If you have a child who is on the autism spectrum, it is likely that you are in need of additional services and support to help give your child the best possible start in life. Therefore, you might be struggling with a financial burden that you wouldn’t have had otherwise.

If this is the case, it might be possible that your child will qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSI is a needs-based support service; therefore, it is most likely that your family will be eligible if you have a low income. If you qualify for Medicaid or food stamps, then it is possible that you will also qualify for SSI.

Can my child qualify for SSI benefits even though he or she is under the age of 18?

A child with autism or another type of disability can qualify for SSI from birth to the age of 18 based on factors such as the family income and the severity of his or her disabilities.

My teenage autistic child is not eligible for SSI because our family earns too much. What will happen when he or she becomes an adult and need to support him or herself?

In all cases, regardless of whether a child is eligible for SSI or not, his or her case will be reassessed at age 18. After the age of 18, the family income is not taken into account, as he or she is from that point considered an adult.

If you are struggling to successfully claim SSI for your autistic child, it is important that you understand all of the eligibility criteria as well as the way disabilities are assessed.

Source: Child autism parent cafe, “Autism Social Security Benefits,” accessed March 23, 2018