SSI benefits

July 5, 2004

You can also go to the social security web site and go to SSI

benefits and they have questions that you answer to see if you " may "

be eligible for the benefits. It isn't an application, just a

questions to give you an idea if you'll be eligible.

I am going to my SSI appointment tomorrow. Hopefully we will get some

benefits. They said over the phone that my son was eligible, but they

still have to do the interview and of course they won't tell you how

much your benefits will be until the interview. The number that I

called that told me he would be eligible is the 800 number on the web

site. I can't think of the website address, but you can just do a

yahoo search for social security and it should come up. That's how I

found it.

I was very surprised when she said that we would be eligible, because

even though my husband and I together only make $2600 a month, we

can't get any government assistance like food stamps. We pay $520 a

month to daycare alone! But I have to work to just so we can have

food on the table. It stinks for people who are doing the best they

can trying to make ends meet and the government won't give them any

help!

July 26, 2004

Have you thought about a Deeming Waiver (medicaid) ? It pays for therapy

and co-payments and such that your health insurance doesn't cover. It

might be a viable option. As far as daycare have you tried getting your

child into the Early Childhood Program for your county public school -

starts at age 3. Last the social worker at the Marcus Institute should be

helping you with getting all the information for public assistance

available to you. Good luck.

At 10:57 PM 7/26/2004 +0000, you wrote:

>I have a question for anyone receiving SSI benefits for their

>children. We are trying to decide if it would be better on us for my

>husband to quit work and stay home. I am adding in TANF assistance

>which I know we are eligible for because my income is too small for

>our family of four. What I don't know is how severe the autism has to

>be for them to consider it a disability. My son was diagnosed as

>having mild to moderate autism with ADHD. He can talk some, but has

>the vocabulary of 24 months and he is 40 months! He is extremely

>hyper (even on medication since we can't find one that works).

>How " disabled " do they have to be to receive these benefits. I don't

>want to make the mistake of letting my husband quit and then nor have

>any extra income. It just seems useless for us to pay 520 a month in

>daycare for our two children when my husband (who doesn't get paid

>time off)is gettting his paychack cut into because of Occupational

>Therapy once a week and having to go to the Marcus Institute once a

>month.

>If anyone could offer some advice I sure would appreciate it. It just

>doesn't seen fair for the government to offer no assistance when you

>are honestly trying to make it. With both of us working we have to

>live paycheck to pay check. And even then it's like " luck of the

>draw " for which bills we can pay this month and which we have to put

>off for another month. There is no light at the end of the tunnel for

>us!

>

July 26, 2004