When to Apply For SSI and RSDI

Children or youth may qualify for benefits based on their disability or on their parents disability, retirement or death. When a FC child or youth is disabled, and it is determined that the child or youth may be eligible for RSDI or SSI or both, the SWC, the SW/PO and the FC EW should discuss the case details to determine the impact of RSDI or SSI to the child’s eligibility for FC:

• When a child or youth is federally eligible and under the age of 16.5, an application for SSI should NOT be made UNLESS the child’s is potential SSI benefits meet or exceeds the cost of placement. The determination must be made by the assigned SW/PO.
• When a federally eligible FC child or youth is receiving SSI, the SWC can request SSA to discontinue or suspend the child’s SSI, when it is in the child’s or youth’s best interest to do so.
• Federal status cannot be relinquished for the purpose of using State (non-federal) Foster Care to supplement SSI.
• An application for SSI should be made if the child or youth is under the age of 18 and eligible for non-federal foster care. SSI payments can be supplemented by non-federal foster care payments. When the youth is 18 years old or older and in EFC, the application must be completed with the assigned SW/PO and the SWC.
• An application for SSI must be made for federal eligible FC youth turning 16. 5 but no later 17. The application is completed as a part of the SSI screening process described in Screening of All FC Children and NMDs Prior to Aging-Out of FC [AB 1331, AB 1633, W&IC 13753 & W&IC 13757].

Related Topics

Social Security Administration Benefits