Those with a child with cerebral palsy can apply for SSI, especially when the person has a lower annual income. CP or Cerebral Palsy represents a group of neurological disorders that pose problems in movements, seeing, hearing, and speech and even sometimes affect the thought process of human beings. This medical complication arises at the time of labor, during pregnancy, or immediately after childbirth. Several reasons have been sighted to cause the issue, including oxygen deprivation, head trauma, infection, etc.
Go here to review cerebral palsy lawyers for adults if you’re applying for SSDI for someone aged above 18 years.
Common Disabilities sighted in CP Patients
Physical damages resulting from cerebral palsy include muscle weakness, abnormal gait, and discomfort in regular movements like talking, chewing, blinking, etc. It also causes stiffness in a child’s muscles and may lead to occasional seizures. If not appropriately treated, cerebral palsy disrupts a child’s overall development by affecting their locomotion and intelligence. Epilepsy is also sighted due to this reason. Diagnosis can be commenced once a child turns 1-2 years old.
Cerebral palsy lawyers protect your children’s rights to secure SSI or Supplemental Security Income when the medical disorder of that specific infant is discovered to be serious enough to hinder their communication and moving abilities. Also, please note that neither the parents, step-parents, or child must be earning revenues above the maximum permissible limit to become eligible for the SSI scheme. Besides a primary address (residential place), if the family owns different assets, SSI is not given.
Qualifying for SSI
Disability benefits are not provided to children who are affected with mild symptoms. The SSI has defined the criteria which, if met, the child becomes eligible for the promised aid; one can read these conditions in listing 111.07.
To get the SSI benefit, a child with cerebral palsy must undergo severe problems concerning walking, getting up from a seat, using their limbs, and balancing their body structure.
Criteria are redefined for older children, who are scrutinized personally by the Social Security team. They must be unable to perform certain age-appropriate activities to pass the test. Generally, when the child fails to cover a given distance within an estimated time, climb stairs or stand for a reasonable period with or without a cane, they are permitted by law to avail of the SSI scheme.
The social security officers involve other individuals to compare the independent functionality of children of a similar age group.
How to Apply for the Disability Benefits?
- To begin with the process, first, confirm that your child has many chances of securing the associated aids. Our article serves as a comprehensive guide on this matter.
- Next, schedule an appointment to apply by ringing up the SSA. Once the application passes, a medical consultant is accompanied by a claims examiner to verify the ground of the claim.
The deciding period can extend up to five months based on the tests and medical reports submitted by the parents.
Conclusion
In the US, disability benefits are given to children with severe effects of cerebral palsy. Legal assistance helps solidify the claims of parents in this regard. Please choose the best attorney from a reputed law firm so that the consultation process can kick off sooner before it is not too late. The evaluation process involves multiple layers where a child is tested against a standard benchmark. Securing the rights is essential as CP has no permanent aid as a disorder.
