Parents of disabled children are oftentimes frustrated with their ability – or inability – to help their child. For any parent whose child suffers from a severe disability, such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy or Down syndrome, the challenges can at times seem insurmountable, no matter how much they love their children. These parents are so often looking for help, and many may not realize that financial assistance could be available through Supplemental Security Income.
The main problem is that the vast majority of Americans probably do not even know what this Social Security program entails. And, this program is often confused with Social Security Disability – a program intended to help those who have participated in the workforce. Getting the right information about eligibility and the application process can be the most crucial step.
Just like with all other Social Security programs, SSI has a number of requirements. For instance, the child has to meet the definition of “disabled” and the household income and resources must not exceed a certain threshold amount. The application process will be different for everyone.
At our firm we take the time to help parents understand how SSI benefits can help their family. The additional financial stability that SSI benefits could provide can usually alleviate, at least in part, some of the day-to-day concerns that families with disabled children face. We have seen firsthand how families benefit from this assistance, and we strive to ensure that each of our clients knows what to expect when applying for SSI benefits. To learn more about our approach to the SSI application process for disabled children, please visit the SSI overview page of our website.