How do you know if you qualify?

For social security disability. I've been told I can get it for my daughter. I had to quit my job b/c I had to take off too much time for her doc visits, sick days, ER visits ect. She has severe asthma. She also has been unofficially diagnosed with Autism. I have to go to school with her almost everyday to tutor her. And I have to go several times a year to pick her up b/c her asthma isn't being able to be controlled with her meds. She is 9 y/o. Does anyone know if we'd qualify or how to find out? I visited their web site but it confused me. It would help us a ton her asthma meds are 400.00 per mo and she will be starting therapy for the Autism in the fall. I don't know how much that is but we have no ins and are barely getting by.














I don't know if you need this info or not but my hubby makes 50-60000 per year and we are a family of 4.








O ya also how will me getting it for her now affect her future and mine. Like when we need it

How do you know if you qualify?
you need to call your local social security office, and make an appointment. They are the best to give you the correct answer. It shouldn't matter how much you make, as the disability is your daughters and not yours.





Good luck to you, as you need it.
Reply:First of all...what state do you live in? Each state has a program for medicaid that covers children with disabilities..."Katie Beckett" waiver is what it's called here in Georgia, but I think each state has a different name. These programs allow you to get Medicaid for your child irregardless of what you/your husband make from working.





The eligibility is solely determined on the special needs of the child (How much care she needs, official diagnoses, etc.) Unfortunately, SSI IS dependent on the household income, meaning what you/your husband make and you would have to prove your income on the application. The income limits are very low and 50-60K per year just SOUNDS like it would be too high to qualify, but I can't tell you for sure.





The Medicaid coverage is very helpful and can either be stand-alone coverage, or it can be secondary to any private insurance that you might have or be able to get in the future. If you are able to get a definite diagnosis of autism for her she should have no problem qualifying for the Medicaid waiver.


Once she's 18 you no longer have to claim your families income and she can qualify for SSI as well as the Medicaid on her own and will qualify as long as she's not functioning at a level that she's able to work and make too much money to qualify for SSI benefits.





Do an online search for "medicaid waivers" for your state and you should be able to find alot of info as well as application packets you can download and review. If you can't find anything online look for your local DFCS office (dept of family and children services here, but their name varies from state to state also) and you can just go there and ask to speak to a caseworker who should be able to give you the information. The Medicaid coverage would cover her meds (there are no copays for medicaid here in GA, but not sure if that's nationwide) They also cover equipment, therapies, all medical visits, pretty much everything that regular insurance covers. Good luck. Having a medically challenged child is a tough job, but if you learn to do research here on the internet you can find all sorts of programs out there to help you and your family.
Reply:"I don't know if you need this info or not but my hubby makes 50-60000 per year and we are a family of 4."





More than likely you won't qualify. I know $50 - $60K might not sound like much, but for most government aid of any kind this is too high. If things are tight and I know what that can be like, your best option is going to be a hard line budget. Separate what is necessary from what is not. You will be shocked at how much of that money you all do make is wasted on what you don't need but want. I'm not trying to lecture, but passing on what I've had to learn.





I'm guessing that by "unofficially diagnosed" you mean the school told you this. Be careful, VERY careful if that is who told you. Too many schools pass judgment on a child if they don't want to deal with that kid. You get untrained, unqualified people no better trained than you offering medical evaluations.





Instead of asking for the social security option try looking at Medicaid. You stand a better chance of getting help this way. Because of your own personal medical bills and now your daughters you would stand a pretty good chance. Since I don't know what state you are in all you need to do is look up the Medicaid office for your state.
Reply:the best way is to go to the social security office make an appointment and when you go take birth certificate your ss card hers your husbands proof of income income returns etcs you may need to bring some things back but they will be able to explain better
Reply:I would first have the diagnose of autism on her record first. SSI may not help you at all becasue of your husbands income. We make less and have more people (6) and my husbands makes about 33,0000. We were denied any benfits due to assests. I own three cars.





But with the child having autism they may be a difference due to supplement income (SSI) and social security are different. This is what I was told. SSI is a form of welfare is what the guy told me. Talk to the doctor and get the autism diagnose first. You may also call the family indenpedent agency to see if they can issue you a medicade card. I dont know if they will help you cause they wont us. They did give my kids at least medicade so that I was thankful for.





Also you may want to check into getting insurance on your own , search around for different rates .


Good luck to you. Hope everything works out for you.
Reply:If I were you, I'd get a Disability Lawyer to help you, help your daughter.
Reply:Go to www.socialsecurity.gov you can apply for benefits online. Disability through SS is not based on household income the way that SSI is. You should know they do tend to deny all applications first. Get a lawyer if they do....a lawyer won't get paid unless you get the SSD. We fought for 3 years and finally won. Lawyer can only take $5300 or 25% whichever is less. So the lawyer won't take the case if he/she doesn't think they can win!
Reply:Depending on the state you live in some have whats called an autism waver which will allow you to get respit services. You income isnt as important as your assets w hich are set at 3,000 dollars regardless of family size. They do not count one car as an asset but if you have two they will count the one of lesser value as an asset so if it blue books higher than 3,000 your screwed... as well as any money in your bank account. Unfortunatly they count the parents income when the child is under 18. I tryed to get ssi for my 5 year old autistic son but because we have 5,000 dollars in the bank we exceed the limits... even though my husband only makes 22,000 a year. The system is very faulty.





Autism however is considered by ssi or ssd as a disability. Your best bet is to get your child on any state wavers that your state may offer. Respit someone will come to your home and watch y our child a couple hours a week so you can get some time to yourself. They also may offer home occupational and speech therapy sessions at little or no cost.
Reply:you will probably need an official diagnosis of autism before you can get SSI. If you have quit your job, it would probably be best to home school her. You should talk to a doctor about he autism and then go to SS and apply if they do an official diagnosis.
Reply:First of all, anyone who accuses you of "using the government" is just being rude. There's nothing wrong with taking advantage of programs when you are in need and truly qualify. It's wrong to be lazy/refuse to work just so you can sit home on your butt and collect welfare, but that's totally NOT your situation.





I don't believe you'd qualify for social security. It's really just not that type of situation. Social security is for people who are disabled and your daughter really isn't. She does have a chronic medical problem, but she's not disabled. The only way to really know this, though, is to call the office, make an appointment and find out for yourself. However, I have a friend who's son has cerebral palsy and they have a family of 5 (soon to be 6) and make $43,000 and were turned down, saying they make too much. If you're assuming that the autism is her disability, it would need to be completely documented and verified. She'd likely have to go to more than one dr to have this verified (my friend did).





I understand all about having a lot of dr's bills, even when you have insurance. What you should look into is supplemental government medical coverage. I'm from MI and we have a program called "Special Children's Healthcare". It is for children with chronic medical conditions. It's a supplemental health program that will help cover those extra expenses, medical tests, medication, etc. I'm sure most other states have similar programs. Two of my children have a digestive problem and will likely required (expensive) medication for the rest of their life. Their gastro just recommended it and his office is filling out the application for us.





Best of luck to you.
Reply:She cant get disability, she might be able to get SSI, but these are the disability guidelines


SSI rules about disability





Your child must meet all of the following requirements to be considered disabled and therefore eligible for SSI:





The child must not be working and earning more than $900 a month in 2007. (This earnings amount changes every year.) If he or she is working and earning that much money, we will find that your child is not disabled.


The child must have a physical or mental condition, or a combination of conditions, that results in “marked and severe functional limitations.” This means that the condition(s) must very seriously limit your child’s activities.


The child’s condition(s) must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least 12 months; or must be expected to result in death.





But I am gonna tell you making 50-60000 a year you wont qualify, you aren't considered low income.


My mother who could no longer work because she was dying from breast cancer, didn't qualify because she had to much money in the bank, and until she spent it, or prepaid for her own funeral, she couldn't get it.
Reply:Please post this question to my yahoo group site...


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LovingArms...





Also, post the state that you live in for me. Thanks, Shannon
Reply:I'm a single mom with TWO autistic kids and at $35K, I make too much to qualify, or so they say...
Reply:The best thing to do is get documentation for anything you have on her. I would say go to the Autism doctor and get that from them.





Then go to the Medicaid office and talk to them about medical coverage for at least her, and maybe you since you have a heart condition. they will sometimes give medicaid for this(most of the time they do).





I would also go to the social security office with those same documents...





If you get approved medicaid most of the time will pay for medicine, therapy and any medical needs for your child. I would also talk about your other child getting it. Since that one dont have any health issues I would ask them if you can pay a copay for insurance for her. In Indiana they charge like 25 a month for insurance and like 10 co pays a visit. It is worth checking. I hope everything works out. I would talk to the doctors and get any documentation and ALL the medical bills both past and present you have. You need all expenses so they know what you make and put out.