The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program is a need-based program for the elderly and adult disabled individuals who have limited finances, but it also serves disabled minor children. When a disabled child reaches the age of 18 Social Security will conduct a redetermination for those children to determine if they are still disabled. It is a good idea to understand the process prior to this happening. Below is a description of the redetermination process for SSI when a child turns 18.
Children eligible for SSI payments in the month before they reach age 18 are required to go through the redetermination process. SSA’s field offices collect disability and functional reports—including the names and addresses of medical sources for the previous year—and work, education, rehabilitation, and support services received. Social Security send completed cases to a state agency (the disability determination service, or DDS), and are responsible for making the initial determination for SSA. The DDS obtains evidence and makes the determination whether the individual’s condition satisfies the adult definition of disability using SSA’s rules. If the field office is unable to reach a claimant and insufficient medical information has been collected to decide, payments can be ceased for failure to cooperate (FTC).
Regardless of what decision Social Security makes, it does not have to be the final decision on the matter. If Social Security decides the child is no longer disabled and entitled to SSI benefits the claimant has a right to appeal that decision. Many newly 18 SSI claimants are denied for benefits on the redetermination but are eventually successful if they appeal and continue the case. If you are interested in a more comprehensive look at the redetermination process, click here.
