Disability is supposed to be granted upon the inability to perform SGA.

While there are instances when I question some issues related to SSI and other entitlement programs, I do not believe that just because a person is older and have payed into the system longer, that they are more deserving of SSDI benefits. If you view SSDI as an insurance policy, (something you pay into) then it's reasonable to expect a person will be eligible for benefits as soon as they're in need. Should a person have to pay car insurance for 20 years before they're eligible to utilize the benefits from the policy?

A 25 year old or 30 year old that had worked since 16 and develops a severe disability has a much harder time being approved for SSDI than a 50 year old with fewer limitations. Those that further their education and go college and are faced with a disability shortly thereafter have an even higher threshold to prove that they're unable to perform any type of work... Add in that a younger applicant is much less likely to have personal financial resources to utilize while trying to prove their case... For those with young children, it can be especially difficult.

Are there people that have no motivation to work and just want an easy monthly check? Sure, but I always question the mental health of someone so young with such little drive as to fake or exaggerate a disability to collect such a small check, quite frankly.

I believe there are fewer undeserving SSI/SSDI young beneficiaries than the general public assumes. Like my young neighbor who was born with a genetic disorder and is wheelchair bound, or my cousin who was discharged from the military when it was discovered he had schizophrenia, there are tens of thousands of young SSI/SSDI beneficiaries that struggle with the most basic of daily activities--that are isolated and lonely, and want nothing more than to be able to work or go to school, that want a significant other or to start a family of their own, but their disability makes it difficult if not impossible for them to ever fulfill those dreams.

I am incredibly grateful that if it was in God's plan that I develop RSD/CRPS--an illness I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy--that I was able to go to college beforehand, that I could deliver pizza so I'd meet my ex-husband and have an amazing child, that I was able to enjoy my son's childhood, that I was able to travel quite a bit with family and friends, that I hiked in some of the most beautiful places in the country, that I went to an insane amount of concerts, that I went dancing every weekend for years, and that I found and excelled at work I truly enjoyed all before becoming disabled.

It took me a long while to appreciate that I was lucky to have had excellent health for a solid ten years as an adult. And I haven't lost hope that perhaps medical advances will allow me to become more functional or even put my illness into remission at some point.

So, I feel great empathy for those young adults that will miss out on so much by not having the ability to work.

While I understand that the SSI/SSDI process is frustrating and it can become personal for many, I just want to remind older applicants that younger applicants are not inherently less "worthy" of benefits. Please try to view your situation from the perspective that it was a blessing for you to retain your health as long as you did. If you put yourself in other people's shoes, or even imagine all you would have missed out on if at 18 or at 20 you had developed all the health issues you must currently deal with. When you think of it that way, does receiving a SSI check sound like a good trade off for being disabled your entire adult life?

None of us want to be judged by strangers about how deserving we are of SSI or SSDI benefits, but we're often not willing to extend the same courtesy to others. I have been guilty of this myself at times, but my goal is to treat every single disabled SSI/SSDI applicant and beneficiary with respect and to refrain from judging their "worthiness" for collecting benefits. I've learned over the years that those that are often in the most need of help will often sabotage their own applications due to mental impairments.

Nicely put. To become disabled at an early age is to lead an entire life with limitations that others don't have; struggling daily. To be an SSI recipient at an early age and remain on SSI means a life, a lifetime, of having barely enough money to lead a low income life, with little hope of anything better but still trying to make the best of what you have, trying to be happy as best you can.

How is SSI affected for a child or an adult who has $$$ set aside for their upkeep through a will or trust fund if their parents/guardians dies from either accident or old age?

I know this question was posed to Janke, but since the potential issue has come up in my family, I just want to mention that Medicaid eligibility is an issue as well.

My nephew's medical bills can be astronomical since it's not uncommon for him to require long periods of hospitalization as well as caring for all his other special needs. He's currently on SSI as well, but the bigger issue is his eligibility for Medicare if his father, my brother, were to receive an inheritance. Since he is renting, it would be practical if he were to purchase a modest home within 30 days of receiving the funds, so as to not have issues of Medicare eligibility for his son.

Ginnie has posted several times in the past about her difficulties with SSI and Medicare eligibility since the home and funds set up for her in a trust were not properly executed by the attorney her parents hired.

This link offers some ideas on the proper way to set up a trust: http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/res...curity/using-t

Lit, according to the link you posted it appears "The Special Needs Trust" answers my question....

The Third-Party Special Needs Trust

"A third-party special needs trust is one that is funded by assets owned by someone other than the disabled person.These are often created in a parent's will to ensure that the disabled child’s needs are met after the parent dies. State legislation sometimes contains language that may be used to establish the trust. These trusts must be established for the "sole benefit" of the disabled person."

Apparently, one must also check their state laws regarding a special needs trust.

There is also the new legislation proposal to allow SSI recipients under 27? have an account of up to 100k put aside for them. I don't remember if that was posted on NT?

It really makes a difference how much money is an issue and what their medical situation is.

Finding an attorney experienced with trusts for SSI recipients would be very important.