I know that you can get it because my cousin got it within 6 months of applying.When she went for her review,her child wouldn't sit still for a minute.Also he began to turn lights on and off and he began to disrupt the office persons desk, maybe a child has to be in full form.
I was just wondering about this the other day too. It definately would be nice to get a little "help" with the cost of meds and appointments, but not if it will hurt the future of the kids in the long run. I'm sure my son will be fine in the future, but my daughter was just diagnosed with severe ADHD and possibly Bipolar, and I'm honestly quite worried about her future. My sister in law received SSI for a while when they discovered my neice had hemangioma and required an emergency tracheotomy and a live-in nurse for many months. She is fine now (except for some scarring), and I don't think they get the payments anymore, but I believe my neice will always get Medicaid benefits until she is an adult. Hmmm...I think I'll look for some more info on this...
Thanks for posting the topic!
I have a friend whose child is blind, and cannot get SSI because he is otherwise functioning normally. I just tried it for my daughter at the suggestion of the psychologist and was denied due to income as well as not serious enough. I do plan to appeal when I get a chance my work schedule has been too tight.The amount of an SSI benefit depends upon your income. SS requires documented paperwork from every doctor your child has ever seen, as well, as school reports, etc. The adhd has to inhibit him from leading a 'relatively' normal life. If he can dress himself, feed himself, and function 'normally' in society most of the , you don't have much of a chance getting it.
I have a child with adhd[big H] ,asperger's syndrome, a seisure disorder, SIDS, hypotonia,and multiple LDs. No go on the SSI.
Income definately plays a large part in whether you are granted this benefit or not. My daughter (non ADHD) had a seizure disorder from the time she was 3 until she was almost 6 I was a single mom at the time, with a barely above minimum wage job. We got full benefits until 1 year after her surgery and she was cleared by her neurologist.
I worried all the time about involving the government in my life. You never know what they are going to say or do, and the thigns they require of you seem to change all of the time. They tried to get me for an overpayment. IF they were sending the money based on our documentation, I wondered why I was responsible for an alleged "overpayment"
Anyway, good luck in your decision to pursue this. I think we all need a little help, no matter how much money we make. It is still a drain after all the doctors and costs of meds.
I just wanted to pass on to anyone who is applying for SSI for the ADHD. My son had been approved for the SSI in 2005, also he has full medical for the evalution and Meds. The only thing I hate is giving him the Meds eveyday. He has been on the meds for 3 years, 10 days, 7-1/2 hrs. The school he attends, said that "he is 1-1/2 years behind his classmates in reading and math". I have implemented a home study time to help him improve those areas. Do your best for your child. I don't regret contacting SS. Good Luck Too You All.No one is awarded SSI just because they have ADHD. They are awarded based on how severe the limitations are as a result of having the disability. One must also meet the financial criteria. If both criterias arent met, the person will be denied.
Luvmykids0239497.5874074074My son gets SSI, I am not working right now due to my job moving out of state a few years back and the economy gone bad. Before my job moved though, there were several times I almost lost my job due to my sons "problems". He had a DX of ADHD, bipolar, insomnia, ODD and anxiety. He was approved within 6 months of applying and I did it all by phone. They re-evaluate every so many months or years? --- can't remember for sure as this is still new to us as well. I don't see this as putting a limitation on his future because he could possibly outgrow the ADHD and w/ proper meds and counseling he can still function as an adult and can always work while recieving benefits or go off benefits all together if need be. As of right now though, he has already been kicked out of the school in our district and has to go to another one that has a special class for kids w/ behavior problems and he only goes 4 hours a day 5 days a week and he is having to be held back since he didn't really "start" school till just this past Jan. since his other school suspended him every other day! Good luck!!The Definition of Disability for Children:Be careful going after any governmental benefit that's tied to a disability, ... especially if you don' t have a diagnosis at this point. The diagnosis follows someone through their entire lives. To the extent that it is subjective and a myriad of other possibilities can explain the same thing, the governmental benefit might not be worth it.
Here's a discussion on the idea of "perverse incentives" that government benefits provide.
http://www.thomhartmann.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic ;f=7;t=001738
Thank you Kate for the info. I will really have to think about the benefits for my sons future. I probably won't apply for the benefits if it will be a destructive tool on my sons future. Again thanks and I will most definately be aware of the disadvantages if I apply, which I most likely won't.
you're welcome, and nice to meet you. i started an introductions thread. would like to join it?
I've puzzled about incentives in several different contexts. One was related to a tax deduction for a supplemental reading class we did. I wound up not going for the deduction.
-Kate