What you need to do to start the SSDI process for your child

You explore for your child's SSDI through Social Security directly — either by calling 1-800-772-1213, visiting your local Social Security office in person, or starting online at ssa.gov. Social Security will ask you to provide medical records showing your child's condition, proof of your child's age and citizenship, and information about your household income and resources. The process typically takes three to five months from the day you submit everything, though it can take longer if Social Security needs more medical evidence.

You do not need a lawyer to explore, though some families hire one to help gather documents or to represent them if Social Security denies the first process. If you do hire a lawyer, Social Security caps what they can charge — currently 25 percent of any back pay your child receives, up to $7,200, whichever is less.

Your child does not have to be a U.S. citizen to receive SSDI, but they must have a valid Social Security number. If your child does not have one yet, you can explore for it at the same time you explore for SSDI.

Key Takeaways

  • You start by contacting Social Security by phone at 1-800-772-1213, in person at a local office, or online at ssa.gov to request an process.
  • Social Security will need your child's medical records, birth certificate or proof of age, proof of citizenship or legal residency, and details about your household income and savings.
  • The decision usually comes within three to five months, but Social Security may ask for additional medical evidence that can extend the timeline.
  • If Social Security denies the process, you have 60 days to request reconsideration, and you can appeal further if that is also denied.
  • Your child can continue receiving benefits through age 18 if they remain disabled, and may continue past 18 if they are a full-time student in high school.

What medical records Social Security needs

Social Security requires medical evidence that shows your child's condition, how it affects their ability to function, and that it has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months. This means records from a doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other medical provider — not a school evaluation or your own description of your child's symptoms, though those can support the medical records.

The specific records depend on your child's condition. For a physical disability like cerebral palsy or a heart condition, Social Security typically needs imaging results (X-rays, MRIs, ultrasounds), lab work, and notes from the doctor who treats your child regularly. For a mental health or developmental condition like autism or ADHD, Social Security needs psychological or psychiatric evaluations, school records showing how the condition affects learning, and ongoing treatment notes.

If your child has not been evaluated by a doctor recently, you will need to schedule an appointment before you explore. Social Security can sometimes pay for a consultative exam — a one-time evaluation by a doctor they choose — if your records are too old or incomplete, but this adds time to the process.

Documents to gather before you contact Social Security

Have these documents ready when you call or visit:

  • Your child's birth certificate or proof of age
  • Your child's Social Security number (or process for one, if they do not have one yet)
  • Proof of citizenship or legal residency for your child
  • Your own Social Security number and proof of citizenship
  • Recent medical records — doctor's notes, test results, hospital discharge summaries, mental health evaluations
  • School records if your child is in school — report cards, IEP (Individualized Education Program), evaluations from the school psychologist or special education team
  • Pay stubs or tax returns showing your household income for the past two years
  • Bank statements or other proof of savings and resources
  • A list of any medications your child takes and the dosages

You do not need to have every document before you call — Social Security can tell you exactly what is missing and give you a important date to send it in. But having what you can find ready speeds up the process.

The three stages of the decision process

After you submit your process, Social Security sends it to a disability information office in your state. A team there — usually a doctor and a disability examiner — reviews your child's medical records and decides whether your child meets Social Security's definition of disability.

If Social Security approves your child, you will receive a letter saying so, along with information about the monthly payment amount and when payments begin. Payments usually start the month after Social Security approves the process, though in some cases they can go back to the month you applied.

If Social Security denies the process, you have 60 days from the date on the denial letter to request reconsideration. This means Social Security will send your case to a different examiner and doctor to review again. If reconsideration is also denied, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge, which is a more formal process where you can present evidence and answer questions. Many families find that hiring a lawyer helps at the hearing stage.

What happens after Social Security approves your child's process

Once your child is approved, Social Security sends you a payment each month. The amount depends on your household income — if you earn above a certain threshold, your child's payment is reduced. This is called "family maximum," and it means that the total your household receives cannot exceed a certain percentage of your own benefit amount if you are also receiving Social Security.

You will need to report changes to Social Security: if your child's condition improves significantly, if your household income changes, if your child starts working, or if your child's living situation changes. Social Security can reduce or stop payments if your child no longer meets the disability definition or if your household income rises above the limit.

Your child's benefits continue until age 18, or until age 19 if your child is a full-time high school student. After that, your child may continue to receive benefits as an adult if the disability persists, but Social Security will conduct a new medical review called a "continuing disability review" to confirm your child still meets the disability standard.

What "disabled" means under Social Security rules

Social Security has a specific definition of disability for children that is different from the definition for adults. Your child must have a physical or mental condition that causes marked and severe functional limitations and that has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months, or that is expected to result in death.

"Marked and severe functional limitations" means your child cannot do age-appropriate activities — things a child of the same age without a disability would typically be able to do. For a young child, this might mean inability to feed themselves, walk, or communicate. For a school-age child, it might mean inability to attend school, learn, or interact with other children. For a teenager, it might mean inability to work or care for themselves.

Social Security publishes a list of conditions that automatically meet the disability standard if the medical evidence supports them — these are called "listings." They include conditions like Down syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, and many others. If your child's condition is on the listing and the medical evidence matches, Social Security approves the process more quickly. If your child's condition is not on the listing or does not match the listing exactly, Social Security can still approve the process if the medical evidence shows marked and severe functional limitations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I explore for my child if they are still a baby or very young?

Yes. You can explore at any age if your child has a disability that meets Social Security's definition. For very young children, Social Security relies more heavily on medical records and less on school records, since school records do not exist yet. Developmental evaluations from a pediatrician, early intervention program, or pediatric specialist are the most useful evidence for babies and toddlers.

What if my child has already been denied once?

You can request reconsideration within 60 days of the denial letter. If that is also denied, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge. Many families find that gathering additional medical evidence — a more recent evaluation, records from a specialist, or a statement from your child's doctor about how the condition affects daily functioning — improves the chances of approval at the reconsideration or hearing stage.

Does my child's school evaluation count as medical evidence?

School evaluations and IEPs support your process but do not replace medical evidence. Social Security needs records from a licensed medical provider — a doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other healthcare professional. School records show how your child functions in one setting and can strengthen your case, but they are not enough on their own.

Will my income affect my child's benefits?

Your household income can reduce your child's monthly payment through the family maximum rule, but it does not prevent your child from being approved. Social Security looks at your income to calculate the payment amount, not to decide whether your child is disabled. Your child can still receive some benefits even if your household income is high, though the payment may be small.

What if my child's condition improves?

You must report any significant improvement to Social Security. If your child's condition improves enough that they no longer meet the disability definition, Social Security will stop the benefits. However, Social Security conducts periodic reviews — called continuing disability reviews — to check on your child's status, so they may discover the improvement themselves. If you do not report it and Social Security finds out later, you may have to repay benefits your child received after the improvement.