Applying for SSI for a child with a disability
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a monthly cash payment from the Social Security Administration (SSA) for children under 18 who have a qualifying disability and whose family has limited income and resources. In Florida, a child approved for SSI automatically gets Medicaid, with no separate application (unless nursing-home services are needed).
It is free to apply. This is one of the longest processes on this site: plan on 6 to 8 months for a decision.
Who usually qualifies
The disability test. The child must have a physical or mental condition that causes "marked and severe functional limitations," and that has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months (or result in death). Blindness has no duration requirement. SSA decides this based on medical and school records.
The money test. SSA counts part of the income and resources of the parents (and a stepparent) living with the child. This is called "deeming." SSA takes out an allowance for the parents and for other children in the home first. The child's own countable resources must be $2,000 or less. The family home and one vehicle are not counted. TANF (cash assistance) income is not counted.
The exact cutoff depends on how many parents and children are in the home and whether the income is from work. SSA's income-limit screener at ssa.gov/ssi/eligibility (opens in a new tab) shows the limit for your household type; it is a screening tool, not a decision. If you are over the limit, your child may still qualify for Florida Medicaid (apply through DCF's MyACCESS) or Florida KidCare (floridakidcare.org or 1-888-540-5437).
Faster payments for some conditions. For certain severe conditions (for example, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, total blindness or deafness, or a birth weight under 2 lb 10 oz), SSA can start paying for up to 6 months while the medical review is still going on. These "presumptive" payments do not have to be repaid if SSA later decides the child does not meet the medical rules. They can be treated as an overpayment if the family turns out to be over the income or resource limits, or if other non-medical facts were wrong.
Before you start: the Child Disability Starter Kit
Download the kit first: SSA-1171-KIT.pdf (opens in a new tab). Its checklist is the document list. Gather:
- The child's original or certified birth certificate (or proof of citizenship/legal residency if born outside the U.S.).
- Names and Social Security numbers of everyone in the household.
- Proof of current income for the child and household members.
- Proof of resources: bank statements, insurance policies.
- For every doctor, therapist, hospital, and clinic the child has seen in the past 12 months: name, address, phone, and the patient ID number if you have it. Bring any records you already hold.
- Names of all medications.
- Schools attended in the past 12 months, with teacher and specialist names.
- The child's IFSP or IEP and other school evaluations.
- Names of caseworkers from any program (Head Start, early intervention such as Early Steps, special education).
SSA says to keep your appointment even if some items are missing. SSA requests medical records directly from providers; you sign a release when you file (children age 12 or older generally sign alongside their parent or authorized representative; follow SSA’s instructions and applicable exceptions in its signature policy (opens in a new tab)).
Step by step
- Complete the online Child Disability Report from ssa.gov/benefits/disability/apply-child.html (opens in a new tab). It takes about an hour and is in English only.
- Wait for SSA's callback (within 3–5 business days). An SSA representative reviews household income and resources with you and starts the SSI application.
- Or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–7 p.m., to schedule a phone or office appointment. SSA can use the date of your call as your filing date if you keep the appointment or file a signed application within 60 days.
- The state Disability Determination Services (DDS) reviews the medical side. They may ask teachers or providers for information, and may schedule a consultative exam or test that SSA pays for. Go to any exam they schedule.
- Decision letter. Expect 6–8 months. (SSA's 2018 starter kit still says 3–5 months; the current page says 6–8.)
- If approved: payments start, and Florida Medicaid follows automatically. Back payments covering more than 6 months of benefits go into a dedicated account that can only be spent on certain things, mainly the child's disability and education needs.
- If denied: you have 60 days from receiving the notice to appeal. The first step is "reconsideration," which you can request online at secure.ssa.gov/iApplsRe/start (opens in a new tab) or with form SSA-561-U2. After that come a hearing, the Appeals Council, and federal court.
At age 18
SSA re-evaluates the child under adult disability rules, usually within the year after the 18th birthday. Parental deeming stops the month after the child turns 18.
Who to contact
- SSA: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–7 p.m. Press 7 for Spanish; other languages, wait for an interpreter.
- Find your local office: ssa.gov/locator (opens in a new tab)
What we have not confirmed yet
- A worked example of the deemed-income cutoff for a typical two-parent, one-child household (use the calculator or ask at the interview).
- Whether your child's specific condition is on SSA's Compassionate Allowances or presumptive-disability lists.