SSD and SSI For Children Lawyers
Social Security for Children in Pinckneyville, IL
Social Security for children in Pinckneyville, IL. Caring for a child with disabilities is not only emotionally strenuous, but it can be economically wearisome as well. The United States provides a safety net for those who are income eligible that allow them to afford things to help raise the child, such as educational expenses, skilled nursing assistance, home modification costs, medical treatments, medical equipment, and more.
At Drummond Law, our Social Security lawyers in Pinckneyville, IL, know that having to file for Social Security to help cover these expenses can be time-consuming and overwhelming on top of already caring for a child that has many needs. Please take care of your family while we take care of everything else. Let us help you apply for Social Security for children, appeal a claim denial, or any other issues that you have with your claim. Contact our team or call 800-842-0426 for a free claim evaluation.
Applying for Social Security Benefits for Children in Pinckneyville, IL
Applying for Social Security for children benefits requires substantial evidence along with specialized or additional testing. We can help you fill out the Child Disability Reports and all of the initial applications. Also, it is crucial to save all documentation from doctors and teachers that address your child’s special needs, conditions, and side effects. We can help you gather these important documents to help prove your child has severe limitations that would qualify for benefits.
There are a couple of different options for children—both young and old— to support their needs as they age.
These federal programs include, but are not limited to:
- SSI for children – This may be needed when there is not enough work credits on behalf of the disabled child.
- SSDI for adult children of deceased or disabled parents – This may be needed when a disabled child over 18 years of age is reliant on a parent that is now disabled or has passed away.
A majority of claims are denied at first because there is an issue with the filing. Our lawyers can help you avoid these errors so that you can start receiving the benefits needed to keep your family and disabled child in good health.
SSI for Children in Pinckneyville, IL
Social Security Disability is meant to help individuals with disabilities but, in order to qualify for SSD, you need to have built-up work credits. While younger people have not had the opportunity to pay into the system, their families still require additional help. This is why the government offers help in the form of Supplemental Security Income. SSI provides benefits to those who don’t have a work history but still require medical and financial assistance.
The qualifications include:
- Child under 18 – this includes children, stepchildren, adopted children, or grandchildren
- OR under the age of 19 – if the child is attending elementary or secondary school full-time
- Disability – The condition must limit the child’s activities and must be expected to last for at least 12 months or be chronic. Conditions include mental (i.e. significant learning disability, low IQ, depression, autism, drug dependence) and physical (i.e. cystic fibrosis, heart transplant, cancer, visual and hearing loss, paralysis, amputations)
- Limited resources/no income – The child must live at home and be under the care of a family that has limited means or no income.
If the child has been approved for and receiving SSI benefits before turning 18-years-old, his or her condition will have to be reevaluated by the Social Security Administration to determine whether or not they are still considered disabled as an adult. This is why having an experienced SSI for children lawyer in Pinckneyville, IL, on your side from the very beginning is critical.
Social Security Disability for Children Over 18 in Pinckneyville, IL
When a child turns 18 and becomes a legal adult, benefits can change dramatically which is why it’s important to prepare your child for these changes so that there are no interruptions to receiving the assistance he or she needs.
Adult children may be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) if they’re unmarried, lost their parents, or if those parents are retired or claiming disability benefits themselves. Eligibility is based on the parent’s earnings record.
The regulations surrounding SSDI benefits are different than those governing the SSI program. These requirements include:
- Disability – Eligibility is determined based on the definition of a disability for adults, rather than for children. Additionally, the child should be diagnosed with a disability before reaching the age of 22.
- Limited/no income – Child and family do not have the resources available to support themselves
- Parent qualifications – The parent is deceased, disabled, or retired and the child is left needing assistance because of this lack of support. Before this point, at least one parent should have built up work credits into Social Security in order for the child to be eligible.
Generally, it is not necessary for the adult child to have work credits on their own in order to receive these benefits, but the parent should have some amount of work history in order to be eligible.
Appealing a Denial of Social Security for Children in Pinckneyville
If you are denied benefits after filling out the application, then you should make it a point to appeal the denial. Having a Social Security lawyer in Pinckneyville by your side is necessary because the complex Social Security system has rules, regulations, courts, and judges all of its own. You need someone who is aware of the workings of the process—both inside and out— and Drummond Law is there to help!
Your chances of approval increase significantly when we step in. We will be at your side every step in the process as you face the SSA. We have thorough understanding of the issues at hand and will prepare you and your child for what lies ahead. For example, at the hearing, we will be there to ask the SSA’s vocational expert the correct questions on your behalf.
Contact Our Disability Lawyers in Pinckneyville, IL | Drummond Law
Our lawyers understand the serious physical, emotional, and financial hardships associated with caring for a disabled child. You deserve the maximum amount of help that is available under the law. Get in touch with our disability lawyers for help with all aspects of Social Security for children in Pinckneyville, IL. Call our team at 800-842-0426 for a free case review.