Alpharetta Children’s SSI Lawyer
While many assume that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is only awarded to disabled adults with limited financial resources, SSI benefits are available to individuals of all ages, including minors under the age of 18. Furthermore, if a minor child’s disability persists into adulthood, they may be eligible to continue receiving SSI benefits.
Applying for and receiving SSI benefits on a child’s behalf can be challenging without guidance from a Social Security disability attorney. A seasoned Alpharetta children’s SSI lawyer can help prove your child’s impairment and secure disability compensation for them based on that condition.
Qualifications for SSI Child Benefits
Any person of any age who suffers from blindness or another disability can seek benefits through the SSI program if they have little to no income. Accordingly, disabled children under the age of 18 as well as adults who became disabled when they were minors may be eligible to receive SSI payments. Potential recipients of SSI must earn less than $1,260 per month – or $2,110 per month if their disability involves blindness – to qualify for benefits.
Furthermore, your child’s condition must meet the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) definition of “disability,” meaning it must result in debilitating physical or mental limitations in day-to-day life and be expected to last more than 12 months or result in death. Among other services, a disability representative in Alpharetta could help collect and present documentation showing medical and income eligibility for children’s SSI benefits.
Seeking Benefits on Behalf of Disabled Adult Children
The first step to obtaining SSI benefits on behalf of a disabled child or adult is submitting information to the SSA about their medical condition and how it meets the agency’s definition of disability. Parents may also need to grant the SSA permission to contact pediatricians, teachers, therapists, and any other professionals who could offer additional information about their child’s disability and its impact on their day-to-day life.
This information is then sent to the state Disability Determination Services office where various SSA doctors and staff members will decide whether the application meets the criteria for SSI coverage. If they cannot make a final decision with the evidence available, they may set up an in-person interview or mandate additional medical examinations at the SSA’s expense.
Certain conditions automatically qualify a disabled child for SSI benefits, such as:
- Blindness;
- Deafness;
- Down syndrome; and
- Low birth weight.
In other cases, however, children’s benefits may not be available for three to six months while the SSA processes the SSI application. During every stage of the claims process, a Social Security disability lawyer in Alpharetta can offer clarification about what the next steps will be and advocate on behalf of a filing parent and their disabled child.
Talk to an Alpharetta Children’s SSI Attorney
SSI benefits can provide crucial assistance to parents who need to care for a minor or adult child with a debilitating condition. Unfortunately, applying for and receiving these benefits can be complex, and there is no guarantee that every application will be accepted. In fact, many qualifying applicants receive denials for mistakes made on an initial application.
Retaining an Alpharetta children’s SSI lawyer is often the best way to improve your chances of receiving the Social Security benefits you need. To schedule a consultation, call our firm today.
