Nearly one-third of children lose their Supplemental Security Income (SSI) when they turn 18 years old. If you’re the parent of a disabled child in Indiana, you might have a lot of worries about the future. You can’t guarantee what will happen, but you might be able to help your child retain his or her benefits.
What happens when disabled children turn 18?
Once your child turns 18, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will review the situation to see if he or she still needs assistance for young adults with disabilities. The SSA might ask for extensive information about your child’s medical situation. This could include information about hospital visits, medications, surgeries, classes, counseling sessions, and more. Additionally, the SSA might ask for more information about people who could verify your child’s condition.
When your child becomes 18 years old, he or she will have to meet a different set of qualifications for SSI. A disability attorney could help you prove to the SSA that your child still needs assistance. The SSA might deny your claim if it has reason to believe that your child can go back to work. This could include evidence that your child’s condition has improved or that he or she has held down a regular job.
However, you can appeal the decision if the SSA rejects your claim. Your child might continue receiving SSI payments if you file an appeal within 10 days of the rejection. Either way, you’ll need to appeal within 60 days to get the SSA to review your child’s case.
Does your child have to lose SSI?
While many children lose their SSI benefits when they turn 18, your child doesn’t have to be one of them. An attorney could help your child meet the new qualifications and continue receiving SSI as he or she enters adulthood or suggest other options for your child.