Ask any parent, and they’ll tell you: raising a child is expensive. This is true across the board, but for parents of children with special needs, the additional costs involved can accumulate rapidly. The costs of such necessities as health interventions and behavioral therapies, assistive technology, medications, and child care are high and non-negotiable. What is a parent to do?

Parents of children with many disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), should be aware that their child may be entitled to Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which can help defray the additional costs involved in caring for a child with special needs.

What Is SSI?

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal assistance program that provides modest financial support in part to help families caring for children with disabilities. The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides SSI payments on a monthly basis.

SSI is a “means-based” program: to be eligible, the disabled individual’s resources cannot exceed extremely strict and specific limits. The income and assets of a child’s parents can affect SSI eligibility.

SSI should not be confused with Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, which is a different program.

Is Autism a Qualifying Disability for SSI?

Autism is a spectrum disorder that affects all individuals differently. Some individuals with autism will qualify for SSI, while others will not. Eligibility will depend on how severely autism impacts certain specific aspects of a person’s life and abilities.

For children and adults, the SSA lays out the medical criteria for determining whether individuals with autism can receive benefits. Individuals must have medical documentation of deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication and social interaction, as well as significantly restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities. They must also have an extreme limitation in one, or marked limitation of two, of the following mental functioning domains:

• Understanding, remembering, or applying information
• Interacting with others
• Concentrating, persisting, and maintaining pace
• Adapting or managing themselves

How Can SSI Funds Be Used?

When individuals with ASD receive SSI, they get a monthly payment that can help cover both their basic needs and their special needs. SSI payments may be most helpful in areas where there is little financial support otherwise available, such as for specialty therapy programs, appropriate educational programs and summer camps, communication devices and sensory tools, and respite care. Payments can provide much needed relief to families struggling with the cost of care.

How Much Does a Child with Autism Get From SSI?

In 2024, the maximum monthly benefit for SSI is $943 per individual. However, the amount of Supplemental Security Income that an individual with autism can receive depends on numerous factors:

• The individual’s financial status, including the income and resources of parents and guardians, if applicable.
• The child’s state of residence – States have different rules determining how much assistance they provide. Some states supply additional payments to SSI recipients to offset the cost of living.

How to Apply for SSI for a Child with Autism

Parents can apply for benefits for their children.

• The first step is completing the Child Disability Report. This includes providing information about the child’s medical conditions, medical records, and education.
• After completing the Child Disability Report, contact the SSA to complete the application process. The state agency decides whether the child is eligible for SSI.
• Once the SSA has all the information it needs, it will review the information provided and conduct a disability interview. If needed, the agency can request additional evaluations at its own expense.

Consult With Your Attorney

If you are considering applying for SSI benefits and you would like to speak with an experienced special needs planning attorney, please do not hesitate to contact our office at 1 (800) 680-1717. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you.