The Filing Process Starts With an process to Social Security

To file for SSDI on behalf of your child, you submit an process to Social Security directly. You can start the process online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. Social Security will ask you to prove your child's disability, provide medical records, and document your work history—because your child's benefit amount is based on your earnings record, not theirs.

The process itself takes about 15 to 20 minutes if you do it online. If you call or visit an office, a representative will walk you through the same questions. You do not need a lawyer to file, though some families hire one later if Social Security denies the claim. The initial process costs nothing.

After you submit, Social Security sends your process to a state agency called Disability information Services (DDS). That agency reviews your child's medical evidence and decides whether they meet Social Security's definition of disability. This review typically takes 30 to 90 days, though it can take longer if Social Security needs more medical records.

Key Takeaways

  • You file the process yourself through ssa.gov, by phone, or at a local Social Security office; no lawyer is required to start.
  • Social Security will need your child's birth certificate, medical records showing their condition, and proof of your own work history and earnings.
  • The state Disability information Services agency, not Social Security itself, makes the disability decision after reviewing medical evidence.
  • If Social Security denies the claim, you have 60 days to request reconsideration, and most families who are denied the first time succeed on appeal.
  • Your child can receive benefits as early as the month they turn 18 if they were disabled before age 22, even if you file after that birthday.

What Documents You Need Before You File

Gather these documents before you start the process. You will need your child's birth certificate, Social Security number, and proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency (passport, green card, or state ID). You will also need your own Social Security number and proof of your work history.

The most important documents are your child's medical records. Social Security does not take your word that your child is disabled—they need evidence from doctors, therapists, hospitals, or schools. Gather records from the past 12 months if possible: doctor visit summaries, test results, hospital discharge papers, therapy notes, school evaluations, and any diagnoses. If your child sees a specialist (neurologist, psychiatrist, developmental pediatrician), those records carry extra weight.

If your child receives special education services, request copies of their Individualized Education Program (IEP) and any recent evaluations from the school district. If they have been hospitalized or had surgery, get those records too. You do not have to submit everything at once—Social Security can request records directly from doctors and hospitals—but having them ready speeds up the process.

How Social Security Defines Disability for Children

Social Security uses a different standard for children than for adults. Your child must have a severe medically determinable physical or mental condition that either results in marked and severe functional limitations or can be expected to result in death. The condition must have lasted or be expected to last at least 12 months.

"Marked and severe functional limitations" means your child cannot do age-appropriate activities that other children can do. For a young child, this might mean they cannot feed themselves, walk, or communicate. For a teenager, it might mean they cannot attend school, manage self-care, or interact with peers. Social Security looks at what your child can and cannot do in daily life, not just the diagnosis itself.

Social Security publishes a list called the Listing of Impairments that describes conditions that automatically meet the disability standard—things like Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, cystic fibrosis, and severe intellectual disability. If your child's condition matches a listing, the decision is usually faster. If it does not match exactly, Social Security can still find your child disabled if the medical evidence shows marked and severe functional limitations.

What Happens After You File: The Timeline and Decisions

After you submit your process, Social Security sends it to your state's Disability information Services office. That agency obtains your child's medical records and may request additional records from doctors or schools. This review phase usually takes 30 to 90 days.

Social Security will then make one of three decisions: approval, denial, or a request for more information. If they approve your child, benefits can start as early as the month your child turned 18 (if they were disabled before age 22) or the month you filed, whichever is later. Your child will receive a benefit amount based on your earnings record, and you will receive a notice showing the monthly payment amount.

If Social Security denies the claim, you receive a written decision explaining why. You then have 60 days to request reconsideration. In reconsideration, a different examiner reviews your child's case and any new medical evidence you submit. If reconsideration is also denied, you can request a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge. Most families who are denied initially succeed at the hearing stage if they have strong medical evidence and representation.

Your Role as the Representative Payee

If your child is approved for SSDI, Social Security will ask you to serve as the representative payee. This means the benefit check goes to you, and you manage the money on your child's behalf. You are legally required to use the money for your child's current maintenance, education, and support.

As representative payee, you must keep records of how you spend the money and report to Social Security once a year. If your child turns 18 and is capable of managing their own money, they can ask Social Security to make them the payee instead. If your child cannot manage money due to their disability, you typically remain payee indefinitely, though Social Security may review this arrangement periodically.

If your child later works and earns income, you must report that to Social Security because it may reduce or temporarily suspend their SSDI benefit. Social Security has work incentive programs that let your child earn some money without losing all their benefits, but you have to report the work for those programs to explore.

Common Reasons Social Security Denies Claims and How to Respond

The most common reason for denial is insufficient medical evidence. Social Security needs current, detailed records from a treating doctor or specialist—not just a diagnosis from years ago. If your child has not seen a doctor recently, schedule an appointment and get new records before you file or before you appeal a denial.

Another common reason is that Social Security believes your child's condition does not cause marked and severe functional limitations. This often happens when the medical records do not clearly describe what your child cannot do. If you appeal, ask your child's doctor to write a statement specifically addressing how the condition limits your child's ability to function in school, self-care, and social interaction.

Some denials happen because Social Security did not receive all the medical records. If you requested records from multiple doctors or hospitals, follow up to make sure they were sent. When you request reconsideration, resubmit any records that may not have reached Social Security the first time.

Work Incentives and What Happens When Your Child Turns 18

When your child turns 18, they reach what Social Security calls "age 18 redetermination." Social Security will review your child's case using the adult disability standard instead of the child standard. Many children approved under the child standard continue to receive benefits under the adult standard, but some do not—the review is automatic and required by law.

If your child works, Social Security has programs that let them earn money without losing all their benefits. The Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) program lets your child set aside income and resources for a work goal. The Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE) program deducts certain disability-related work costs from earnings. Your child can also earn up to a certain amount each month (the "substantial gainful activity" threshold, which changes yearly) before benefits are affected.

To use these work incentives, you or your child must report the work to Social Security. Social Security has a Work Incentives Planning and information (WIPA) project in every state that provides free counseling on how work affects benefits. You can find your state's WIPA at vcu-ntdc.org.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file for my child if they are still under 18?

Yes. You can file for a child of any age. If your child is approved, benefits can start as early as the month they turn 18 (if they were disabled before age 22), even if you file when they are younger. Filing early gives Social Security more time to gather medical evidence.

What if my child's condition is not on Social Security's list of impairments?

Your child can still be found disabled. Social Security can approve claims for conditions not on the list if the medical evidence shows marked and severe functional limitations. The decision may take longer because an examiner must evaluate the evidence more carefully, but the list is not a requirement.

Do I need a lawyer to file?

No. You can file on your own through ssa.gov, by phone, or at a local office. Many families do this successfully. A lawyer or advocate can help if your claim is denied and you appeal, but you do not need one to start the process. If you hire a lawyer later, they can only charge a fee if you win the appeal.

What if I was not working when my child became disabled?

Your child may still be able to receive benefits based on a parent's work record, even if that parent is not currently working. Social Security looks at your lifetime earnings history. If you have worked and paid Social Security taxes in the past, your child may be covered. Contact Social Security to find out.

How much will my child receive each month?

The benefit amount depends on your earnings record, not your child's. Social Security calculates your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) based on your lifetime earnings, and your child typically receives 75 percent of that amount. The exact figure varies by family and changes yearly with cost-of-living adjustments. Social Security will tell you the amount in the approval notice.