The SSI program provides benefits to people who have disabilities and have no or limited income and resources, including children under the age of 18.

The SSDI program pays benefits to people and certain members of the family if one has worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. An adult child may also be eligible for benefits of one's earnings record if his/her disability started before the age of 22.

The Social Security Disability Insurance and SSI programs have rules in deciding if a person is considered "disabled" and that he/she is eligible for the benefits.

Disability is defined by the law as the inability to engage in any SGA or substantial gainful activity because of one or more medically determinable mental or physical impairment/s. To be eligible for the benefits, impairments should be expected to continue for at least 12 months or expected to cause death.

For a child under the age of 18 to be considered disabled, he/she must have one or more medically determinable mental or physical impairment/s, which can also be expected to continue for at least 12 months or can be expected to cause death.

A medically determinable impairment, whether physical or mental, is an impairment that is caused by psychological, anatomical, or physiological abnormalities that can be shown by laboratory and clinical diagnostic techniques that are medically acceptable. Impairment must be recognized by medical evidence, which consists of the following:

?Signs

?Symptoms

?Laboratory findings

Information about an impairment caused by abnormalities should come from "acceptable medical sources" as defined by the SSA to be considered as a medically determinable impairment. The following are the "acceptable medical sources":

?Licensed physicians, either osteopathic or medical doctors

?Licensed or certified psychologists (this includes school psychologists or other licensed or certified individuals who do the same work as school psychologists but only with a different title)

?Licensed podiatrists

?Licensed optometrists

?Qualified speech-language pathologists ("qualified" meaning he/she must be fully certified by the State education agency in the State where he/she practices, hold a Certificate of Clinical Competence given by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, or licensed by the State professional licensing agency).

Medical reports from physicians, psychologists, and other health professionals about an individual's impairment are needed by the Social Security Administration. Medical reports should include the following:

?Medical history

?Laboratory findings (such as x-rays, blood pressure)

?Clinical findings (such as the results of mental or physical status examinations)

?Diagnosis

?Treatment prescribed with prognosis and response

?A statement that gives an opinion about what the person with disability can still do regardless of his her impairment/s based on the findings of medical sources

The SSA considers many factors in giving benefits to individuals with disability. For you to have more chances in claiming the benefits, one should seek assistance from experienced lawyers in Social Security Disability Law Firms.

Perhaps, a law firm with notable records in providing successful results can help a disabled person obtain his/her benefits. Many Social Security lawyers are more than eager to help in your legal problems.