[Army Wife]

I'm 17 soon to be 18 in April.
I am on Social Security Disability and have been all my life.
My question is,will it be hard for me to get it when im 18?

[doxiemama]

Daughter Kristina,

Welcome to Neurotalk. When you turn 18, the disability people look at your disabilty using adult criteria. If you look under ssa.gov there is a publication "Disability Evaluation Under Social Security" (SSA Publication No. 64-039), that you can look at to see if you meet the criteria. You might want to talk to your doctor and make a copy of the section about your disability and maybe he/she can write a statement that you meet certain criteria and that you are unable to work. I hope this answer helps. Sometimes it's pretty easy to stay on disabilty especially since you've been on it all your life and your disability has not changed.

Hugs and doxie kisses, Doxie Mama

[Janke]

Originally Posted by Daughter Kristina

I'm 17 soon to be 18 in April.
I am on Social Security Disability and have been all my life.
My question is,will it be hard for me to get it when im 18?

You are probably receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) rather than Social Security Disability Insurance since SSDI is paid to people who have worked enough years and then can't work any longer. SSI is not just a disability program. It is a low income disability program and when you were under age 18, you had to be found disabled using the childhood rules AND your parents had to have low income and resources.

If it is SSI, at age 18, your disability will be re-evaluated under adult criteria AND your parents' money will no longer make a difference in payment. Where you live, who you live with, whether or not you are married, how much savings you have etc. will determine how much SSI you can get.

It is possible that you were getting survivor or dependent Social Security benefits if one of your parents were deceased, disabled or over 62 and retired. Then, you qualified only because you were under age 18. Those benefits can continue if you are found disabled before age 22 and are unmarried (some marriage exceptions).

It is important that you understand the benefits that are being paid on your behalf. Talk to your payee. Read the letters.

[Army Wife]

Thank you doxiemama and Janke for your info. I'll be 18 in April and in May I'll be living in Cali. Before June I guess i'll ask my mom about what I should do. Oh I will ask her like either just before or just a little after my birthday and talk to her about what I should do about this situation. I just don't want it to be hard to get it. That's why i'm scared. I need to be on it and i'm scared if I don't and have to go to the hospital for surgeries or whatever. I can't pay for it.
Blessings and much,Daughter Kristina

[Janke]

You and your mother need to talk to the Social Security Administration.

[Army Wife]

Thank you Janke for your respond.

[Abbie]

I'm not a professional of any type but I think you and/or you mother may want to check into your SSDI status BEFORE you turn 18. Don't wait... I'm afraid if you wait until after you turn 18 your benefits might have expired before you get everything checked into.


Abbie

[Janke]

Having accurate knowledge should make you less scared. Talk to your mother. Talk to the Social Security Adminstration. Read the letters. Figure out just what you are getting and why. Do it this week. No reason to wait.

You need information and everyone here will just give you guesses.

[lefthanded]

I recommend not waiting until your birthday. This government agency moves fairly slowly, so I would make my inquiries now, before you blow out those 18 candles!