SSI and child with Down Syndrome

[thelittlemermaid]

I have been wondering about this for my DD. She is 5 and has Down Syndrome and an ASD. I tried to apply for this when she was around 1, can't remember, and over the phone I was told that my husband made to much for her to get SSI.

Now a couple of years later, a friend of mine told me she knows a woman that has a son who has bi polar {?}, not sure of the spelling or what it is, and that she receives SSI for him. She is a single mom, but what I find funny is, she lives in a home that is 4 times bigger then what we have, one of those $300,000 houses, makes ALOT more then what my DH does. And on top of all of that, she receives $600 in child support, guess she likes to brag about it, from her ex-husband. Since SSI for children is based on what the parent{s} make and what assests they have, how can she be getting SSI payments for her son?

My DD qualified for BCMH {a program here in Ohio} since the ASD was discovered, but since the state has made cut backs, that has been denied cause of income guidelines being lowered. Now when it's time for her to go back to see her Cardio, we are going to have to pick up the rest what our health insurance doesn't get. And from the last couple of years, there has been alot left to pay.

Anyone have any experince with SSI? I would love to hear about it and how it went with you.

I also posted this on the disABILITIES board.

TIA!!!

 

[bubie2.5]

bump

 

[meeshi]

My DD used to receive SSI but due to our income, she is no longer eligible. As far as the other woman you described, the value of your house doesn't come into consideration.

Here in PA if a child is disabled, they are eligible for Medical Assistance regardless of income level. So whatever primary insurance doesn't pay, Medical Assistance pays the difference. Is that what the BCMH program is?

 

[ducklite]

Years ago we applied for SSI for our son, and were denied based on income.

Now that he is legally an adult, and not currently working (but he just *hopefully* got into an apprenticeship program!)we've been encouraged by his case manager to have him apply again, and there's no reason he should be denied. The State of NJ considers him disabled and approved him for vocational rehabilitiation benefits.

Hopefully he'll get it, we can only cover him under our insurance for another 16 months, and his meds alone would cost about $400 a month without insurance, that's before the doctors bills.

I'll let you know about anything I find out. Good luck.

Anne

 

[LMC]

We were denied SSI for our son who has a genetic condition similar to Down Syndrome because of "too many assets". Our income level was fine to qualify but we were denied because we have too much "stuff" which is mostly all given to us by my in-laws. My child also has a college fund set up which can't be touched 'til X-year and that was counted into our stuff too. It made me sick! We were really trying to qualify for medicaid (not necessarily SSI) to help pay for alot of therapies that he needs that our health insurance won't cover. I told the rep that I didn't think it was fair to count assets which are gifts and that I shouldn't have to go to family to ask for help paying medical bills. Anyway, the ones that really need it I guess usually don't get it.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

We had SSI for Garrett for awhile. You are allowed your home, one car, and $3000 (I believe) in a savings account, mutual funds, etc, etc. Anything over that counts as too much.

So, if someone had two cars, then the value of the second car plus monies in savings or such could not exceed $3000.

That being said, income restrictions are fairly tight, so they would only be able to make about $2000-$2300 (for a family of seven, at the time, we could make up to $2990 and qualifym, probably would be more now) more a month in additon to the $600 child support for him to qualify (depending on how many other kids in the family). If they make more than that, I don't know what to tell you.

 

[mrsmom]

Hi,
My dd has pierre robin Syndrome, I tried long ago to get SSI for her and was turned down. She too Had BCMH now since the cut bucks we too have to pick up alot of hervery expensive medical bills. I just wanted to wish you good luck . and hang in there
Kim

 

[aprincessmom]

My parents had been turned down years ago for SSI for my brother who is deaf, blind, has downs and a congenital heart problem. If they were willing to make him a ward of the state they could have gotten SSI for him (as a number of the parents of children like my brother had done). They decided against that and he got it when he turned legal age on his own.

Now that he receives it (has for over 20 years now) my mom as his legal guardian is called in bi-annually to provide receipts for all expenditures related to my brother to prove that this money is going only to his needs. It's a difficult thing because they require him to be there as well. The audit takes over 4 hours and he can't sit still for that long...but every two years they force us to do this.

Even with SSI the requirements for him are fairly strict...he can have almost no money in the bank (all funds that my parents set up prior to his receiving this money had to be exhausted) and if he were to receive a large monetary sum -- like an inheritance or gift -- his SSI could end if it is over the allowed amount for recipients.

 

[thelittlemermaid]

Thank you all for the replies!!!

I will go ahead and try and see what happens. My DH is the only one that works, I stay home with DD, don't really trust anyone to take care of her besides me or her dad.

As for the lady I talked about in my OP, it is only her and her son living in the house. From what my friend told me, it sounds like she is cheating to get SSI for her son, but I don't have any proof of that.

Thanks again!!! I know I can always count on fellow DISner's for advice and wisdom!!