Comments on: Social Security Disability ‘Compassionate Allowance’ – Only For Those Who are Impoverished? http://addiandcassi.com/social-security-disability-compassionate-allowance-requirements/ Treatments & Cures for Niemann Pick Type C - Childhood Alzheimer's Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:01:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Karyn http://addiandcassi.com/social-security-disability-compassionate-allowance-requirements/comment-page-1/#comment-2657 Karyn Sat, 12 Feb 2011 18:58:51 +0000 http://addiandcassi.com/?p=2635#comment-2657 Our 18 year old daughter was diagnosed with a condition on the Compassionate Allowance List, but I understand she is not qualified to receive benefits because she has some savings (actually, it is money tied up in probate, so she can't even use that). Is it accurate that a person cannot have more than $2,000 in savings to qualify? Our 18 year old daughter was diagnosed with a condition on the Compassionate Allowance List, but I understand she is not qualified to receive benefits because she has some savings (actually, it is money tied up in probate, so she can’t even use that). Is it accurate that a person cannot have more than $2,000 in savings to qualify?

]]> By: Liz http://addiandcassi.com/social-security-disability-compassionate-allowance-requirements/comment-page-1/#comment-2490 Liz Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:49:53 +0000 http://addiandcassi.com/?p=2635#comment-2490 Hi, Chris. Social Security administers two programs to provide income to people with disabilities, Social Security Disability (SSDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSDI is available to disabled adults who have enough of an earnings record to have become "insured" in the event they become disabled (or who can qualify on the earnings record of a parent or spouse who is disabled, retired or deceased). Since disabled children would not have the requisite earnings history, they are not eligible for benefits under this program. SSI is a "needs based" disability benefit for children and adults who are very low-income. You were asked about income sources and family size because these would be factors in determining your financial eligibility for this program. Social Security counts different types of income differently (earned income, unearned income, child support) in determining financial eligibility, and takes into consideration the number of people in the family, so that it is not possible to identify an exact total income level that indicates eligibility or ineligibility. The amount you were quoted ($674) is the federal benefit rate for adults or children. This amount may be reduced depending the the total countable family income or income to the child (such as child support), and it may be supplemented with state funds in some states. It is an odd amount because it is adjusted every year based on increases in the consumer price index. Another thing to be aware of is that if a child is hospitalized for 30 or more days, they are considered to be out of the household during that period and so household income is not counted against them and they may be able to receive SSI and possibly Medicaid while in the hospital. I'm sorry that you have had such a hard time finding answers to your questions. Sounds like SSA needs to do a better job upfront of explaining their benefits programs and qualifying factors. Good luck to you and your kids! Liz Disability attorney Hi, Chris. Social Security administers two programs to provide income to people with disabilities, Social Security Disability (SSDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSDI is available to disabled adults who have enough of an earnings record to have become “insured” in the event they become disabled (or who can qualify on the earnings record of a parent or spouse who is disabled, retired or deceased). Since disabled children would not have the requisite earnings history, they are not eligible for benefits under this program. SSI is a “needs based” disability benefit for children and adults who are very low-income. You were asked about income sources and family size because these would be factors in determining your financial eligibility for this program. Social Security counts different types of income differently (earned income, unearned income, child support) in determining financial eligibility, and takes into consideration the number of people in the family, so that it is not possible to identify an exact total income level that indicates eligibility or ineligibility.

The amount you were quoted ($674) is the federal benefit rate for adults or children. This amount may be reduced depending the the total countable family income or income to the child (such as child support), and it may be supplemented with state funds in some states. It is an odd amount because it is adjusted every year based on increases in the consumer price index.

Another thing to be aware of is that if a child is hospitalized for 30 or more days, they are considered to be out of the household during that period and so household income is not counted against them and they may be able to receive SSI and possibly Medicaid while in the hospital.

I’m sorry that you have had such a hard time finding answers to your questions. Sounds like SSA needs to do a better job upfront of explaining their benefits programs and qualifying factors. Good luck to you and your kids!

Liz
Disability attorney

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