Autism Social Security Benefits

The Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability programs are the largest of several Federal programs that provide assistance to people with disabilities. These two programs are different in many ways, and only individuals who have a disability and meet medical criteria may qualify for benefits under either program.

SSI is a program 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 (SSD) is based on prior work under Social Security, SSI disability payments are made on the basis of financial need.

A child may quality for disability benefits from birth to age 18 under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. The SSI program is based on a lower family income allowable limit. Families who are eligible to receive Medicaid and/or Food Stamps may fall within the allowable income limit.

An adult child (a person age 18 or older) may receive monthly benefits based on disability or blindness, under the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program.

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.

Apply for Benefits Online and By Telephone

Call the Social Security Administration (SSA) at 1-800-772-1213 to arrange it. Tell the Representative you are unable to come to the office and would like to schedule an application appointment over the phone. Representatives usually do not ask why, but should someone ask... tell them your child has autism, a behavioral and neurodevelopmental disorder -- enough said.

An appointment date and time may be scheduled during this call, and a written confirmation sent to you in the mail. A Representative from SSA will contact you at the designated time and date to take your application.

Important information you will need to have handy is your family's annual income earnings, all social security numbers, your child's diagnosis and how their disability affects their daily life.

Focus on your child's daily needs and disability whenever applying for services.

• Self-Care Skills (bathing, grooming, dressing, eating, meal preparation),



• Severe Behavior Problems (if any, and their frequency),



• Medical Conditions (i.e. ADHD, seizures, behaviors i.e. tantrums, agression, smearing feces, or pica i.e. craving non-food items). Describe any medical conditions which may or may not require daily individualized attention from health care staff and treatments (i.e. IVIg, or daily injections).

Adaptive behaviors (i.e. communication, some or no expressive or receptive language),

Learning (particularly if IQ 75 or lower),

Mobility Skills (even if ambulatory - if your child needs assistance or training to increase capacity for moving about),

Capacity for Independent Living (i.e. is she completely dependent for all household activities),

Self-Direction (child demonstrates daily, weekly or monthly misbehaviors requiring individualized programming, i.e. home program or special school), and whether your child is dependent on others for management of their personal affairs within their community.

These categories are not specific to only applying for Social Security Disability Benefits, and may be used to establish their level of care for children with any disability.

Think of your child's challenges in these areas (and more if this applies), then write them down. Focus on your child's daily needs whenever applying for Social Security and other services. Once this information is written down, it can be used repeatedly, updating as necessary.

The application appointment may take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. The Social Security Administration will then send you a letter stating whether your disability claim has been Accepted or Denied.

You may request a Hearing should you disagree with their Decision. Be sure to keep this Denial or Acceptance Letter in a safe, accessible place. Some states may require a Social Security Denial letter during the process of applying for a state Medicaid waiver or HCBS waiver.

Social Security benefits are usually awarded from the date of the first application. In some instances, benefits may also be calculated from the date disability first began. For children with autism disability may begin on their date of birth.

Social Security Publications

For more information and ideas on planning for your child with autism, visit our Autism Action Plan page.

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