SSI? Really?

[confustication]

DS 1 has some significant delays, and is now involved with speech, ot, and pt. At this point, his diagnosis is NOS. EI is really encouraging us to look into SSI as they feel he would easily qualify, and the impact of taking him to and from appointments (no one services our town for these anymore) means I need to look at cutting back to PT work.

I thought SSI was just about impossible to qualify for without a more concrete diagnosis?

Any suggestions or experiences? We would qualify based on income, but I just find myself thinking, that is for families who have really severe challenges, and while there are delays, it just doesn't seem to be 'enough'.

[AnalogWife]

From the SSA website:

* The child must have a physical or mental condition, or a combination of conditions, that results in “marked and severe functional limitations.” This means that the condition(s) must very seriously limit your child’s activities.
* The child’s condition(s) must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least 12 months; or must be expected to result in death.

If your child’s condition(s) results in “marked and severe functional limitations” for at least 12 continuous months, we will find that your child is disabled. But if it does not result in those limitations, or does not last for at least 12 months, we will find that your child is not disabled.

My DS (3) was recently approved for SSI for Autism, I think I recall somewhere that for eligibility the disability (his biggest one is profound speech delay) should impair him from "keeping up" with peers his age. We have the "Autism Disorder" dx, I'm not sure if the PDD-NOS dx holds the same weight, if it matters, etc. I have seen others on the spectrum be denied, but with significant delays I believe it wouldn't hurt to try!

[confustication]

Originally Posted by AnalogWife

From the SSA website:




My DS (3) was recently approved for SSI for Autism, I think I recall somewhere that for eligibility the disability (his biggest one is profound speech delay) should impair him from "keeping up" with peers his age. We have the "Autism Disorder" dx, I'm not sure if the PDD-NOS dx holds the same weight, if it matters, etc. I have seen others on the spectrum be denied, but with significant delays I believe it wouldn't hurt to try!

Our largest delay here is a profound speech delay as well. I'm gathering information at this point, it just seems odd to be even contemplating this path as to us, he is just 'Aiden.'

[AnalogWife]

I myself was hopeful, until he got approved and then I was like , I wasn't prepared for the reality that the gov't considers him "disabled." It's tough!

[~cassie]

Aidan gets it and although he has a clearly defined problem(deafness), I really didn't think he would qualify. I was shocked he did.