What kind of disability benefits can children get?

Children may be eligible for supplemental security income, or SSI, disability benefits. However, the definition of disability is different for them. First, the child is required to have a physical or mental condition that can be medically proven, and which causes marked and severe functional limitations. As with adults, the condition must be expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. However, if a child is working at a job that is judged to be substantial work, he or she might not be considered disabled.

And, to get SSI benefits, the child’s family must not have too much income or resources.

As is mentioned elsewhere, a child under 18 may receive Social Security dependent’s benefits. The child must be a dependent of a parent who is receiving retirement or disability, or a parent who has died. In this case, the children themselves do not have to be disabled to get benefits.

However, if a child of a disabled or retired person is also disabled, that child may get benefits even as an adult, if that child can show that he was disabled continuously from before his 22nd birthday.