If you are a parent of a child on the Autism Spectrum, you know how much extra time and money can go into their care. While most parents are happy to spend the extra time and/or money on their child, sometimes the budget is too tight for the additional medical expenses the child has. This is where – depending on the total household income – Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for a child may come into play.
If you have a child on the autism spectrum and you need assistance either financially or with their medical insurance, you should submit an application for SSI benefits on their behalf. When so doing, the Social Security Administration will want information about his/her condition, what physicians he/she is seeing, and how the condition impacts his/her daily activities.
In order to meet the listing for the Autism Spectrum, there must be medical documentation of both: (1) qualitative deficits in verbal communication, nonverbal communication, and social interaction; and (2) significantly restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. Further, there must be an extreme limitation of one, or marked limitation of two of the following areas of mental functioning: Understand, remember, or apply information; interact with others; concentrate, persist, or maintain pace; or adapt or manage oneself.
If your child has limitations and additional special needs on the Autism Spectrum but does not meet the above listing, it is still possible they may qualify for SSI benefits.
If your child has been denied SSI benefits, contact a lawyer today to help you appeal that denial and put the best case forward for your child’s needs.