How can I find out if my child is eligible for disability?

Question

He has been extremely ill, is taking 4 different kinds of therapies, and is scheduled for two surgeries. He will be 80% deaf in his right ear for life and they are not sure about his left.
How can I find out if he would be eligible to draw disability?
I am not able to work because of how sick he is. He is only 7 months old.

Answer 1

Disability is income replacement while you yourself are unable to work due to YOUR own health condition. Most disability plans have waiting periods, or a period of time that must be met beore you would become eligible for the benefit, even Social Security Disability has a WP. The ONLY states with statutory plans are CA, RI, PR, NJ, NY, and HI, none of which cover time off to care for an ill family member. California however does offer paid family leave wich pays out 55% of you pre-leave earnings for up to 6 weeks, which you would be eligible for once in a rolling 12 month period and also assuming you are a resident of and work in California. Waiting periods may still apply to the California paid family leave depending on the company you work for. Your child under age 18 can qualify if he or she meets Social Security’s definition of disability for children, and if his or her income and resources fall within the eligibility limits. The amount of the SSI payment is different from one state to another because some states add to the SSI payment. Your local Social Security office can tell you more about your state’s total SSI payment. Elligibility is based off a number of factors such as yours and other adults combined incomes or resources living within the same house hold. I am a Disability Case Manager with a major insurance company so I deal with this EVERY single day, the best two options are to contact are:

www.socialsecurity.gov
1-800-772-1213

or if you live in California I would also recomend you check into this state leave wich typically can be used in conjunction w/SSI:

www.paidfamilyleave.org/
1-877-BE-THERE

Other than those two leaves there is also FMLA or the Family and Medical Leave Act which provides job protection to care for a family member who is ill, but is an UNPAID leave. FMLA laws very from state to state and range anywhere from 12 weeks to 52 weeks depneding on the reason for the leave and the state which you work. Leave entitlements may also be more generous depending on the company you work for. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

The others are right when they say go to the Social Security office and fill out the paper work. I have an 18 year old brother and we have collected disability for him as he is legally deaf in both ears.As hearing aids and speech therapy get more and more expensive this will help in the out of pocket costs not covered by insurance. Even though your son is 7 months old contact your local school for the deaf, they have many resources that you may be able to utilize. My brother has gone to public school his entire life, he speaks better than most, reads lips, and signs, because he had the support of a family that wanted him to have the best of both worlds. Good luck with this

Answer 3

were do you live you can go to the ssi office of that county and apply i will tell you now they will proble denie it when you first apply you need to apeal that and then more than likley you will get it my son is 10 and been on ssi disibilitty for 3 and a half years now its hell getting the ball going but it well worth the time my son now has his check plus medicade he has bipolor disorder and i could not pay for his med. contact your local dhs office and they can tell you more on who to geta hold of hang in there girl its worth the wait and time for you child good luck

Answer 4

you should apply the most that can happen is denie you. but i must warn you that they almost always denie social security the first time. it usually takes a second time of applying to get approved. i think it is to weed out the people who arent that serious. good luck

Answer 5

Go to your local social security office and file the papers.

Answer 6

Your son's doctor should be able to tell you if they think that he will be able toget SSI or not, but do contact your local SS office.

Answer 7

You need to apply to Social Security and they will tell you. ssa.gov

Answer 8

apply for it or call them they can tell you if he is eligible, that is the kind of thing that varies from state to state.