Keeping Disability Benefits after a Disabled Child Becomes an Adult

Many parents may believe that their disabled children will be able to continue receiving Social Security disability or SSI payments once they have reached 18 years old. However,this is not necessarily true. The federal government uses a different standard to determine disability status for children than it does for adults. Once disabled children penissleeve turn 18, they will lose their benefits if they do not meet the adult disability standards.Qualifying Children for SSIDisabled children who meet certain federal guidelines are eligible for Supplemental Security Income, or SSI. Disabled children receiving monthly SSI payments also are eligible for Medicaid coverage, which can be a necessity for families who cannot meet the increased financial needs of caring for a disabled child.In order for a disabled child to be eligible for SSI, the child must have a qualifying disability and meet the income and assets requirements. A child is considered disabled if:    * The child is not working and earning more than the regularatory definition of work  The child has a physical or mental condition, or combination of the two, which results in “marked and severe functional limitations. The condition must have been present for at least 12 months, is expected to last for at least 12 months or is expected to result in death.Since most children do not have any income or assets, the parents’ income and assets may be considered in determining whether the child meets the financial requirements for disability. If the child lives at home or if the child returns home from school from time-to-time and is considered “under the control” of the parents, then the parents’ income may preclude the receipt of benefits.Changing Disability Requirements Once a Child Turns 18SSI payments will end once a child reaches his or her 18th birthday unless the child qualifies as an adult for disability benefits. The good news is that once a child reaches 18, his or her parents’ income is no longer used as a basis to determine the child’s financial eligibility for SSI benefits. The child’s own income and savings are the only basis for meeting the financial eligibility requirements. Thus, if a child was previously denied benefits because his or her family’s income, the child can reapply for benefits on their 18th birthday as an adult.The definition of disability changes once a child becomes an adult.