Is my step daughter eligible for disability?

Question

She was told her eyes were too bad even with her contacts in. She only has sight in one eye. She was born with cataracts.

Thank you all. A doctor told her she would never get to drive. She is 16 and ticked off. I will be looking into it. If she can get money for school or what not that will be good. Her mom is a looser and I want better for my girl

Answer 1

SSI is a program run by Social Security that pays monthly checks to the elderly, the blind and people with disabilities who don't own much or who don't have much income. If you get SSI, you usually get food stamps and Medicaid, too. Medicaid helps pay doctor and hospital bills.

While eligibility for Social Security disability is based on prior work under Social Security, SSI disability payments are made on the basis of financial need.

Children may qualify for disability benefits under either the Social Security program or the SSI program.

Whether you can get SSI depends on your income and resources (the things you own).

Income
Income is money you receive such as wages, Social Security benefits and pensions. Income also includes such things as food and shelter. The amount of income you can receive each month and still get SSI depends partly on where you live. You can call us to find out the income limits in your state.

Social Security does not count all of your income when we decide whether you qualify for SSI. For example, we do not count:

The first $20 a month of most income you receive;
The first $65 a month you earn from working and half the amount over $65;
Food stamps;
Shelter you get from private nonprofit organizations; and
Most home energy assistance.
If you are married, we also include part of your spouse’s income and resources when deciding whether you qualify for SSI. If you are younger than age 18, we include part of your parents’ income and resources. And, if you are a sponsored noncitizen, we may include your sponsor’s income and resources.

If you are a student, some of the wages or scholarships you receive may not count.

If you are disabled but work, Social Security does not count wages you use to pay for items or services that help you to work. For example, if you need a wheelchair, the wages you use to pay for the wheelchair do not count as income when we decide whether you qualify for SSI.

Also, Social Security does not count any wages a blind person uses for work expenses. For example, if a blind person uses wages to pay for transportation to and from work, the wages used to pay the transportation cost are not counted as income.

If you are disabled or blind, some of the income you use (or save) for training or to buy things you need to work may not count.

Resources (things you own)
Resources that we count in deciding whether you qualify for SSI include real estate, bank accounts, cash, stocks and bonds.

You may be able to get SSI if your resources are worth no more than $2,000. A couple may be able to get SSI if they have resources worth no more than $3,000. If you own property that you are trying to sell, you may be able to get SSI while trying to sell it.

Social Security does not count everything you own in deciding whether you have too many resources to qualify for SSI. For example, we do not count:

The home you live in and the land it is on;
Life insurance policies with a face value of $1,500 or less;
Your car (usually);
Burial plots for you and members of your immediate family; and
Up to $1,500 in burial funds for you and up to $1,500 in burial funds for your spouse.
Other rules you must meet
To get SSI, you must live in the U.S. or the Northern Mariana Islands and be a U.S. citizen or national. In some cases, noncitizen residents can qualify for SSI. For more information, ask for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) For Noncitizens (Publication No. 05-11051).

If you are eligible for Social Security or other benefits, you should apply for them. You can get SSI and other benefits if you are eligible for both.

If you live in certain types of institutions, you may get SSI.

If you live in a city or county rest home, halfway house or other public institution, you usually cannot get SSI. But there are some exceptions.

If you live in a publicly operated community residence that serves no more than 16 people, you may get SSI.

If you live in a public institution mainly to attend approved educational or job training to help you get a job, you may get SSI.

If you live in a public emergency shelter for the homeless, you may get SSI.

If you live in a public or private institution and Medicaid is paying more than half the cost of your care, you may get a small SSI benefit.

contact your social security office they can tell you if she can qualify..

Answer 2

Oh dear, I'm sorry to hear that. Have the doctor document that her eyes are really that bad and that she's considered legally blind. The next step is to see if she qualifies for SSI. Go to your local social security office for more information. Be sure to take all pertinent documents so the process won't be so exasperating. She will also be evaluated by other physicians and other experts. Keep track of all the paperwork and processes because sometimes it can get confusing. Good luck to you and your stepdaughter.

Answer 3

A medical doctor is the only one that could answer your question. Be prepared though, that if she applies for disability, it is a long, drawn out process which consists of an examination by a qualified ophthalmologist, an independent exam by a physician who is employed by the Bureau of Disability, alot of paperwork, and months of waiting for a determination. Nine times out of ten, the initial application for disability is denied. Alot of people hire an attorney to help expedite the matter, as well as get it approved. Good luck.

Answer 4

I was born with cataracts too (I'm 16 now) and I just have to get stronger prescriptions every year, that's all. Take her to the optomologist... they'll help her out! I doubt she has a disability.

Answer 5

Has she been declared legally blind? If so she probably qualifies for disability. That is probably a fine line because employers are required to make resonable accomodations for their employees. Either way she can file for disability and see what they say.

Answer 6

She should be is declared to be legally blind. If she is a dependent, I believe you might be eligible for a tax deduction.

Answer 7

yes, she is. call SS and get a form for her doctor to fill out. it will take anywhere from 6months. to a year to get anything out of those jerks though.
good luck.

Answer 8

You can apply for it but they turn far worse cases down.

Answer 9

if doctors say the she is legally blind she can

Answer 10

Only SSI can tell you if she is or not