How Social Security Can Help Disabled Children

Medical bills can be a huge and expensive problem for anyone. This even complicates things when the bills are for treatment of your young disabled child. The government has instituted some safety nets for such families with low incomes to enable them to seek the treatment their disabled child needs.  This main safety net is Social Security.

Any child below 18 years of age can receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) if they are considered eligible. The amount received is often dependent on the state where the child lives; some states provide additional sums to the payment when justified. If you want to know how much your child could be qualified for under this benefit, consult your local social security office.

How can a child get the appropriate payment? The process starts with reviewing the Disability Starter Kit available on the Social Security site; this should provide you with the information you need to find out if your child is qualified or not. Next, you’ll need to set up an appointment with the local Social Security office so you can file the application. Finally, an online disability report must be filed so that the government can decide on the case. The decision takes some time; some applicants request for some payments in advance in cases of severe conditions, such as cerebral palsy or Down syndrome.