In many cases, an individual living with a disability may find it difficult to support themselves financially. An indigent person may find it particularly difficult to deal with an ever growing mountain of medical bills.
In Illinois, an indigent person is an individual that is totally disabled and does not have a source of income. For such people there are Supplemental Security Income benefits available. SSI can help people with disabilities live fuller lives.
Through the SSI program, families with disabled children are able to collect up to $600 per month. However, officials with the Social Security Administration are concerned that some families whose children are not disabled are collecting funds and inappropriately tapping into the $10 billion program reserved for those truly in need of help.
However, it may be difficult to determine whether or not a child is in fact disabled. In a 20-year-old ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that children must be evaluated under the same criteria that adults are held to. Unfortunately, many of the benchmarks used to determine whether an adult is disabled are inappropriate to use for children.
The Social Security Administration has been scrutinized in recent months. More people than ever before have applied for disability benefits and it appears there are some inconsistencies within the system. In some cases, those who need the benefits the most are not receiving them and others who have been approved may not be totally deserving.
Families with a disabled child and those who are unable to work because of an illness or injury would do well to consult with an attorney. An experienced attorney can help people get the financial help they deserve.
Source: The Republican, “Social Security and Supplemental Security Income for children raise questions for U.S. Rep. Richard Neal,” Jim Kinney, Feb. 13, 2012
Tags: benefits, children, disability, indigent, Social Security Administration, SSI
