Common Questions About ADHD & Social Security Disability Benefits

In order to receive child disability benefits, your child must have either a physical or mental impairment that severely hinders their ability to function. One impairment that many parents use to apply for child disability benefits is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD involves problems with inattentiveness, impulsiveness or hyperactivity. All of these symptoms can affect the ability of a child to function if they’re severe enough.

If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, then you probably have a few questions concerning the disability and whether you can apply for child disability benefits.

Common Questions About ADHD and Child Disability Benefits

Not all children with ADD or ADHD will qualify for child disability benefits via Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The condition needs to be seriously debilitating in order to qualify for SSI. If your child has ADHD, then the following answers to some of the more common questions regarding Social Security benefits should prove helpful.

When Can ADHD Qualify for Disability Benefits?

The Social Security Administration has a listing of disorders that the condition must match, either by diagnosis or by similar symptoms. ADHD falls under Neurodevelopmental Disorders and must meet two sets of criteria. They must display one of the following:

• Hyperactive and impulsive behavior;
• Frequent distractibility;
• Recurrent motor movement or vocalization; and,
• Significant problems with learning.

And they must also display trouble with one of the following:

• Concentrating on tasks;
• Controlling their behavior;
• Interacting with others; and,
• Learning, remember and understanding information.

Are There Any Income Limits to Qualifying?

To get child disability benefits, not only must the child be able to meet the criteria outlined for neurodevelopmental disorders, but you must also meet the income and assets limits established by SSI. The income and assets of the child’s parents count towards those limits, and older children cannot earn over $1,220 a month.

What Do You Need to Apply for SSI?

If your child has ADHD and meets the needed criteria, then you’ll need to prove such by providing medical findings (such as treatment notes), historical information (such as teacher evaluations and reports) and standardized testing results (such as IQ testing or achievement testing).

How Difficult Is It to Qualify?

It shouldn’t be too difficult to qualify for child disability benefits through SSI depending on what the disability is (and as long as you meet the basic criteria). Unfortunately, if it’s ADHD, then it can be quite challenging. This is because the diagnosis of the impairment is often subjective. In fact, the medical consultants who diagnose children with mental disorders often rely on the subjective observations of the people around the child, such as their teachers.

Additionally, they aren’t as concerned with the diagnosis as they are with the effects it has on the child. So if your child has ADHD but you can’t prove its extent, you may still have your application rejected.

Have a child diagnosed with ADHD? Does it affect their ability to function normally? You might be able to qualify for child disability benefits via SSI. Because being approved for ADHD disability benefits is tricky, you should give us a call anytime at 602-952-3200 for a free consultation. Also, feel free to fill out this contact form and take advantage of our LiveChat feature, too.

This is attorney advertising. SSDA, LLC is a group of attorneys that pursues claims for Social Security Disability benefits on behalf of its clients against the Social Security Administration. SSDA, LLC is in no way a part of the Social Security Administration. Further, the information on this blog is for general information purposes only. Nothing herein should be taken as legal advice. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, a representative-client relationship.