Children with serious disabilities may qualify for <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/ssi" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SSI</a>. Here’s how eligibility works and what the SSA looks for.
SSI for children
Children under 18 with a qualifying disability may receive Supplemental Security Income. Because children don’t have work histories, SSI — not SSDI — is the relevant program, and eligibility considers the family’s income and resources.
How disability benefits for children are decided
A child qualifies if they have a medically determinable impairment that causes "marked and severe functional limitations" and has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months. The SSA evaluates how the condition affects age-appropriate functioning.
Denied or unsure where to start? A free case review takes minutes and there’s no fee unless we win.
Request your free case review →Income and resource limits
Part of the parents’ income and resources is "deemed" available to the child. Families over the limit won’t qualify on financial grounds even with a qualifying condition — the rules are detailed and worth reviewing.
Evidence that helps
School records, IEPs, medical and therapy records, and statements from teachers and providers about functioning all build a child’s claim. The more complete the picture, the better.
At 18, the rules change
When a child turns 18 the SSA re-evaluates them under the adult standard. Planning for that transition early avoids a gap in benefits.
Talk to a Tennessee disability lawyer — free
No fee unless we win. We respond within 2 business hours.