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Question:
What happens when a child receiving SSI reaches the age of 18?

At age 18, young adults who were eligible for SSI as children are evaluated to determine if they qualify for benefits under the adult definition of disability. This redetermination process is essential to many youth who continue to need the support of SSI.

For children, disability is determined by “marked or severe functional limitations,” whereas for adults, disability is measured against the ability to perform substantial gainful activity (SGA), an income level set annually by SSA. Due to this, an age 18 redetermination is considered a new medical decision for eligibility based on adult standards. Using SOAR, we can help youth with this redetermination process by writing a comprehensive Medical Summary Report regarding the applicant’s functioning with respect to performing substantial gainful activity and completing an SSA-1696, Appointment of Representative form.

More information can be found in the article, Age 18 Redetermination.

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Question:
Can minors/children receive SSI, and is the money given to the legal guardian?
Yes, minors (children under age 18) can receive SSI if they meet the childhood criteria for disability. Whether or not the legal guardian receives the money depends on a few factors. Individuals under age 18 are generally presumed to be incapable of handling their own funds and would need a representative payee, so a legal guardian or other payee service would manage the funds. Children under age 15 are required to have a payee.
 
In some instances a child aged 15-17 may be determined as capable of handling his/her own funds if one of the following conditions exists:
 
  • The child is entitled to disability benefits based on his/her own earnings.
  • The child is on active duty in the armed forces
  • The child is living alone and self-supporting
  • The child is a parent and filed for his/her own or his/her child’s benefits,  and has experience handling finances
  • The child is within 7 months of attaining age 18.
  • The child has demonstrated the ability to handle finances, and no qualified payee is available.
 
In addition, if a child is emancipated under state law, he/she is not required to have a payee, unless there are indications to the contrary. More information about determining capability in children can be found here
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Question:
If a child receives SSI, how does the family's income affect his/her benefits?

"We consider your child’s income and resources when deciding if your child is eligible for SSI. We also consider the income and resources of family members living in the child’s household. These rules apply if your child lives at home. They also apply if he or she is away at school but returns home from time to time and is subject to your control.

If your child’s income and resources, or the income and resources of family members living in the child’s household, are more than the amount allowed, we will deny the child’s application for SSI payments."

Source: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10026.pdf

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Question:
I'm working with a youth in foster care who is receiving SSI and will soon be turning 18. When can he apply for SSI as an adult?

In general, a child/youth can apply for adult benefits the month before they turn 18.

However, there is an exception for disabled youth transitioning out of foster care. Disabled youth receiving Title IV-E federal foster care benefits usually cannot become eligible for SSI until foster care payments have stopped. Even if the individual had been receiving SSI as a child, a new determination must be made under the adult rules once that person is 18. To help with this transition, SSA will accept an SSI application from a youth up to 180 days before his or her foster care eligibility will end due to age. You can start collecting all of the youth's medical records and preparing the application materials. Then you would have the completed SOAR packet ready to go as soon as they are able to submit the application.

For more details, see https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0500601011!opendocument.

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Question:
What is considered a medical impairment? (i.e. Global developmental Delay in a child under the age of 5?)

SSA’s definition of disability differs from a solely medical definition in that it encompasses the child’s ability to function as compared with the functional abilities of a child of the same age who does not have impairments.

According to SSA, a medically determinable physical or mental impairment is an impairment that results from anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities that can be shown by medically acceptable clinical and laboratory diagnostic techniques. A physical or mental impairment must be established by objective medical evidence from an acceptable medical source. 

SSA uses the Listing of Impairments to define the criteria for disability eligibility. The Listings are categorized by body system (i.e., cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, mental disorders). Developmental delays can be found in the following Listing: 112.14 Developmental disorders in infants and toddlers. The Listing can be found here: https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/112.00-MentalDisorders-Childhood.htm#112_14

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Question:
Is there a school records request form?

There is no general form for requesting school records. To obtain school records, contact the specific School District to obtain their request form. 

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Question:
Would a child with a disability qualify for SSI if their foster parent makes good money?

In short, SSA does not look at the foster parents' income or resources. Once the child goes back home, (even if your agency maintains legal custody), SSA will look at the household income & resources of the parental household.

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Question:
Can a “T” Visa holder who is a nonresident and without a work history in the US apply for SSI benefits? She has severe medical needs.

Yes, she is “potentially” eligible because she is in possession of a non-immigrant T visa. See SSA guidance below which requires “proper certification” of status by the US Dept. of Health and Human Services. You will want to contact the individual’s local SSA field office and bring proper documentation.  See link below for documentation required to prove identity and status.

https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/spotlights/spot-non-citizens.htm

For purposes of SSI eligibility, individuals are not considered qualified aliens if they were admitted to the U.S. under the provisions of the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000.  Their eligibility is subject to the proper certification in such status by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and possession of a valid "T" non-immigrant visa.  Once the alien obtains proper certification and is in possession of a "T" non-immigrant visa, he or she becomes potentially eligible for SSI.

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