Social Security keeps separate listings of impairments for adults and children when it comes to the Social Security disability process. These include different rules and regulations concerning who is disabled and entitled to benefits and who is not. Because these rules differ, mainly because the Social Security disability process focuses on an inability to work, and children are not expected to work, many people who received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits as children are notified they are no longer entitled to benefits once they turn 18. Take a look at Social Security’s definitions for who is disabled as an adult and as a child.
Adult Disability
For all individuals applying for disability benefits under title II (Disability Insurance), and for adults applying under title XVI (SSI), the definition of disability is the same. The law defines disability as the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity (SGA) by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment(s) which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
Childhood Disability
Under title XVI, a child under age 18 will be considered disabled if he or she has a medically determinable physical or mental impairment or combination of impairments that causes marked and severe functional limitations, and that can be expected to cause death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.
Anyone who receives a notice from Social Security that their SSI benefits will be cutoff come their 18th birthday should not panic. There is always an opportunity to appeal that decision or file a new claim for benefits, it’s just a matter of different criteria Social Security looks at for adults.
