How Much Is A Disability Check For Autism?

The amount of a disability check for autism depends on the disability program administered by the Social Security Administration that you to qualify for benefits. Adults with autism may qualify through the Social Security Disability Insurance program. Adults and children with disabilities may qualify to receive monthly payments through the Supplemental Security Income program.

An overview of SSDI and SSI follows, focusing on benefits payable to an adult or child with autism. The information includes the amount of disability benefits payable through each program specifically to someone with autism. If you have questions about applying for benefits or appealing a denial of a claim, your best source for advice, guidance, and representation is a disability Lawyer at Keener Law.

Autism And Disability Benefits

You must be disabled to qualify for benefits through SSI and SSDI, but Social Security follows federal standards, which can be difficult to meet. You are disabled if you have a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that prevents you from engaging in substantial gainful activity. The impairment or impairments cannot be short-term in nature. You must have an impairment that lasted, or is expected to last, for at least 12 months or is expected to cause your death in order for the Social Security Administration to determine that you are disabled according to the federal standard.

Some impairments are considered by Social Security as so severe as to be disabling. These impairments are contained in a listing of impairments that people frequently refer to as “the Blue Book.” Autism is a listed impairment for both adults and for children. For adults, it is listing 12.10. Children are listed separately under Part B of the listing of impairments in listing 112.10.

As a spectrum disorder, autism affects each person differently. It may be more severe and produce symptoms in some people that others with the disorder do not experience. A person who matches the listing has a better chance of being approved for autism disability benefits than someone who does not, but a person whose impairment does not match the autism listing still can qualify for benefits. A disability Lawyer can show you how this is possible.

How Much Can An Adult With Autism Receive In Benefits Through SSDI?

SSDI is a disability program that requires a work history in order for you to qualify for benefits. You need to have worked long enough and paid into the Social Security system through payroll taxes, or self-employment taxes if you worked in your own business, to be eligible for the SSDI program. You also must be disabled.

If you meet the work and disability requirements, the amount of your disability check each month depends on how much you had in lifetime earnings or self-employment income. The maximum SSDI disability checks for autism in 2023 is $3,267 assuming that you had the maximum allowable Social Security lifetime earnings. According to the Social Security Administration, the average SSDI beneficiary receives $1,483 in 2023. Annual cost-of-living adjustments could affect the amount of your benefit from one year to the next.

Autism usually presents symptoms within the first three years of life, so it could be difficult for adults with autism to have long enough work record to qualify, but there is another way to receive SSDI benefits. Adults with autism may qualify for SSDI through the earnings record of a parent provided the following conditions are met:

• The disability began before the person was 22 years old.
• At least one parent of the child must be receiving SSDI or Social Security retirement benefits; or
• A deceased parent must have worked long enough to qualify for retirement or disability benefits through Social Security.

Adults with autism who qualify for Disabled Adult Child benefits receive benefits based on the earnings record of a parent for as long as the disabled adult continues to be disabled, but marriage may affect the beneficiary’s eligibility to continue receiving benefits.

SSI Benefits For Children Or Adults With Autism

The SSI program does not have a work-record requirement. It is a need-based program intended to provide benefits to help adults and children who are blind or disabled or adults who are age 65 or older to have money to pay for food and shelter. The maximum monthly benefit to applicants with low incomes and total assets valued at no more than $2,000 for eligible individuals is $914. Eligible couples may receive $1,371 per month provided they meet income and resource limits.

Monthly disability checks for autism through SSI may be less than the maximum if the beneficiary has other income that would reduce the SSI benefit. However, not all types of income count against the benefit payment, so speak to a disability Lawyer to find out what your benefit will be.

A Disability Lawyer Can Help

Disability Lawyers at Keener Law have answers to questions you have about SSDI and SSI benefits. They also provide skilled assistance with applications for benefits and to appeal a denial, reduction or termination of benefits. Contact a disability Lawyer today for a free consultation.