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Supplemental Security Income is a federal income support program administered by the Social Security Administration that provides monthly cash payments to individuals who are aged, blind, or disabled and have limited income and resources. Children under 18 can qualify for SSI if they have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that results in marked and severe functional limitations and is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. For children, SSI eligibility considers the parents' income and resources (called 'deeming') until the child turns 18. At 18, only the individual's own income and resources count — often making previously ineligible children newly eligible. The 2026 federal SSI payment maximum is approximately $967 per month for an individual. Many states supplement the federal amount. SSI recipients automatically qualify for Medicaid in most states.
SSI is a critical income source for families with disabled children, and SSI eligibility automatically opens the door to Medicaid in most states — which is the prerequisite for HCBS waiver services. Applying for SSI should be one of the first steps after diagnosis.