The Social Security Administration released a Request for Information (RFI) to elicit ideas, strategies, and best practices related to improving adult economic outcomes for youth aged 14 to 25 with disabilities receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Comments are due by February 2, 2018.
Youth receiving SSI confront challenges due to poor health, poverty, a lack of information to access the fragmented adult service system, and other barriers. Many youth face a lack of coordinated services, especially as they leave high school and their schools no longer provide youth support. SSA's redetermination of SSI eligibility at age 18 also generally results in 30-40 percent of youth losing SSI eligibility (and the accompanying automatic Medicaid access that most SSI recipients receive) because their condition does not meet the adult standard for disability.
The RFI includes 12 questions for respondents to consider when providing comments. The input SSA receives will inform its deliberations about potential policy changes and the design of future demonstration projects for transition-age SSI recipients.
The full RFI can be viewed and comments can be made directly through the regulations.gov website. A Federal Register notice is also available.
I assist consumers and their families with the application process for SSI serices and benefits. A major problem I have seen is tht if a family applies under the incorrect program i.e. SSDI then their application is invalid and the family has to re apply under SSI. Families do not understand the difference between programs therefore there is a lose of time and necessary benefits. Streamline process by sending the "wrong" application to the appropriate department. Do not make families go through the arguous process again for a simple resolution.