Disablity Grants For Childrens

Disability benefits for children is a boon for families who cannot afford to take care of their disabled child, due to their low incomes levels. The following article will tell you about the disability benefits that are madDisabilities in children could range from conditions like Autism, Cerebral Palsy or Down Syndrome. So also, children might fall in the category of 'At Risk' which includes pre-term, emotional and behavioral problems. These problems lead to a distinct lack of stimulation in them, which can affect their overall growth and development.

These conditions are not confined to medical problems alone but could also include behavioral and learning disorders.e available and the eligibility procedures for the same. Apply Your Grants Today!!


It is generally difficult to get disability benefits for children. This is because the primary criteria and the conditions of the child on which these benefits are sought may change. For example if a child has an attack of asthma, it will hamper his growth and development. This will prevent him from participating in the normal day-to-day activities like other children (making him applicable for the disability benefits). When such a child applies for a SSI (Supplemental Security Insurance) disability procedure, the severity of the attack might be high at that point of time. But by the time it comes to the hearing stage, the grimness of the situation might have lessened or the child may have responded positively to medication. However, if the disabilities are something like Autism then that leaves no room for doubt.

It is generally misconstrued that there are no programs that cater to the needs of disabled children. This is not true. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers two programs that work towards providing benefits to these children with disabilities. The programs are Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI).

Conditions for a Grant for Disabled Children

The conditions on which these disability benefits for children are granted are varied.

Income
The Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) has certain set income limits. In order for your child to be applicable for the disability benefits, the family income should not be more than $2000 on the whole. For this the SSI will take into account the family income, the bank account savings, other assets like properties, etc. If the total income is seen to exceed $ 2000 then the child is considered ineligible.

Payment
The payments to the disabled children are made on a monthly basis. These payments continue till the time the child turns eighteen. After which they are discontinued under the children's disability program because then the policy is evaluated under the adult listing category. The amount of payment depends on the family income.

Criteria
A child is considered disabled if his condition is such that he cannot involve himself in age appropriate activities like playing, etc. It therefore confines his functionality. This condition should last for a minimum of 1 year or should be expected to lead to death.

Prior to a hearing for availing disability benefits for children, the attorney will gather copies of a child's IEPs (Intensive English Program), achievement and testing reports, grade reports and fill out questionnaires from the child's teachers.

Reviewing Conditions
The condition of the child is reviewed by the Social Security Administration (SSA) every 3 years. This is done in cases when the child's condition is expected to improve. Thus reviewing becomes necessary because if the child's condition improves then he would no longer be applicable for the same.

Adult Status
The Social Security Administration reviews the condition of the child when he officially becomes an adult (18 years). If the child is still considered disabled, then adult SSDI benefits will be continued to be given. In that case all the benefits applicable in case of 'Adult SSDI benefits' shall apply. For example, these benefits are given to those who have been regularly paying the social security taxes and have become disabled recently.

Other Conditions
A child may also get these benefits if his parents were receiving the disability benefits and have died. These are called 'adult child' benefits. These benefits are given to those who have become disabled before they turned 22, thus being unable to build a work record. In such a case, where the parents have been paying social security taxes, the SSA grants these benefits as an insurance coverage for those services. It is considered as a child's benefit because it is paid as a part of the parents social security taxes.

When a child becomes eligible to receive SSI benefits he will be automatically enrolled for the Medicaid program of your state. This program will help you to make payments and afford the prescription medicines and/or other medical expenses involved. One can also see if there is a possibility to qualify for food stamps, which will go a long way in helping one out.

Disability benefits for children is definitely a great help for families who have disabled children. Knowing that there are programs and grants which are drawn out to help such children is a comforting feeling for people who have to suffer through the pain.

By Rujuta Borkar

source - buzzle.com/articles/disability-benefits-for-children.html



Thursday 21 June 2012

Disability Grants for South Africa

Disability Grants for South Africa 

If you are an adult (18 years or older) who is not able to work because of a mental or physical disability, you can get a monthly payment from the government called a disability grant. You can get a permanent grant if your disability will last for more than one year, or a temporary grant if your disability will last for between six months and a year.

Who Can Get the Grant?
How Much Is the Grant?
How to Apply for the Grant?
General Enquiries
WHO CAN GET THE GRANT?

You must be a citizen or permanent resident of South Africa and living in South Africa at the time of applying for the grant. You must be unable to work. If you are under 18 years of age, your parent or guardian must apply for the care dependency grant instead. Also bear in mind that if your disability is as a result of an accident at work or a motor vehicle accident, you may also have a compensation claim.

You cannot get the grant if you are in prison, living in a state institution (such as a state old age home), living in a psychiatric hospital, getting care from a state treatment centre, or if you are getting state care for a drug habit. You also cannot get the grant if you are refusing to undergo medical treatment, or if you give false or misleading information when you make your application for the grant.

Only people whose financial situation is below a certain level can get the grant. The test to decide is called a means test. The means test depends on your income (if you're not married), or on the income of both you and your spouse (if you are married).

From 1 April 2011 the means test for the disability grant for a person who is not married says that you cannot get the grant if your assets are worth more than R752 400 (the value of your home is not taken into account, as long as you are living in it). Your income must also be less than R44 880 per year.

If you are married, you cannot get the grant if your joint assets (the assets belonging to both you and your spouse together) are worth more than R1 504 800 (the value of your home is not taken into account, as long as you are living there). Your joint income (your income plus your spouse's income) must be less than R89 760 per year.

HOW MUCH IS THE GRANT?
The amount of the grant changes every year and depends on your income and assets. From 1 April 2011, the maximum grant is R1 140.00 per month.

If you cannot look after yourself and need full-time care from someone else, you can also apply for a Grant-In-Aid which you can get in addition to your disability grant. Also remember that people who get a disability grant have special housing subsidies available to them

Your disability grant will be converted to an old age grant when you turn 60 (if you are a woman) or 65 (if you are a man). The amount of the old age grant is the same as the disability grant. You can also, if you qualify, convert your grant at any time to a war veteran's grant. The amount of the war veteran's grant is slightly more than the disability or old age grant.

INSTRUCTIONS:

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE GRANT?
You can apply for the disability grant by filling in an application form at your nearest South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) office or counter service point of a Regional Office. You do not need to pay anything to make the application.

You will be interviewed, have your fingerprints taken, and given information on whether you qualify for the grant. You will need to have certain documents and provide some information, including:

Your South African identity document (ID), which must be bar-coded
Information about your marital status:
If you are single, an affidavit stating that you are single
If you are married, your marriage certificate
If you are divorced, your divorce order
If your spouse is dead, your spouse's death certificate
Information about your income and assets:
If you were employed, your Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) ('blue book') or discharge certificate from your previous employer
If you have a private pension, proof of the private pension
If you have a bank account, your bank statements for three consecutive months
If you have investments, information on the interest and dividends you earn
If your spouse died within the last five years, a copy of the will and the first and final liquidation and distribution accounts.

You will also have to undergo a medical examination. The degree of your disability will be assessed either by a doctor appointed by the state. You should bring along any previous medical records and reports both when you make the application and when the assessment is done. The doctor will complete a medical report and will forward the report to the Department. The report is valid for three months from the date you are assessed.

When you make the application, you should say how you would like the money to be paid. The money can be paid out in cash on specific days at a Pay Point, or you can get the money paid electronically into your bank account. Remember that normal bank charges apply to any money going in and out of your bank account. You can decide to change the payment method at any time by filling in a form at a Welfare office, but the change will only happen a month later.

It will take about thirty working days for your application to be processed and checked, once the medical report is received, and either approved or refused. If your application is refused you will get a letter explaining why it has been refused and how you can appeal.

If it is approved you will start getting payments within 3 months. The payments will be backdated to the day you applied for the grant. You can find out what has happened to your application and when you can expect payment by telephoning the SASSA toll-free number on 0800 601 011.

The disability grant will be cancelled if you die, if you are admitted to a state institution, or if your income or assets improve so much that you no longer qualify in terms of the means test, or, in the case of a temporary disability grant, when the period of the temporary disability had lapsed. You must inform the Department if any changes in your circumstances.



Source: http://www.westerncape.gov.za/eng/directories/services/11586/47485

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