ssi

Julie - posted on 09/04/2011

My daughter's was backdated to the day she was born. But the social workers at the hospital got the ball rolling right away after she was born and applied for me. They do count some of the child support as income but if its not much, like my case was, it didnt lower it by too much. They also count your assets and resources so boats, 4 wheelers, life insurance policies that you can cash out, anything that is of value that is in your name or your son's name. SSI does help, but the downside is that you can never get ahead because you can never put any money away in a savings account...if you do, it counts against you as assets. I know it is a long way off, but when your son turns 18 and if he is still considered disabled, it gets much easier because they do not base his SSI amount off of your income. Best of luck to you and if there is anything I can help with, let me know!

Lauren - posted on 09/04/2011

$675 a month would be amazing. I am unable to work
And literally surviving off of child support and food stamps. For the back pay, do they post date the amount to when the child was born or when I applied. Because I applied when he was about 7 months but others have told me
That if they were born with the conditions and were in the NICU then it dates back to birth.

Julie - posted on 08/31/2011

It all goes according to your income and assets. I have dealt with SSI for 18 years now and it really can be a pain in the butt, but the money is helpful, not to mention the insurance. Once your child turns 18, if they are still disabled according to their rules, the amount they receive will no longer be determined by your income. A ballpark figure for us when my daughter was growing up was around $500 a month. I believe the max for a child is around $675 a month. I hope this helps.

Lauren - posted on 08/30/2011

But how much do u all receive? My son has autism
And hydrocephalus and has had 7 brain surgeries. I had my 2nd appeal hearing and I'm waiting for results in the mail. She was very nice judge. He is medically approved and said she will get me the papers rather quick. But how much do I expect to get for SSI a month?

Angela - posted on 01/17/2010

I was fortunate that my son began receiving his SSI shortly after applying, and I owe it all to a friend of mine who had been denied 4 times before finally being approved. I had a little folder I brought to the appointment with me that contained EVERYTHING given to me from any doctors appointment that proved he had Autism, a letter from his neurologist stating it wasn't a temporary diagnosis, and then a financial list of my income and how it was spent (bills, food, diapers, dr appts) and when they seen that what I needed was more than what I made, my son was approved. I agree that sometimes you can't rely on the doctors to have/send all the needed information, so its good to keep your own records of your childs medical history handy for reasons like this. Good luck and don't give up!

Heather - posted on 01/16/2010

I agree find out why he was denied. My daughter was denied once because the way the doctor worded it. She was CP. also income is a big part of it too.

Brenda - posted on 01/16/2010

My daughter has downs syndrome. The dianosis paper from the genetic testing was all that was needed. However, SSI is based on income. If your family of 3 makes close to $3,000 a month, you will not get it. SSI is designed to keep these kids from being totally impoverished. If ones pays their bills, and has money left over to "play with" (go out to eat, go to movies, etc) then SSI doesn't feel they need to kick down some money. If you want SSI, you have to choose to be poor, and all that goes with it---no eating out, no trips to theme parks...etc. We are not entitled to SSI....it's a supplement for those who have that NEED in this country. (USA)

Dawn - posted on 01/16/2010

Our son is 9 months old and also has Spina Bifida and hydrocephalus. He has had surgeries for the closure of the defect, shunt placement and to repair club feet. We first applied for SSI when he was 3 or 4 months old. My husband was told that we make too much money to qualify. We are a two income family (although I have had to cut back to three work days a week to accomadate all the doctor's appointments), but we are not wealthy. Does any one have any suggestions? Should we continue to pursue SSI?

Tayyebah - posted on 01/15/2010

I agree with Julie keeping trying don't give up.

Brooke - posted on 01/15/2010

My daughter was born with complete brain damage. She couldn't walk, talk, eat on her own. She was also blind and deaf. We spent months in the ICU. My husband made "too much" money to qualify for medicaid and his insurance maxed out in the first 4 months (over a million dollars).
So..we tried to get help with SSI. Haha, it was such a joke. We went through EVERYTHING. We were so far in debt trying to pay the bills and fight with these people whether or not she was "qualified" for it. They said a g-tube wasn't enough, a Trach wasn't enough, nor was a ventilater. Then we had her hearing and vision checked at 4 months old and they said she was legally blind and deaf.
With all the problems my daughter had. They said she was qualifed because she was legally blind. She started recieving SSI at 7 months old. I had to file a million times before we recieved it.
It wasn't easy. It was actually exhausting.

Jodi - posted on 01/15/2010

found why he was denied sometimes it could be that the doctors didn't send the information to them. try to appeal one more time and if he gets denied again. then go for a lawyer.

Joy - posted on 01/15/2010

I had to try 3x's for my son (in the same condition) before he was approved. Keep encouraged. Bless you and your son.

Heather - posted on 01/14/2010

I belive you can appeal twice then you go to trial. Hire a lawyer now. My sons SSI took years. Also call your local congressman. They can write a letter of support. I think thats what tipped the scales in our favor. I hope that helps.

Julie - posted on 01/12/2010

You should hire a lawyer as soon as he is denied the first time. I have heard that they deny several times before they finally agree to pay hoping that we as parents will give up. I was lucky in that my daughter was approved the first time. She is 17 now but was born with severe hydrocephalus, cerebal palsy, and a midline brain cyst. Keep trying and dont give up!