Helping Children Maintain Benefits After Age 18
What happens when a disabled child reaches the age of 18 and transitions from the child standard to adult standard?
At the law firm of Jeffrey A. Rabin & Associates, our attorneys are available to represent people who must help their children continue to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits after they become an adult at the age of 18.
We help parents and disabled children throughout Chicago, Illinois, from our five convenient office locations.
Since disabled children under the age of 18 normally do not hold down substantial employment, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has a different standard to determine eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). To determine whether an 18 year old person is eligible for SSDI or SSI the SSA will have to determine whether there exists a:
"Medically determinable physical or mental impairment which results in marked and severe functional limitations, and which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or is expected to last a continuous period of not less than 12 months."
Childhood Continuing Disability Reviews
If your child has a condition that may improve, he or she may have to undergo a childhood continuing disability review. If the condition is not likely to improve, your child may or may not have to undergo such an evaluation.
When a Child Reaches the Age of 18
In most instances, child disability benefits will cease once your child reaches the age of 18. There are times, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), when your child may be able to extend disability benefits up until the age of 21.
Children eligible for child's benefits one month before their 18th birthday must be redetermined to be eligible under the adult disability standard within 12 months of that date. You need to work with your doctor to ensure that your child continues to receive benefits. If your child stopped seeing the doctor, you must resume immediately. If you fail to redetermine eligibility, your child will have to begin the application process again.
At the law firm of Jeffrey A. Rabin & Associates, we have five convenient locations throughout northern Illinois to serve you and your disabled child. To learn more about dealing with a disabled child who is reaching the age of 18, contact one of our lawyers today!
