Can my severely autistic child qualify for SSI when our family income is above poverty level?

Yes, your child might still qualify for SSI despite your family income being above poverty level. SSA applies special rules when evaluating disabled children's eligibility. They use something called 'deeming' where only a portion of the parent's income counts toward the child's eligibility. The severity of your son's autism is key - SSA has specific criteria for autism spectrum disorders in their disability Blue Book (Section 112.10). The fact that he requires constant supervision and specialized therapy strengthens his case. I recommend gathering comprehensive medical documentation from all specialists and requesting a detailed functional assessment. Also, certain therapy expenses may be deducted from your countable income, potentially bringing you below the threshold.

my nephew has pretty severe autism 2 and got approved last year. his mom makes decent $ but my brother only works part time. they got like $500/month i think??? the process took FOREVER tho and they had to appeal the first decision

The answer is maybe. SSI has strict rules about family resources and income, but they don't count everything when it's for a disabled child. You mentioned your husband works multiple jobs - that dedication is amazing but unfortunately SSA will look at the total household income. However! They do exclude some income and apply special calculations for families with disabled children. My recommendation: 1. Gather ALL medical documentation showing severity and functional limitations 2. Document all special expenses related to his care and therapy 3. Apply even if you think you might be over the income limit 4. Be prepared for initial denial (standard practice) 5. Appeal if denied - many cases win on appeal The SSA also has an income calculator on their website that might help you estimate eligibility.

just aplied for my daughter (autism too) and they made us list EVERY asset we own right down to our cars and checking accounts. its suuuuper invasive! they want to make sure ur really struggling before they help.

Have you tried calling the SSA to set up an application appointment? I spent TWO WEEKS trying to get through on their 800 number before finding Claimyr.com. It let me skip the wait and got me connected to an agent in about 10 minutes. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - totally worth it for getting questions answered directly instead of guessing about eligibility. The SSA rep explained exactly which medical documents I needed for my son's application and what income would be excluded.

Income limits for SSI are complicated, but here's what you need to know: SSA uses something called 'parental deeming' for children with disabilities. This means they DON'T count all of your family income when determining eligibility. They take your total household income, subtract living allowances for other family members, and exclude certain types of income entirely. For autism specifically, the medical documentation is CRUCIAL. SSA will look at: - Communication abilities - Social interaction limitations - Restricted/repetitive behaviors - Adaptive functioning Make sure EVERY evaluation explicitly documents these areas and how they impact daily functioning. If your son requires substantial support in multiple areas, that should be clearly stated in all paperwork.

One thing nobody has mentioned yet is that if your child qualifies for SSI, they'll likely automatically qualify for Medicaid in most states, which can be even more valuable than the monthly payment. Medicaid can cover therapies and services that private insurance often denies or limits, like extensive ABA therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and specialized equipment. Even if the SSI payment ends up being small due to your income, the Medicaid access alone makes it worth applying.

Based on the detailed situation you've described, I would DEFINITELY apply. Here's why: 1. Multiple jobs don't necessarily disqualify you - SSA has specific exclusions and calculations for families of disabled children 2. Severe autism requiring constant supervision meets their medical criteria 3. Therapy expenses may be deductible as Impairment-Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) 4. Even if you're denied initially (which happens to most people), the appeals process often results in approval Pro tip: Request a detailed explanation in writing for any denial. This will help you address specific issues in your appeal.

I'm a parent of a 7-year-old with severe autism who successfully got approved for SSI last year, so I wanted to share some specific advice based on our experience. First, don't let the income concern stop you from applying - the deeming rules are more favorable than most people realize. When SSA calculated our eligibility, they excluded my husband's overtime pay that went directly to autism-related expenses, plus they gave us allowances for our other children. The key is documentation. Make sure every medical report explicitly states your son's functional limitations in daily activities like self-care, communication, and safety awareness. We had to get supplemental letters from his therapists describing exactly how his autism affects his ability to function independently. Also, keep detailed records of ALL autism-related expenses - therapy copays, specialized equipment, dietary supplements, even mileage to appointments. These can potentially be deducted from your countable income. One last tip: consider working with a disability attorney if you get denied. Many work on contingency and only get paid if you win. The process is frustrating but absolutely worth it for the financial support and automatic Medicaid eligibility.

I'm going through a very similar situation with my 8-year-old daughter who has severe autism and intellectual disability. We were initially worried about our income disqualifying her, but we got approved after appeal! Here's what helped us: The SSA worker explained that they use a "parental allocation" formula - they don't just look at your total income. They subtract amounts for basic living expenses for you, your spouse, and any other children before determining what counts against your disabled child's eligibility. For the medical side, make sure your son's evaluations use specific language about his "marked" or "extreme" limitations in areas like social functioning, communication, and activities of daily living. The SSA has very specific criteria they're looking for in autism cases. Also, start tracking EVERYTHING autism-related financially - copays, gas to appointments, special foods if he has dietary restrictions, weighted blankets, sensory equipment, respite care, etc. These can sometimes be deducted as disability-related expenses. The whole process took us about 8 months with the appeal, but the monthly payment plus automatic Medicaid coverage has been life-changing for accessing services. Don't give up if you get that first denial letter - most autism cases I know of got approved on appeal with better documentation.

I want to add something that hasn't been mentioned yet - timing can be really important with SSI applications for children with autism. If your son is approaching age 18, the eligibility criteria completely changes and they'll evaluate him as an adult rather than using the childhood disability rules. Adult evaluations are often harder to qualify for since they focus more on work capacity rather than developmental milestones. Also, I'd strongly recommend applying even if you're unsure about income eligibility. The worst they can say is no, but if you don't apply, you'll never know if those deeming rules would have worked in your favor. Plus, if your family's financial situation changes in the future (job loss, medical expenses increase, etc.), having an established case file can make reapplying much faster. One practical tip: when you call SSA or visit the office, bring a detailed list of questions written down beforehand. The workers deal with so many cases that having specific questions about deeming calculations, medical documentation requirements, and timeline expectations will help you get clearer answers. Good luck with your application process!