Supplemental Security Income Eligibility?

Question

I have a nine month old daughter who is in physical therapy for severe developmental delays (i.e. - she doesn't sit, crawl, hold a bottle, play with toys, hold on to anything, she basically doesn't do anything) and SSI has been denied twice saying she is not disabled. I have had to quit work so I can get her from doctor to doctor and therapy. No one can tell me what's wrong, they just say she's had brain damage (she was born at 29 weeks, weighing 1280 grams) and we have to wait. Her insurance runs out the end of February and I can't get her on anything else that my husband and I can afford, not with all the specialists. What can I do to get them to approve her? She needs it and I know she qualifies, I just need to know what avenue to pursue.

Answer 1

Go the site below to find out how to apply and different aenues open to you:

http://www.ssa.gov/d&s1.htm

The section below is applicable to you:

Apply for Disability Benefits - Child (Under Age 18)
Updated: July 2005
To apply for disability benefits for a child, you will need to complete an Application for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) AND a Child Disability Report. The report collects information about the child’s disabling condition and how it affects his/her ability to function.

At this time, only the Child Disability Report can be completed online. Please contact us to schedule an appointment to complete the SSI application. We will help you in person or by phone.


How to apply
Please follow these steps:

Step 1. Review the Child Disability Starter Kit. This kit answers common questions about applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for children, and includes a worksheet that will help you gather the information you need.

Step 2. Contact Social Security right away to find out whether the income and resources of the parents and the child are within the allowed limits, and to start the SSI application process.

Step 3. Fill out the online Child Disability Report. At the end of the report, we will ask you to sign a form that gives the child's doctor(s) permission to give us information about his/her disability. We need this information so that we can make a decision on the child’s claim.

Note: If you previously started a Child Disability Report but did not finish it, you can use your re-entry number to return to your online Child Disability Report.


Contacting Social Security
If you do not want to do this report online or you need help, you can call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. If you are deaf or hard-of-hearing, call our toll-free TTY number, 1-800-325-0778. Representatives are available Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Remember, the SSA is notorious for turning down claims. So hang in there!. Your persistence and patience will pay off.
Mine did. I didn't use a lawyer which saved me 4,000.00 accdg to them.

Gettting a doctor's medical report is impt. Docmentation. Keep a diary from the time she was born. Keep a log about your limited resources and income. You have to take the child to several Drs!! All those records are impt including her birth record and progress or lack of it in growth and development. A pediatrician is of utmost impt. as well as a neurologist.


The doctor who ordered the physical therapy is impt. If she's not disabled, how come physical therapy was ordered. You also need the physical therapist and the technicians reports. Pinpoint the doctor who stated that she is brain damaged. Tell him to put it down in writing.


Demand SSA to send your daughter to their own doctors. Keep calling their offices.Bug them. Eventually, they will have to set up a hearing. Armed with records, pictures and your daughter as evidence; they have to listen to your pleas.


.This developmental checklist describes what most children are doing at the various different ages.

By 4 months old:

Does your baby smile at you when you smile?
Does your baby watch you when you move?
Does your baby make cooing sounds like "ooo" and "aaa"?
Does your baby lift his head and chest when on his tummy?
Does your baby play with her hands by touching them together?


By 7 months old:

Does your baby laugh and say "bababa" or "dadada"?
Does your baby turn his head and look at you when you talk to him?
Does your baby feed herself with her fingers?
Does your baby roll from his tummy to his back or from his back to his tummy?
Does your baby learn about toys by putting them in her mouth? (Make sure toys are too big to swallow)
Can your baby stay sitting up by himself?




So aside from all the above; BY 10 MONTHS: ; your baby daughter should be able to do the following:

=Does your baby play "peek-a-boo" or wave "bye-bye" after he sees you do it?
=Does your baby hold something in each hand at the same time?
=Does your baby pick up small things (like a Cheerio) using her thumb and one finger?
=Does your baby scoot or crawl across the floor on his tummy?
=Does your baby pull up to standing and stand by holding onto furniture ?

Research on books on growth and development of babies in the library and bring them as evidence. Make xerox copies as well as citing the authors ; preferably doctors and date of edition.

In the meantime, apply for medicaid to offset your growing enormous medical bills. If the illegal immigrants can become entitled to it ;so can legitimate citizens as your daughter and you are.

Good Luck!!!!!

Answer 2

Here's the thing about SSI for children that most parents don't realize. Aside from condition, there are also income and asset restrictions. You're daughter can have no more than $2000 in assets and you and your husband can have no more than $3000 in assets. So, if you own a house with equity, or a car, that xould be the reason you have been denied. There is no way to win benefits in situations like this.

I'm VERY surprised that you weren't advised to apply when she was born. Someone at your hospital screwed up badly. Children born weighing less than 2 pounds, 10 ounces are AUTOMATICALLY APPROVED when you apply. Here's the link: http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10026.html

Of course, while in the hospital she would've only received 30 dollars a month BUT she would've been eligible for Medicaid.

Call your local health and human services, there might be a program she qulifies for. Also, aren't you getting all of her therapy through Early Intervention? It's a free service.

Here's a link to childhood listings as well. http://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/ChildhoodListings.htm

Sorry it's been so tough, good luck.

Answer 3

Try agencies that help people with disabilities, also try your State's disability office. As for insurance, your State may offer health insurance, for example, Medicaid or Child Health Insurance. Good Luck.

Answer 4

I've never know anyone that was accepted for ssi or disability the first time they applied for it...... It's a long drawn out process and it's designed so that you will give up, after trying for a year or more!

Answer 5

If it has been denied, the only thing left to do is go to an attorney who specializes in social security disability. They can fight for you. Many people have to turn to lawyers to get approved. Good luck and I'm so sorry about your daughter's illness.