What to expect in SSA interview for Child-in-Care benefits after child turns 16 with disabilities?

I went through this exact process with my daughter last year. The interview is primarily focused on establishing the evidence of disability that meets SSA's definition. They asked detailed questions about: 1. Medical diagnoses and when they began 2. How the disabilities affect daily activities and self-care 3. Educational accommodations or special programs 4. Treatment history and current treatments 5. Names/contact info for all doctors and specialists They didn't ask about expenses or rent during this interview - that's more for SSI applications which is different. This interview is focused on determining if your son meets the adult disability criteria for Social Security purposes. Bring any recent medical reports or IEP documents if you have them. The interview took about 45 minutes for us.

i had this meeting last month for my kid. they basicaly want to know if ur kid can work or not. thats the big question. its all about if they can hold a job without help. my daughter has downs and they approved her right away but my friend with autistic son had harder time proving it.

The deeming process for Child-in-Care benefits when a child turns 16 follows adult disability determination standards, so they're primarily concerned with whether your child can perform substantial gainful activity (SGA). For 2025, that means earning more than $1,550/month. The technical term for what you're applying for is "Childhood Disability Benefits" (CDB), sometimes called "Disabled Adult Child" benefits. Since your son has severe autism with intellectual disability, the key factors they'll assess are: - Ability to communicate effectively - Ability to interact with others appropriately - Ability to follow instructions and complete tasks - Level of support needed for daily activities Bring documentation of his limitations from multiple sources: medical records, school evaluations, psychologist reports, etc. Also helpful to have a letter from any vocational counselors who've evaluated him. This is just the initial interview - after this, they'll likely schedule a consultative exam with an SSA doctor as part of the determination process.

Just went through this. Make sure u bring ID for both of u. They'll ask lots of medical questions. It took like a hour total. My daughter has epilepsy and they pretty much said she qualifies on the spot but still took FOREVER to get final approval. Good luck!!!

I remember how stressful this process was when we went through it with my son. The interview itself wasn't as bad as the WAITING afterwards!!! THREE MONTHS of anxiety wondering if they'd approve him. And trying to get updates was IMPOSSIBLE! Called the 800 number constantly and either couldn't get through or got different answers every time. Make sure you write down EVERYTHING in the interview. Get the name of the person interviewing you. Ask for direct contact info (they probably won't give it). Ask specifically WHAT will happen next and WHEN. They're terrible about keeping you informed about where you are in the process. Don't mean to be negative but just want you to be prepared for the bureaucratic nightmare that follows the interview.

Does your son receive SSI already? If yes, then much of the disability determination work might be done already and this could be more straightforward. If not, they'll need to do a full disability determination. My daughter was already on SSI when we did her CDB application, which made the process faster.

One important thing to prepare for: they will ask specific questions about Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Before your interview, make notes about how much assistance your son needs with: - Personal hygiene/grooming - Dressing - Meal preparation - Managing medications - Transportation - Communication - Managing money - Following instructions - Social interactions Be honest and specific. Don't say "he needs help with bathing" if the reality is "he cannot bathe without complete supervision and step-by-step prompting." Also, if your son has had any vocational assessments through school transition services, bring those as they can be very helpful in documenting limitations in work settings. The disability determination process for children becoming adults is looking primarily at whether they can work at a level of substantial gainful activity. Focus your documentation and answers on those functional limitations.

btw did they mention medical review or did they send u forms for that already??? sometimes they do that seperate

Does ur son get Medicaid? If so bring that paperwork too! Sometimes the medicaid disability determination can help with SS disability stuff. At least in my state they share some info between programs.

I went through this same process about 6 months ago with my son who has cerebral palsy and developmental delays. The interview was actually much more straightforward than I expected - they really just want to understand his functional limitations and how they would prevent him from working. A few things that helped me prepare: - I made a timeline of his medical history with dates - I wrote down specific examples of his daily challenges (like how long routine tasks take, what happens when plans change, etc.) - I brought copies of everything even though they said they'd request records themselves The interviewer was actually quite understanding and patient. They explained that since he's turning 16, they have to evaluate him under adult disability standards, but they're very familiar with autism cases. The whole thing took about an hour. One thing I wish I'd known: they might ask about any part-time work or volunteer experiences he's had through school programs. Even if those were highly supported, be ready to explain exactly what level of assistance was needed. You've got this! The fact that you're so prepared and advocating for your son shows you're doing everything right.

As someone who went through this process with my daughter who has autism and intellectual disability, I wanted to add a few practical tips for the day of your interview: Arrive a few minutes early - SSA offices can be busy and you don't want to feel rushed. Bring a folder with copies of everything organized (they may want to keep copies). During the interview, it's okay to take your time answering questions. If you need to think about specific examples or dates, just say so. The interviewer would rather have accurate, detailed information than quick responses. One thing that caught me off guard was when they asked about his "best day" versus "worst day" functioning. Be prepared to explain that even on his best days, he still requires significant support that would make employment impossible. Also, if your son has any behavioral challenges (meltdowns, self-injury, aggression), document the frequency and triggers. These are considered work-limiting factors even if his cognitive abilities might seem higher in some areas. The waiting period after the interview is definitely the hardest part, but you're taking all the right steps to advocate for him. The documentation you're gathering will make a strong case. Good luck on Friday!

I went through this exact situation with my son who has autism and cognitive delays about 8 months ago. The interview itself was much less intimidating than I anticipated - the SSA representative was actually very knowledgeable about autism and understanding of our situation. A few things that really helped me: - I brought a one-page summary of his diagnoses, current medications, and key limitations that I could reference during the interview - I had specific examples ready of how his autism affects his ability to work (like needing 2-3 reminders to complete simple tasks, inability to handle workplace social interactions, sensory overload in typical work environments) - I brought his most recent IEP and psychological evaluation - they were very interested in the functional assessments The interviewer asked a lot about his daily routine, what happens when that routine is disrupted, his communication abilities, and whether he could handle workplace expectations like being on time, following supervisor instructions, and interacting appropriately with coworkers. One thing that surprised me was they asked about his understanding of money and whether he could manage finances - apparently that's part of their work capacity evaluation. The whole process took about 3 months after the interview, but we were approved. Having all that documentation ready really seemed to help. You're doing great by preparing so thoroughly - that shows you're taking this seriously and advocating well for your son.

I can't offer personal experience with this exact process, but I wanted to jump in with some encouragement. Reading through all these detailed responses from parents who've been through this, it's clear you're getting excellent advice and preparing thoroughly. One thing that stands out from everyone's experiences is how important it is to focus on concrete, specific examples of functional limitations rather than just listing diagnoses. It sounds like you're already gathering the right documentation - the vocational assessment showing he needs 1:1 support, his IEP, medical evaluations, etc. The fact that your son is non-verbal and needs supervision for daily activities should work in your favor, especially when combined with the autism and intellectual disability diagnoses. The SSA representatives doing these interviews are trained to understand developmental disabilities, so don't feel like you have to downplay his challenges. Your preparation and advocacy for your son is really impressive. Take some deep breaths - you've got this! The interview is just one step in documenting what you already know to be true about his support needs. Wishing you the best on Friday!

I haven't been through this specific process myself, but I wanted to share something that might help with the documentation aspect. When my nephew went through disability determination for a different program, his advocate recommended creating a "typical day" narrative that walks through his actual daily routine and the level of support needed for each activity. For example, instead of just saying "needs help with morning routine," write something like: "Requires verbal prompting every 2-3 minutes to complete each step of getting dressed. Cannot sequence the steps independently and becomes distressed if the routine varies. Takes 45 minutes with constant supervision to complete what a typical person does in 10 minutes." This kind of detailed functional description really helped paint the picture of his actual support needs versus just listing his diagnoses. It might be worth preparing a few of these "day in the life" examples that show how his disabilities impact his ability to function independently in ways that would make employment impossible. You're clearly a dedicated advocate for your son, and all the preparation you're doing shows. Best of luck with the interview on Friday!

I went through this process with my son who has autism spectrum disorder about two years ago. One thing I wish I had known beforehand is to bring a support person if possible - the interview can be emotionally draining when you're discussing your child's limitations in detail. The interviewer will likely ask you to describe a typical week for your son, including any activities, therapies, or programs he participates in. They want to understand his daily functioning level and support needs. Don't be afraid to mention things like: - How long it takes him to complete simple tasks - What happens when his routine is disrupted - His communication barriers and how they affect daily life - Any safety concerns that require supervision Also, if your son has ever had a job coach assessment or participated in any work-readiness programs through school, bring those reports. Even if they show he needs extensive support, that documentation is valuable evidence. The interview itself felt very clinical and focused, which actually helped keep my emotions in check. The representative took detailed notes and asked follow-up questions when she needed clarification. One last tip: after the interview, ask for a timeline of next steps and try to get contact information for checking on status. The waiting period is tough, but having some sense of the process helps. You're doing everything right by preparing so thoroughly!