The Social Security Administration provides access to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for children under the age of eighteen and who meet specific requirements. It is important for parents of a child with autism to consider working with their local Social Security Administration office to ensure the child’s benefits are set up. Numerous steps are required, but this is a vital amount of readily available support for many. At Discover Camp Worth, our outstanding team can offer the required support in most cases.
Understanding SSI for Autism
Children with autism may have difficulty reaching certain developmental milestones. As that child grows into an adult, it may become difficult for that person to earn an income. For parents, the costs of care are often significantly higher than what would otherwise be expected. Getting SSI for autism may be possible.
SSI is a program available for anyone of any age who meets specific medical and financial eligibility. Unlike Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), it does not require a person to have a working history to secure those funds. As a need-based program, the person applying for these benefits must have a very limited income. They must not have the financial resources necessary to pay for ongoing care.
How to Qualify for SSI for Autism
Children must be evaluated based on the Blue Book standard to determine if their evidence of disability warrants financial support. Autism is one of the Blue Book’s recognized conditions, but that does not mean that it automatically leads to financial aid. For a child to meet the qualifications under autism, they must:
- Be unable to participate in imaginative or creative activities or thoughts
- Have impaired communication skills, including both non-verbal and verbal
- Have limited interest and participation in activities
- Have pronounced difficulty with social interaction, including responding
In addition to this, students also have to show evidence of several additional qualifications. This includes documented psychological or language communication tests that indicate thinking or communication difficulties. It may also include pronounced difficulties related to concentration or following through with tasks. Children must have personal function restrictions that include tasks like bathing and dressing.
What Happens When You Seek Out Social Security Benefits for Children?
You may find a child SSI calculator available online to use or other resources out there. An online child SSI calculator, for example, can be a valuable tool for finding out more about Social Security benefits. Yet, it is crucial to contact your Social Security Administration office and work closely with them to better understand your needs. Your family doctor or a therapist may help your son or daughter to meet the qualifications or answer questions about their qualifications as well.
Social Security benefits for children are not easy to get. You will have to show proof of the need and financial limitations. It can seem frustrating, but having those extra dollars each month may help you provide a better level of care or support for your child.
Various factors play a role in determining how much you may get for SSI for autism. Your disability counselor may offer some insight into this during your first meeting with them, including more information about Social Security benefits for children. Our team at Discover Camp Worth in Fort Worth, Texas, can provide insights into whether or not your child may meet various requirements set by the Social Security Administration. Take the time to reach out to us to find out how we can help you and your child.
The Benefits of Meeting with a Disability Counselor
The term ‘disability counselor’ may be intimidating, but really they are just here to help you and your child. You may qualify for more help than you even know is out there; a disability counselor can be invaluable to your family for so many reasons. Some ways a disability counselor could help you and your child include:
- Help individuals with mental, physical, developmental, or emotional disabilities live independently
- Provide counseling that helps individuals adjust to their disability
- Personally evaluates and asses on a case-by-case basis an individual’s abilities, life skills, and education level and matches them with enrichment programs or therapies that will help them develop their skills
- Can appeal to government aid programs such as the Social Security Administration on behalf of an individual or their family
- Co-develops treatment plans along with doctors and specialists also involved with the individual’s care
- Connects individuals and their families to resources for financial and community support
- Counsels families together
If getting what you need to support your autistic child has felt like an unwinnable fight, it may be time to make an appointment to meet with a disability counselor. At the very least, you will leave with a list of resources you might not have known about; disability counselors exist to help those with disabilities and their families and add an additional layer of support to any circumstance. Help is available.
Receive the Support You Need to Get SSI for Autism
Getting SSI for autism in place is a critical step for most families. Yet, from there, it is essential to start developing and implementing therapy that can help your loved one thrive. Our team at Discover Camp Worth offers the support and guidance you desire to help your child see improvement. Reach out to us by calling 855.915.2545 or connect with us online today.
