Disability solutions for you and your family

Photo of attorneys Jonathan P. Gardberg and Colin Edward Kemmerly

Social Security Benefits for Infants with Low Birth Weight

by | Jul 23, 2015 | Social Security Disability |

Low Birth Weight in Infants

Because low birth weight infants may experience problems related to their prematurity and associated perinatal complications, the Social Security Administration has made low birth weight a criteria for disability of a child under Supplemental Security Income. As of June 15, 2015, infants whose birth weights meet certain qualifications may receive benefits under Supplemental Security Income. In doing so, the Social Security Administration recognizes that the lower an infant’s birth weight, the greater the likelihood and severity of problems the infant might suffer in the future. Such problems may require lengthy initial hospitalizations or can result in long-term complications involving the infant’s growth, developmental patterns, physical health, and age-appropriate functioning.

Under Listing 100.04, an infant’s weight is evaluated from birth until the infant reaches the age of 1. The Social Security Administration will look at the infant’s birth weight and gestational age. Birth weight is defined as the first weight recorded after birth. An infant’s birth weight is that weight which was documented in an original or certified copy of the infant’s birth certificate or by a medical record signed by a physician. Gestational age is the infant’s age based on the date of conception as recorded in the medical record. 1 pound is equal to 453.59 grams.

To qualify, the infant’s birth weight must be less than 1200 grams or correlate with the following chart:

Gestation Age (in weeks)

Birth Weight

37-40

2000 grams or less

36

1875 grams or less

35

1700 grams or less

34

1500 grams or less

33

1325 grams or less

32

1250 grams or less

If your infant was born with a low birth weight, he or she might be eligible for Supplemental Security Income benefits. To learn more about the potential disability benefits available for your child, contact an experienced Social Security disability attorney at Gardberg & Kemmerly, P.C. at (251) 343-1111 today for a free consultation. Gardberg & Kemmerly, P.C. represents Social Security disability claimants in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Louisiana at all levels of the disability process from initial application to appeals to Federal Court.

Archives

Client Testimonials

Mr. Gardberg – I am forever in your debt. I will never be able to tell you how much I appreciate what you have done for me. I praise you and your firm for all they did to help me in my disability case. Thanks for being so kind.

– L. Nelson

Saying thank you is easy, but you will never know how you impacted my life by helping me with me Social Security disability case. This thank you comes right from the heart.

– R. Turner

Thank you, thank you , thank you to all of the angels in the law firm at Gardberg and Kemmerly. I sincerely hope you know how much you did to make my life better.

– D. Thompson

FindLaw Network