Disability Benefits: SSI Benefits for Children

Children who are disabled or blind qualify for Supplemental Security Income payments until they reach the age of 18. Here is what you need to know about qualifying your disabled child for SSI benefits.

Your child qualifies for SSI payments if they meet the disability requirements outlined by Social Security for adults, and your household income falls within the income and resource requirements. There are also citizenship requirements your child must meet; for the most part your child must be a US citizen to get SSI. There are special categories for certain non-citizens to receive SSI; if your child is not a US citizen you may be approved for benefits if your child were admitted to the United States as refugee.

The adult disability requirements that your child must meet are simply that your child has a disability that is expected to last for twelve months or longer and prevents them from doing substantial work. Social Security defines