Some children in Alabama with disabilities will qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). However, once a child is awarded SSI benefits doesn’t mean the story ends there. The Social Security Administration will regularly review the child’s medical impairment, to determine whether the child is still eligible for SSI benefits.
For example, if a child is under 18-years-old and has a medical impairment that is expected to improve, that child’s eligibility for SSI benefits will be reviewed a minimum of every three years. For infants who are receiving SSI benefits due to low birth weight, a review will take place when the child is 1-year-old. If the SSA decides that the child’s medical impairment is not expected to improve by the time the child reaches age 1, the SSA may decide to wait to review the child’s eligibility for SSI benefit until the child is older.
Even if the child’s medical impairment is not expected to improve, the SSA may still decide to review it periodically. In these situations, the child’s parents must provide the SSA with evidence showing that the child’s medical impairment severely affects his or her day-to-day activities and that the child is under the care of a physician to the extent necessary with regards to his or her medical impairment.
Knowing your child’s SSI Supplemental Security Income benefits are up for review can be a stressful situation. Many children with severe medical impairments need extensive medical care, which can be unaffordable for parents. Parents, therefore, rely on SSI benefits to help them care for their disabled child. Therefore, if your child’s SSI benefits are up for review, it can help to retain an attorney, to ensure the proper documentation is submitted to the SSA, and to increase the chances that the child will retain his or her SSI benefits if appropriate.