SSI for Children with Autism: The approximate annual cost of raising a child in the United States to the age of 17 was $17,000 as of 2022. That estimate is significantly greater for families with children who have disabilities.
A parent bringing a child with autism to adulthood may have to fork out almost $60,000 a year due to the expenses of essentials like health interventions and behavioural therapy, assistive technology, pharmaceuticals, child care, and sensory-friendly things, say nonprofit Autism Speaks. The extent of the child’s handicap will determine how much more those expenses go up.
If a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) satisfies the requirements set forth by the Social Security Administration (SSA), they may be eligible for public benefits that partially offset these expenses.
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SSI for Children with Autism: Is Autism a Disability According to the SSA?
Autism is classified as a disability by the Social Security Administration. Children with ASD may be eligible for SSI if they fit the SSA’s criteria of disability.
Autism is a spectrum condition that affects people differently. The degree of autism and how it impacts a person’s abilities determine eligibility.
The SSA outlines the medical requirements for deciding whether people with autism are eligible for benefits, both for adults and children.
The SSA classifies young people with autism as disabled if their medical records demonstrate that they have difficulty with verbal and nonverbal communication, social interaction, and behavior patterns that are severely limited and repetitive, as well as if they have interests or activities that they enjoy.
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Additionally, they must exhibit a severe restriction in one or a noticeable deficit in two of the following categories of mental functioning:
- Recognizing, retaining, or using knowledge
- Having Conversations with Others
- Focusing, persevering, and keeping up the pace
- Self-adjusting or self-managing
How Much SSI Does an Autistic Child Get?
A child with autism may get up to $794 a month in SSI payments in 2021. Still, a child’s real benefit amount may be less if their resources or income are higher than the SSA’s cap.
For kids with autism who get SSI, they might also be able to get Medicaid. Medicaid covers physical and mental health care services in addition to the monthly benefit amount.
The SSA says that a child with autism must be disabled and have limited means and income in order to get SSI benefits.
For the SSA, a child’s income includes any money they get from jobs, Social Security payments, gifts, and other sources.
Any possessions a child has, such as money, bank accounts, and real estate, are considered resources.
If a child’s monthly income is $794 or less in 2021, the SSA will consider the child’s income to be limited.
Additionally, the SSA caps a child’s resource allocation at $2,000 or less. A child may not be eligible for SSI payments if their income or resources are higher than these ceilings.
How is the family income of candidates for child SSI determined?
This pertains to single, under-18-year-old children who either reside at home with their parents or are away at school but are still in their custody. If stepparents live in the same home as the child and either a natural or adopted parent, their income is also taken into account.
However, not all parental income is deducted from the maximum amount of SSI. Food stamps, welfare payments, disaster relief, and income tax refunds are among the revenue sources that are not taken into account.
According to Marca, Social Security recalculates a portion of the parent’s income for the child every month using an intricate method. To compute this, the total countable income of the parents is subtracted from the living allowance of each non-disabled child residing in the family. For SSI purposes, the disabled child receives the remaining income.
The child’s eligibility is determined by subtracting additional deductions and living allowances from the federal benefit rate (FBR), which acts as a baseline. Because of the allowed deductions and allowances, a child can fulfil the SSI income requirements even if the family’s total income is higher than the FBR.
Social Security treats the parent’s considered income as unearned income for the child and determines the child’s SSI benefit amount separately. To calculate the kid’s benefit for the month, Social Security deducts $20 from the parent’s considered income if the child has no earned income, and the remaining amount is subtracted from the current maximum monthly SSI amount.
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How do I get help from the SSI program for kids with autism?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) helps disabled people with money through several programs, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Through the SSA Benefits program, people who are disabled and can’t work are supposed to get financial help. That’s why this program helps people and families meet their basic needs by giving them monthly cash payments.
Along with SSI, the SSA also offers Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), a program that pays payments to people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes but are now unable to work because of a disability. SSDI benefits, on the other hand, are based on a person’s work experience instead of their financial need.
Important to remember that getting rewards from these programs can be hard and take a lot of time. People should get help from an experienced supporter or lawyer who can guide them through the process and make sure they get all the benefits they are legally responsible for.
How can kids with autism get help from the SSI program?
To be eligible for the SSI Benefits program, a person must meet certain standards. First, they have to be over 65, blind, or disabled. It is called a disability if someone has a physical or mental problem that keeps them from doing important work and is expected to last at least a year or kill them.
Second, candidates need to be low-income and resource users. The monthly income cap for individuals is set at $794 and for couples at $1,191 as of 2021. The upper restriction on resources is $3,000 for couples and $2,000 for single people.
Third, applicants must legally live in the United States or be citizens who have lived there regularly for at least five years.
Lastly, people who want to get SSI must first see if they are eligible for any other benefits. This includes Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) if they have worked and paid into Social Security in the past.
It is important to keep in mind that meeting these standards does not guarantee that your SSI benefits application will be approved. The application process can be hard and take a long time. You will need to show a lot of paperwork to prove your financial position. Applicants should get help from an experienced advocate or lawyer who can help them get through the system and make sure they get all the benefits they are legally eligible to.
Needs for Money to Be Eligible for Benefits
Financial conditions are essential to be eligible for SSI assistance. As was previously indicated, the SSA takes resources and income into account when determining eligibility.
Apart from the previously mentioned income and resource limitations, the Social Security Administration additionally considers the applicant’s living expenditures, including rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and food expenses. These living expenses may have an impact on the amount of SSI payments that a child with autism may be eligible for.
If a kid receives financial assistance from other sources, the SSA has the authority to decrease their SSI benefits. When establishing an individual’s eligibility for SSI and the amount of benefits they would receive, factors such as inheritance, trust assets, and child support payments from non-custodial parents may be taken into account.
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It’s crucial to remember that applying for SSI benefits requires having low resources and income, but it does not ensure approval. When reaching a decision, the SSA will take the applicant’s financial circumstances into account in their entirety.
For this reason, while applying for SSI benefits, applicants must be sure to provide precise and comprehensive information about their income, resources, and living expenses. Getting advice from a knowledgeable advocate or lawyer will help guarantee that all required paperwork is submitted and improve the chances of having your SSI application approved.
Typical Obstacles Families Could Have When Trying to Get SSI Benefits for an Autistic Child
Families with autistic children may have particular difficulties when applying for SSI assistance, which can be a difficult procedure. Families may face the following typical obstacles when applying for SSI benefits:
It’s Hard to Prove a Disability
A significant obstacle that families can have is demonstrating that their child satisfies the SSA’s definition of disability. A child must be unable to engage in substantial gainful work due to a physical or mental impairment that is projected to continue at least 12 months or cause death to be eligible for SSI benefits.
It can be challenging to convey to autistic children the seriousness of their disease and how it affects their day-to-day functioning. Families wishing to demonstrate that their kid satisfies the qualifying requirements may be required to provide copious amounts of data from medical specialists, such as physicians, therapists, and psychologists.
Inability to Get Resources
It may be difficult for families in remote locations or with poor access to healthcare facilities to get the supporting records and paperwork required to file for SSI assistance. The inability to acquire this information may make it more difficult for them to get financial aid for their child’s care.
Cost Burden While the application is being processed
Applying for SSI benefits can be an involved and drawn-out procedure. If a family’s original application is rejected, they can have financial difficulties while they wait for approval or during the appeals process.
Families may also have to cover the cost of any out-of-pocket expenses related to the application process, such as legal fees and medical exams.
Limited Resources are available
A child’s monthly payment amount for SSI benefits might not be sufficient to meet all of their essential expenses, even if they are accepted. Families might have to look for additional financial assistance or make difficult decisions about the treatments or services they can afford.
People who are requesting SSI benefits for a child with autism should be aware of these possible obstacles and look for support from knowledgeable advocates or attorneys who may help them through the process. Families can improve their chances of receiving critical financial aid for their child’s care by being well-prepared and receiving the right support.
