SSD and SSI For Children Lawyers
Social Security for Children in Hancock County, IL
Social Security for children in Hancock County, IL. Caring for a child with disabilities is not just mentally difficult, but it can be economically burdensome as well. The United States provides a safety net for those who are income eligible so that they can afford things to help raise the child, such as medical equipment, skilled nursing assistance, educational expenses, home modification costs, medical treatments, and more.
At Drummond Law, our Social Security lawyers in Hancock County, IL, understand that having to file for Social Security to help cover these expenses can be time-consuming and overwhelming on top of the already-challenging feat of caring for a child with many needs. Allow us to handle everything while you take care of your child and the rest of your family. We want to help you apply for Social Security for children, appeal a claim denial, or any other issues that you have with your claim. Contact our team or call 800-842-0426 for a free case evaluation.
Help with Social Security Benefits for Children in Hancock County, IL
Getting Social Security for children disability payments requires significant evidence along with specialized or additional testing. We can help you complete and submit the Child Disability Reports and all of the initial applications. Additionally, it’s important to save all documentation from doctors and teachers that address your child’s condition, side effects, or special needs. We’ll help you gather all pertinent documents and present them to the SSA to demonstrate the child’s need for benefits.
There are a couple of different options for children—both child and adult— to help them get the support they need.
Drummond Law can help you file for the federal programs including, but not limited to:
- SSI for children – This may be needed when there is not enough work credits on behalf of the disabled child.
- SSDI for adult children of deceased or disabled parents – This may be needed when a disabled child over 18 years of age is reliant on a parent that is now disabled or has passed away.
A majority of claims are denied at first because many people make mistakes when applying. Our attorneys can help you avoid these errors to ensure you begin getting the benefits you need to keep your family and disabled child healthy.
SSI for Children in Hancock County, IL
Social Security Disability is meant to help individuals with disabilities but, in order to qualify for SSD, you need to have built-up work credits. Children do not have the opportunity to pay into the system, but that does not mean that their families do not need the additional help. This is what the Supplemental Security Income—a needs-based program—is for! SSI provides benefits to those who do not have a work history but need financial and medical assistance.
The qualifications include:
- Child under 18 – this includes children, stepchildren, adopted children, or grandchildren
- OR under the age of 19 – The child must be attending school
- Disability – The condition must limit the child’s activities and must be expected to last for at least 12 months or be chronic. Conditions include mental (i.e. autism, significant learning disability, drug dependence, depression, low IQ) and physical (i.e. visual and hearing loss, cystic fibrosis, paralysis, cancer, heart transplant, amputations)
- Limited resources/no income – The child must live at home and be under the care of a family that has limited means or no income.
When a child who has been receiving SSI turns 18, he or she will need to be reevaluated to see if their disability may still qualify. This is why having an experienced SSI for children lawyer in Hancock County, IL, on your side from the very beginning is critical.
Social Security Disability for Children Over 18 Hancock County
When a child turns 18 and becomes a legal adult, benefits can change dramatically which is why it’s important to prepare your child for these changes so that there are no interruptions to receiving the assistance he or she needs.
Adult children may be entitled to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) if they’re unmarried, lost their parents, or if those parents are retired or claiming disability benefits themselves. Eligibility is based on the parent’s earnings record.
SSDI eligibility requirements differ significantly from the SSI system. They include:
- Disability – Eligibility is determined based on the definition of a disability for adults, rather than for children. Additionally, the child must have been diagnosed with a disability before 22 years of age.
- Limited/no income – Both the child and the family are unable to adequately support themselves
- Parent qualifications – The parent is deceased, disabled, or retired and the child is left needing assistance because of this lack of support. At least one of the parents must have been receiving Social Security or, if the parent is deceased, then they must have worked long enough to be eligible for Social Security benefits.
Overall, it’s not mandatory for the adult child to have worked in order to receive these benefits, but the parent should have some amount of work history in order to be eligible.
How to Appeal a Denial of Social Security for Children Hancock County, IL
If you or your child are facing a denial of claims, then you have every right to appeal this decision. Having a Social Security lawyer in Hancock County by your side is necessary because the complex Social Security system has regulations, rules, judges, and courts all on its own. You need a lawyer that is experienced with all of the inner workings of the SSA. Drummond Law is ready to help!
Your chances of approval increase dramatically when we step in. We will be by your side every step of the way as you face the Social Security Administration. Let us help you prepare for the hearing and handle the SSA’s vocational expert on your behalf. We know what to do to present your case in the most positive light.
Contact Our Social Security Lawyers in Hancock County, IL | Drummond Law
Our lawyers understand the severe physical, emotional, and financial hardships associated with caring for a disabled child. If you are one of these individuals, you need and deserve all the help that is available. Get in touch with a disability lawyer for help with all aspects of Social Security for children in Hancock County, IL. Call Drummond Law at 800-842-0426 for a no-risk claim evaluation.