When your child has a disability in Florida, you may wonder if your child is eligible for Social Security Disability. In some cases, your family may meet the eligibility requirements, so it is important to understand the details about the available benefits.
Your child’s age may play a role in whether he or she can receive Social Security disability benefits. According to the Social Security Administration, children usually have to be younger than 18 or have received their injury or diagnosis before they turned 22. Additionally, your child has to meet certain requirements. He or she generally needs to have one or several conditions that severely affect his or her ability to manage every day. These conditions typically need to have affected your child’s life for up to a year.
There are many different kinds of conditions which meet the requirements of the SSA. These can include muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy or an intellectual disability. Children who are totally deaf or blind may also qualify for disability benefits. Sometimes babies who weigh less than 2 pounds, 10 ounces at birth may be eligible for Social Security Disability. When you apply for these benefits, it is typically helpful if you provide as much information about your child’s condition as possible. You might provide paperwork discussing medical reports or the dates of doctor’s visits.
You may think that once a child receives disability benefits, the SSA will always provide these payments. However, this is not always the case. The SSA typically reviews your child’s condition every three years to see if he or she still meets the agency’s requirements. During these reviews, you generally need to demonstrate that your child is receiving the necessary medical treatment.
This information is general in nature. It should not be used in place of legal advice.
