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Does your child qualify for SSI benefits?

Answer 8 simple questions to find out if your child may qualify for up to $967/month in SSI benefits.

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Based on official SSA eligibility guidelines
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100% free — no signup required
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Takes less than 2 minutes
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Updated for 2026 benefit rates
$967
Max monthly
benefit
1 in 3
Eligible families
don't apply
+Medicaid
Automatic
if approved
↓ Start your free eligibility check below
Mother and daughter looking at a tablet together on a sofa
Question 1 of 8 0%
1

Does your child have a medical diagnosis from a doctor?

This includes autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, intellectual disability, ADHD, vision/hearing loss, or any other physical or mental condition.

2

Does the condition seriously limit your child's daily activities?

This means difficulty with things like walking, talking, learning, caring for themselves, or behaving appropriately for their age.

3

Has the condition lasted — or is it expected to last — at least 12 months?

SSI requires the disability to be long-term or permanent. Short-term injuries or illnesses typically don't qualify.

4

How many parents or stepparents live in the home with your child?

SSI counts the income of parents living with the child. This affects the benefit amount.

5

How many other children without disabilities live in the home?

The SSA reduces your "counted" income by an allowance for each non-disabled child in the household. More children = more reduction = higher chance of qualifying.

6

What is your household's total gross monthly income?

Include all income before taxes: wages, self-employment, Social Security, child support, alimony, unemployment. Don't subtract taxes or deductions yet.

Example: if you earn $42,000/year, enter $3,500
Please enter a valid monthly income amount.
Enter 0 if income comes from benefits, child support, or investments only
7

Does your family have more than $2,000 in savings or assets?

SSI has a resource limit. These don't count: your primary home, one car, household goods, ABLE accounts, and burial funds up to $1,500.

8

How old is your child?

SSI for children applies to those under 18. After age 18, only the child's own income counts — not parents' — which can make it easier to qualify.

📋

A medical diagnosis is required to apply for SSI

SSI requires a documented medical diagnosis from a licensed physician. Without an official diagnosis, the SSA cannot evaluate your child's claim — even if you know something is wrong.

What you can do now

👨‍⚕️Ask your child's pediatrician for a referral to a specialist (neurologist, developmental pediatrician, or psychologist) for a formal evaluation.
🏫Request a free evaluation through your school district under IDEA — they are legally required to evaluate children with suspected disabilities at no cost to you.
🔖Once you have a diagnosis, come back and use this tool — many children qualify even if parents think they might not.
⏰

SSI requires a long-term or permanent disability

If your child's condition is expected to resolve in less than 12 months, they likely won't qualify for SSI. The program is designed for children with long-lasting limitations.

What you can do now

📅If your child's condition persists beyond 12 months, apply at that point — many conditions that seem temporary become longer-term.
🏥Look into your state's Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for medical coverage in the meantime.
💊Check if your child qualifies for Medicaid separately from SSI — eligibility rules are different and often broader.
💰

Your assets may exceed the SSI limit — but there's a solution

SSI has a $2,000 resource limit for countable assets. However, there are legal ways to reduce countable assets and become eligible without losing your money.

Options to consider

🏦Open an ABLE Account: You can transfer savings into an ABLE account (up to $18,000/year). Money in ABLE accounts does NOT count toward the SSI resource limit.
⚖️Special Needs Trust: Assets placed in a properly structured Special Needs Trust do not count toward SSI eligibility.
👩‍💼Talk to a disability attorney: Many offer free consultations and can help you legally restructure your assets to qualify.
✅

Your child likely qualifies for SSI

Based on your answers and the 2026 SSA guidelines, your child appears to meet the eligibility requirements. You should apply as soon as possible — benefits are not retroactive to before your application date.

$967
Estimated monthly benefit Maximum 2026 SSI payment. Actual amount depends on your exact income after SSA calculates deductions.

Your next steps

1

Call the SSA today: 1-800-772-1213 Open Mon–Fri 8am–7pm. Tell them you want to apply for SSI for your child with a disability. Ask to schedule an appointment.

2

Download the Child Disability Starter Kit Free at SSA.gov — it lists every document you'll need to bring to your appointment.

3

Gather your documents You'll need: child's birth certificate, Social Security numbers, medical records, doctor contact information, school records, and your last 2 pay stubs.

4

Apply early — don't wait SSI benefits start from the date of your application, not from when your child was diagnosed. Every month you wait is a month of benefits you can't recover.

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If approved, your child also gets Medicaid SSI approval automatically qualifies your child for Medicaid health insurance in most states — covering therapies, medications, and doctor visits at little or no cost.

Child SSI Application Kit
Complete Application Kit

Don't navigate this alone.

The Child SSI Application Kit walks you through every form, every question, and every document — with templates your doctor and school can sign today.

✓ SSA-3820 field-by-field guide
✓ Doctor letter template
✓ Interview script
✓ Appeal letter
Get the Kit — $17 →
One-time payment · Instant PDF download · 18 pages
Important: This tool provides an estimate only and is not legal or financial advice. SSI eligibility is determined by the Social Security Administration based on a full review of your application. Results here are based on the 2026 SSA deeming guidelines and may not account for all factors in your situation. Always apply and let the SSA make the official determination — many families are surprised by the outcome.
🟡

Your child may qualify — it's worth applying

Your income is close to the SSI limit. The SSA uses deductions and exclusions that could bring your counted income below the threshold. The only way to know for certain is to apply.

Apply &
Find Out
Your income is near the limit SSA applies exclusions to your income that this tool can't fully calculate. You may qualify after those deductions.

Why you should still apply

1

The SSA applies deductions you may not know about Work-related expenses, impairment-related work expenses, and other exclusions can significantly reduce your counted income.

2

Applying costs nothing There's no fee to apply for SSI. The worst that happens is a denial — which you can appeal.

3

Call to pre-screen before applying Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 and ask them to run a quick pre-screen. They can tell you informally if it's worth proceeding.

4

If denied, appeal immediately About 60% of initial SSI applications are denied, but many are approved on appeal. You have 60 days to appeal a denial.

Child SSI Application Kit
Your Income Is Close — Get Expert Guidance

The right application can make the difference.

When income is borderline, how you fill out the SSA-3820 matters enormously. Our kit shows you exactly what the SSA looks for — and how to document deductions that could tip you into eligibility.

Get the Kit — $17 →
One-time payment · Instant PDF download · 18 pages
Important: This tool provides an estimate only. SSI eligibility depends on a full SSA review. Your actual counted income may be lower than what you entered due to SSA deductions.
ℹ️

SSI may not be available now — but you have options

Based on your income, your child likely won't qualify for SSI at this time. But this can change, and there are other benefits your family may be entitled to.

What you can do

1

Check when your child turns 18 At 18, SSI evaluates only the child's own income — not yours. Many young adults who didn't qualify as children get approved at 18.

2

Open an ABLE Account now Even without SSI, an ABLE account lets your child save money tax-free without affecting future benefit eligibility.

3

Look into Medicaid separately Your child may qualify for Medicaid based on disability alone, independent of SSI. Medicaid can cover therapies and medical care.

4

Check your state's Medicaid Waiver Medicaid waivers fund therapies, respite care, and support services for children with disabilities — with different income rules than SSI.

5

Re-check if your income changes Job loss, reduced hours, or other income changes can bring your family under the SSI threshold. Come back and check anytime.

Important: This is an estimate only. Always contact the SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213 to get an official determination. Income thresholds and deductions may make you eligible even if this tool suggests otherwise.

What is SSI for children?

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Monthly cash payment

SSI provides up to $967/month (2026) to help with the costs of raising a child with a disability.

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Automatic Medicaid

In most states, SSI approval means automatic Medicaid — covering therapies, medications, and specialist visits.

📋

Who qualifies

Children under 18 with a documented disability that significantly limits daily activities, in households with limited income and assets.

⚠️

Apply early

Benefits start from your application date — not your child's diagnosis date. Every month you wait is money you can't get back.

Understanding SSI for Children: A Complete Guide

What is Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?

Supplemental Security Income, known as SSI, is a federal program administered by the Social Security Administration (SSA) that provides monthly cash payments to people with limited income and resources who are disabled, blind, or over age 65. For children under 18, SSI is specifically designed to help families cover the additional costs of raising a child with a serious disability.

In 2026, the maximum monthly SSI payment for an eligible child is $967 — the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR). Some states supplement this amount with additional payments, so the actual total may be higher depending on where you live. Beyond the cash payment, SSI approval in most states also triggers automatic enrollment in Medicaid, which provides health insurance coverage including therapies, specialist visits, medications, and medical equipment at little or no cost to the family.

Despite these significant benefits, a substantial number of families who appear to qualify for child SSI never apply. Common reasons include confusion about the eligibility rules, uncertainty about whether a particular diagnosis qualifies, and the mistaken belief that the family's income is "too high" to qualify. This tool and the resources on this site are designed to help families cut through that confusion and make an informed decision about whether to apply.

How child SSI differs from adult SSI

SSI for children uses a different standard than SSI for adults. For adults, the SSA evaluates whether the disability prevents the person from doing any substantial gainful work. For children, there is no work-capacity test — instead, the SSA evaluates whether the child has a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that causes "marked and severe functional limitations" and has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months (or is expected to result in death).

The SSA evaluates childhood disability by looking at how the condition limits functioning in six key domains defined in the SSA's Listing of Impairments for Children: acquiring and using information, attending and completing tasks, interacting and relating with others, moving about and manipulating objects, caring for oneself, and health and physical well-being. A child qualifies if they have a "marked" limitation in two domains, or an "extreme" limitation in one domain.

Another important distinction: for children under 18, the SSA counts a portion of the parents' income when determining eligibility (a process called "deeming"). This is different from adult SSI, where only the applicant's own income counts. However, the deeming calculation includes significant exclusions and deductions that often allow families with moderate incomes to qualify.

The three requirements for child SSI

For a child to qualify for SSI, three basic conditions must all be met simultaneously:

1. Disability requirement: The child must have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment — or combination of impairments — that causes marked and severe functional limitations, and that has lasted (or is expected to last) at least 12 months, or is expected to result in death. The impairment must be documented by objective medical evidence such as laboratory tests, imaging, or clinical examination findings.

2. Income requirement: The child's countable income must be below the Federal Benefit Rate ($967/month in 2026). For children living with parents, this includes a portion of the parents' income calculated through the deeming process. As described above, the deeming formula includes multiple deductions that often make the counted income lower than the family's actual household income.

3. Resource requirement: The child must have no more than $2,000 in countable resources (assets). Many common assets are excluded, including the family's primary home, one vehicle, and any funds held in an ABLE account or properly structured Special Needs Trust.

What families often don't know about income limits

The income rules for child SSI are significantly more flexible than most parents expect. The SSA's deeming calculation applies several layers of deductions before arriving at the "deemed income" that is counted against the benefit. These include a $20 monthly general exclusion, a $65 earned income exclusion, a 50% reduction of remaining earned income, and — critically — a per-person "living allowance" deduction of $457 per month for each parent and each non-disabled child living in the home.

This living allowance is often the factor that makes SSI accessible to families who initially assume they earn too much. A two-parent household with two non-disabled children gets $457 × 4 = $1,828 subtracted from their countable income before comparison to the benefit rate. For a family with three non-disabled children, that's $2,285 in monthly deductions — meaning a household with over $70,000 in annual income could potentially qualify.

Additionally, many common income sources are not counted at all: SNAP benefits, housing assistance, TANF, tax refunds, student financial aid, and energy assistance are all excluded from the SSI income calculation.

Why you should apply even if you're unsure

The SSI application process is free. There is no fee to apply, and if your child is denied, you can appeal the decision at no cost. Given the potential benefit — up to $967/month in cash plus Medicaid — the return on investing a few hours in the application process can be substantial.

Perhaps most importantly, SSI benefits are not retroactive to your child's diagnosis date — they start from the date of your application. Every month you delay applying is a month of potential benefits you cannot recover. If you believe your child might qualify, the right time to apply is now.

For more detailed information on the application process, see our step-by-step application guide. For information on which conditions qualify, see our qualifying conditions guide. To understand the income limits in more detail, see our 2026 income limits page.

📋 Important disclaimer: The information on this page is based on 2026 SSA guidelines and is provided for educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. SSI eligibility is determined by the Social Security Administration based on a full review of your application, medical records, and financial information. Always contact the SSA directly or consult a qualified disability attorney for guidance on your specific situation.

How to Apply → Qualifying Conditions → Income Limits 2026 →