Form Ssa-3819 - Ssi Disability Benefits For A Child (Page 3 of 6) in pdf

What You Should Know Before You Apply for SSI Disability Benefits for a Child

Other Important Information

SSI is not a medical assistance program. Your state Medicaid agency, local health department,

social services office or hospital can help you find your nearest health care agencies. Your Social

Security office can also help you find health care agencies.

• Medicaid

Medicaid is a health care program for people with low incomes and limited resources. In most states,

children who get SSI benefits can also get Medicaid. Even if the child cannot get SSI, he or she may be

able to get Medicaid. Your state Medicaid agency, Social Security office or your state or county social

services office can give you more information.

• State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)

Children may be able to get health insurance from SCHIP even if they do not get SSI. SCHIP pro

vides health insurance to children from working families with incomes too high to get Medicaid,

but who cannot afford private health insurance. SCHIP provides insurance for

prescription drugs and for vision, hearing and mental health services in all 50 states and

the District of Columbia. Your state Medicaid agency can provide more information about SCHIP.

You can also go to or call toll free 1-877-KIDS-NOW

(1-877-543-7669) for more information on your state’s program.

• Other Health Care Services

If the child is under age 16 and we decide he or she is disabled and can get SSI, we will refer him or her

to your state children’s agencies for social, developmental, educational and medical services. Even if the

child cannot get SSI, these state agencies may be able to help him or her.

• Work Opportunities for Young People Who Are Getting SSI

Many young people who get SSI disability benefits want to work. The following information may

be helpful.

• We do not count most of a child’s earnings when we figure the SSI payment. We count even less

of a child’s earnings if the child is a student.

• We subtract the cost of certain items and services that a child needs to work from his or her

earnings in figuring the SSI payment.

• If a child is age 15 or older, he or she can establish a Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS). With a

PASS, a child can set aside income for a work goal. We will not count this income when we fig

ure the SSI payment.

• A child’s Medicaid coverage can continue even if his or her earnings are high enough to stop SSI

payment, as long as the earnings are under a certain amount.

Social Security has two programs that can assist young people who get SSI disability benefits and

want to go to work:

• Benefits Planning, Assistance and Outreach (BPAO) program, and

• Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) program.

Your local Social Security office can provide more information about these programs. You can also

find more information on our Work website,

w w w . s o c i a l s e c u r i t y . g o v

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Form Ssa-3819 - Ssi Disability Benefits For A Child Page 3