See below for information on:
- Child Qualification for Social Security
- Student Earned Income Exclusion
- Application Process
- Replacement SS Cards
- And click here for our Social Security Webinar
How A Child with Autism Can Qualify For Social Security Disability
If your child has autism that is disabling, he or she may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability benefits. A child has no work history, so he or she could qualify for a needs-based program, which is Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Autism can be considered a disability if the symptoms are severe enough, how it impacts the child, and if there is demonstrated financial need with special financial criteria met. A medical guide, called the Blue Book, is used by Disability Determination Services (DDS) to determine eligibility.
Meeting The Medical Criteria Of The Blue Book Listing
Blue Book Listing 112.10 is used to determine if a child meets the requirements to be approved for
disability benefits. To qualify per the listing, medical documentation must confirm the following:
— Impaired communication skills either verbally and/or non-verbally
— An inability to participate in either imaginative or creative thoughts or activities
— Limited interest and participation in different activities
— Pronounced difficulty in interacting socially, especially when it comes to reciprocating or
responding
A proof of disability and hard medical evidence that shows the severity of the symptoms and how his or her daily activities are affected by autism is essential to the success of the disability claim. Without
supporting documentation, a claim will not be approved. Anyone older than 18 must qualify using the listing for adults, and other listed criteria must be shown to satisfy the Blue Book listing for adults listed as Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Meeting Financial Criteria
SSI is a needs-based program. Specific financial criteria must be met. There are strict SSI asset
limitations. Proof of income must be provided, and the SSA will use a process called deeming where
deductions are made for household members. Proof of resources must be provided. Gather deeds,
vehicle titles, bank statements, investment records, retirement plan documents, insurance policies, and other documents, so the overall income and value of assets can be determined.
A child is considered to have access to a portion of the parental income. If you have questions about
deeming, contact a SSA representative or a disability advocate or attorney. Even if a child meets the
medical criteria, his or her claim will not be approved unless the financial criteria are met.
Applying For Disability Benefits For Your Child
Gather medical records to apply for disability for a child with autism. Hard medical evidence is a
necessity for a successful disability claim. For additional evidence, include written statements from
teachers, relatives, friends, caregivers, and physicians can also be beneficial to a disability claim.
Documentation could substantiate the argument that the severity of the child’s autism limits his or her ability to care for himself or herself and to appropriately respond or properly participate in
conversations, routine activities, and everyday situations. Because SSI is needs-based, financial criteria
must also be met. You can start the process online or by calling 1-800-772-1213 and talking with a
representative or by scheduling an appointment at a local SSA field office.
Resources Found Via:
— https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/
— https://www.ssa.gov
—https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/112.00-MentalDisorders-Childhood.htm#112_10
— https://www.disability-benefits-help.org/disability-tips/letter-of-support
— https://www.disability-benefits-help.org/faq/assets-calculation-ssi
— https://www.ssa.gov/applyfordisability/
Student Earned Income Exclusion– SSI and Wages for those Under 22
(Information Provided by the Social Security Administration)
WHAT IS THE STUDENT EARNED INCOME EXCLUSION?
This provision allows a person who is under age 22 and regularly attending school to exclude earnings from income.
- In January 2020 the amount we could exclude was $1,900 monthly up to a yearly maximum of $7,670.
- In January 2021 the amount we will exclude is $1,930 monthly up to a yearly maximum of $7,770.
We usually adjust the monthly amount and the yearly limit annually, based on any increases in the cost–of–living index. We apply this exclusion before any other exclusion.
WHAT DOES “REGULARLY ATTENDING SCHOOL” MEAN?
“Regularly attending school” means that the person takes one or more courses of study and attends classes:
- in a college or university for at least 8 hours a week under a semester or quarter system; or
- in grades 7–12, for at least 12 hours a week; or
- in a training course to prepare for employment, for at least 12 hours a week (15 hours a week if the course involves shop practice); or
- in a home school situation (grades 7-12), for at least 12 hours per week and in accordance with the home school law of the State or jurisdiction in which the student resides; or
- for less time than indicated above for reasons beyond the student’s control, such as illness.
A person who is homebound because of a disability may be a student when he or she:
- studies a course or courses given by a school (grades 7–12), college, university, or government agency; and
- has a home visitor or tutor from school who directs the studying or training.
Example:
Jim is a student who earns $2,000 a month in June, July and August of 2020. In September, he returns to school and continues working part-time. He earns $900 a month in September through December 2020.
Using the student earned income exclusion; Jim can exclude $1,900 of his earnings each month in June, July and August, and can exclude all of his $900 earnings in September and October($900 x 2 = $1,800). Through October, Jim will use up $7,500 of his $7,670 yearly limit. Excluding $170 from his November earnings will use up his yearly limit. His remaining wages, after deducting monthly and yearly limits, will still be subject to the earned income exclusion of $65 per month and one-half of the remaining earned income.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER RULES WHICH MAY HELP?
Other SSI work incentives such as Plan to Achieve Self-Support, work expense exclusions, and continued Medicaid coverage may help an SSI recipient while working.
THIS INFORMATION IS GENERAL. See SSI Spotlights Home FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 1–800–772–1213 (TTY 1–800–325–0778), VISIT OUR WEBSITE (www.ssa.gov) ON THE INTERNET, OR CONTACT YOUR LOCAL SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE.
Social Security Application
For kids aging in (file month of 18)
Options- 1- Set up telephone appt 866-331-2196 9-4 M-F or 877-274-5429 9-4 M-F
File online at www.ssa.gov
https://secure.ssa.gov/iClaim/dib
Forms needed to file for SSI
1- SSA 8000 (PDF above)
2- SSA 827 medical release https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-827.pdf
3- SSA 3368 Disability report https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-3368-bk.pdf
4- SSA 8510 https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-8510.pdf
Any supporting documents (medical records, guardianship, school)
At present all applications can be faxed 833-950-3091 Toledo downtown ATTN SSI CLAIMS Or Toledo West 833-950-2786 West Toledo ATTN SSI claims
Drop box 4906 Monroe St Ste A Toledo OH 43623
REPLACEMENT SOCIAL SECURITY CARDS
For replacement cards:
Easiest way to replace SS cards are online at www.ssa.gov/myaccount
Offices are open for phone services, M-F 9-4 www.ssa.gov/locator
Online www.ssa.gov almost 24 hours a day
By mail and fax
We do not know when in person services will resume.
Issue 1- replacing SS cards
Right now, we are accepting a lot of different documentation to replace SS cards. We cannot use a “letter” as evidence, but we could use a recent medical record with her name and DOB on it, on the hospital letterhead that is signed and dated and if the hospital uses a stamp that works! Cards take a few weeks to come after you mail in the documents.
For people that need replacement Social Security cards, the agency is temporarily allowing secondary evidence thru September.
Download the list of documents needed for a duplicate card below.
1- Complete SS5 application for a replacement card https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ss-5.pdf (she needs to sign and date)
2- Include one of the documents on list
3- Mail both documents to their local field office which can be located here www.ssa.gov/locator
If a student is UNDER 16, we also need one of the parents to send in an ID document from the list for themselves.
**** Make sure if the post office does not know that you reside somewhere do an IN Care of address for your card to be sent, otherwise it will go to address on record and usually the post office will not send to a business
SS cards are free!
Issue 2- For assistance with specific clients, please have them complete and sign a release https://www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-3288.pdf
Issue 3- We are accepting many things via fax right now, including applications for benefits!
Issue 4 – if over 18 sign up online for your free Social Security account www.ssa.gov/myaccount