medical criteria for a kid
There are medical requirements that a kid must meet in order to be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The Social Security Administration states that in order for a medical condition to qualify as a disability for children under the age of 18, it must cause “marked and severe functional limitations.” In addition, the condition has to fulfill at least one of these requirements:
You may count on it for a minimum of a year, or
This illness carries the potential to cause mortality.
What exactly are “marked and severe functional limitations”?
When a child has “marked and severe functional limitations” it means they have an extremely hard time doing normal things because of their condition.
In the most glaring instances, the SSA has a list of situations that automatically satisfy this requirement, making the process simpler. This list encompasses a wide range of significant medical problems, including but not limited to cancers and severe genetic disorders.
Allowances for compassion: a quicker way to help
Sometimes the Social Security Administration can see right away which people have serious diseases and hence qualify for Supplemental Security Income.
A compassionate allowance streamlines the application procedure so that children with specific medical needs can get financial aid faster.
Families coping with terminal or severe chronic illnesses often benefit from this fast-track option since it shortens the waiting period for children to begin receiving the financial assistance they need.
Young People’s Guide to Applying for Social Security
The initial stage in determining your child’s SSI eligibility is to apply for the program through the Social Security Administration. Specifically, you’ll need to fill out a long form detailing your family’s income, assets, and the child’s health condition. All of these considerations will go into the SSA’s final determination.
The following forms must be submitted with the medical records that attest to the child’s disability:
- Income documentation for legal guardians or parents
- A record of the family’s wealth, including financial documents
- Detailed medical documentation of the child’s impairment
After an application has been approved, regular payments begin, but the process could take weeks or months. Payments can sometimes be made backwards, all the way to the application submission date.
Juniper Calloway is a dedicated journalist with 3 years of experience in covering hard-hitting stories. Known for her commitment to delivering timely and accurate updates, she currently works with MikeandJon Podcast, where she focuses on reporting critical topics such as crime, local news, and national developments across the United States. Her ability to break down complex issues and keep audiences informed has established her as a trusted voice in journalism.
