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Disability Benefits for Children: What Florida Parents Need to Know

As a parent, you want to provide for your child's every need but may not be able to handle the financial burden if your child is disabled because of a physical or mental condition. If you find yourself in this situation, a Ft. Lauderdale disability attorney can help you apply for Social Security disability benefits for your child.

Defining Disability in Children

Just as with adults, when applying for Social Security disability benefits for children, you will need to provide medical evidence that your child is physically or mentally disabled from a diagnosed medical condition. To be considered eligible for Social Security disability benefits for children, your child must have a physical or mental condition that severely limits their activity and it must have lasted or is expected to last for 1 year or result in death.

Once your child has been defined as disabled, he or she may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). It is important to work with a Ft. Lauderdale disability attorney to make sure you are getting the maximum benefits for which your child qualifies.

Seeking Supplemental Security Income for Children

The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for children are based on financial need and look at the child's available resources to determine assistance. On top of the basic disability criteria, if the child is of working age, he or she cannot be earning more than $1,000 a month. The income and resources of the family members living in the child's household are also considered and compared to the allowed amount set by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Your Ft. Lauderdale disability attorney can help you assess the resources your child will need and determine your best course of action.

Proving Eligibility for Social Security Disability Benefits for Children

The SSA provides a listing of impairments that are generally accepted as disabling conditions to meet the criteria necessary for Social Security disability benefits for children.

There are also certain conditions that may result in an immediate award of benefits, such as:

  • HIV infection;
  • total blindness or deafness;
  • muscular dystrophy;
  • down syndrome;
  • cerebral palsy;
  • birth weight below 2 pounds, 10 ounces; and
  • severe mental retardation (7 years or older).


You will still need to provide adequate medical evidence that your child suffers from one of these conditions to be eligible for Social Security disability benefits for children.

Medical records that show evidence of your child's symptoms and diagnosis, as well as details of how it impacts everyday life are important to provide to your Ft. Lauderdale disability attorney. Your attorney will use this information to support your claim for Social Security disability benefits for children. This is essential because without good medical evidence, your claim will be delayed or even denied.

You may also need to provide permission for your Ft. Lauderdale disability attorney or the Social Security Administration to contact doctors, teachers, therapists and other professionals that are involved in your child's care. The more records and information you present with your disability benefits claim, the faster the application process can move.

Contacting a Ft. Lauderdale Disability Attorney

If you or your loved one is suffering from a severe physical or mental disability, you should contact a Ft. Lauderdale disability attorney immediately to learn about your rights and determine eligibility. The process of securing Social Security Disability and/or Supplemental Security Income benefits can be difficult and overwhelming. Don't go it alone! The attorneys at LaVan & Neidenberg, located in downtown Ft. Lauderdale, understand the inner workings of the Social Security Administration and will help you navigate the system. Call us today for a FREE legal consultation - 1-888-234-5758.




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