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is 18 yr old with asd eligible for ssdi?
We were told he always had ADHD. He was on med for several years but it was stopped in 9th grade. Recently came to live with me his grandmother. His father died two years ago, my son. I took him to DORS and psychiatrist tested him for several hours and says he does not have adhd but ASD. They said he is a high functioning autistic. Should we file for disability? I have some say yes, some say no!!
18 Answers
Im so sorry for your loss. Its not uncommon for autism to be diagnosed later, especially if earlier symptoms looked like ADHD. Even with highfunctioning ASD, some young adults still face challenges that make working or living independently hard. Filing for disability can help if his condition significantly affects daily life. Its worth applyingyou can always appeal if its denied. Be sure to include records from his psychiatrist, school, and any evaluations to support the case.
Yes you absolutely can apply for it. Both ADHD and ASD are disabilities actually and about 30 of people with autism also have ADHD. The resources available differ from state to state but individuals almost always start by getting an assessment from a psychologist with formal diagnoses. You will need this info and other historical info to apply for SSDI. Check out autismspeaks.com they have a number of resources and will help you through the process of getting SSDI. Heres also a vid with some additional info as well httpswww.bing.comvideosriverviewrelatedvideo?qhowtogetdisabilityforASDmidD7DE3CA34B8239D05568D7DE3CA34B8239D05568FORMVIRE
Hello Paternal Granny, Forgive length and details of what I sent yesterday. The information shared is for You, of course, but more so, for an Advocate whom you can consult hire. All Commonwealths and States have to accommodate special needs students until the age of 21. The expense for all diagnostic and remedial work has to be paid for by the School District until the person requiring the services hits 21. A loop hole, if your grandson is not enrolled, and his permanent address is not yours, legally make sure he has your address. He has to be enrolled in school. Your Grandson needs to be enrolled as a student in your school district to qualify for The Right To Education resources and services. Your school district may resist, but the law is federal and trumps any Commonwealth, State or Local Educational Agency standards and practices not in sync with the Federal Law. In PA. Schools use the IU Intermediate Unit to conduct all assessments deemed necessary so Your Grandson has the chance right to learn in the least restrictive setting. If his needs cant be managed in his school or school district, his district has to pay for appropriate least restrictive settings, including providing transportation to and back. If he is 18, he is entitled to 3years of services at his schools expense. For three years you do not have to pay for educational and clinical medical services he requires so he has a chance to compete with his peers in an educational context who are the same age. This advantage saves 3years of money You can use to help Your Grandson in the future. If Your Commonwealth State has a Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, this is another step before filing for SSDI or currently apply but use State Commonwealth resources to see, with jobcoaching, if he can work parttime. He can collect SSDI and use Vocational Services at the same time. He can work up to a level of income and still collect SSDI. In the Vocational arena, the focus is work he can do not academics he cant. He will have a better equality of life if he works part time generating his own income, and socializes with those with whom he works. Focused on his future, the more adaptively he can take care of his own personal needs, his own laundry and care of personal items, manage money to some degree, and participate in social activities, bowling, singing, joining a church synagogue faith group, appreciation of local sports, fish, engage in a hobby, the higher quality of life he will enjoy. The more dependent he is the greater his treatment as a Special Individual will be like warehousing than living if when his Granny can no longer look out for him. Dr. Thomas Blash, Psy.D. PA License PS003255L Specializing in Clinical, Neuropsychology and Clinical Rehabilitation.
Sorry to hear for your troubles. ASD is a form of autism, of course. If you live in Delaware, SSI is tougher than other states. My opinion is that it never hurts. You are in better shape than most because of psychiatrist saw him. He should continue with the psychiatrist for any medication he may have that goes undetected or just missed. Make sure he does not have not generalized anxiety and complicated grief. Good Luck.
Thanks for your question. If the autism spectrum disorder ASD prevents your grandson from holding and keeping a job, then he may be eligible for Social Security disability benefit. I recommend checking out the following websites for more information nimh.nih.gov httpsresearchautism.org I hope this helps. Kind regards, Dr. Cuesta.
Namaste, Sorry for the loss of your son. You have been a great grandmother. Regarding whether your 18 year old grandson will qualify for disability is a question you need to ask the psychiatrist and other health care providers that he has been evaluated by and receiving treatment from. I think they may also need to participate in necessary paperwork. So contact them. Take care and stay well.
Your best option is to call social security. Disability is judged by what a person isn't able to do. A person with autism may or may not be significantly disabled to the point that they merit disability. compensation.
Thank you for sharing this. First, I want to honor the complexity of this momentfor both of you. Receiving a new diagnosis like autism spectrum disorder in late adolescence, especially following years of an ADHD label, can feel disorienting. And I cant help but notice that this shift is occurring in the context of profound grief. The loss of a parentyour sonjust two years ago is significant, and two years is not a long time in the arc of grief, especially for someone still forming their adult identity. Its likely that both the diagnosis and the grief are shaping how hes functioning right now. When it comes to the question of filing for disability, I would gently suggest starting not with the system, but with him. What are his goals? What brings him a sense of purpose, agency, or direction? Is he currently unable to pursue school, training, or work because of symptoms that feel unmanageable or overwhelming? Disability benefits can be a lifeline for those who are truly unable to engage in daily functioning, but they can also create unintended barriers if the young persons challenges are temporary, traumarelated, or evolving. Especially in this current cultural and political climate, applying for disability can come with stigma, future limitations, and an identity that may or may not serve him well over time. Instead of asking, Should we file for disability? I might encourage reframing the question as, What kind of support does he need right now, and for how long? If he needs time, therapeutic support, or skillbuilding because of the intersection of grief, neurodivergence, and life transition, there may be other resources to explore first. On the other hand, if his functional impairments are significant and ongoing, particularly in communication, independent living, or adaptive behavior, a formal disability claim might open necessary services. My encouragement would be to work with a traumainformed clinician who understands both ASD and grief, and who can help assess whether his current challenges are related more to enduring neurodevelopmental traits or to emotional processing that is still unfolding. Let him lead, and make sure any decision made aligns with the life he wants to build, not just the systems we think he has to navigate. Youre asking the right questions. Keep going.
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disability. Even if a person is high functioning, they may struggle with the various details of adult living like keeping a steady job, paying bills, keeping a budget, health care, cooking and such. The person can work with their provider to complete paperwork seeking SSI. There are resources available for someone with ASD. Autism speaks and ARC are great places to start for information and guidance.
Its hard to determine from the information provided. Disability will be heavily judged by the patient ability to function properly perform in a an occupational setting. The fact that they are diagnosed with high functioning asd does not mean they are funcional to perform in a work setting effectively. For me to have a more definite answer, I need to evaluate my self and compare to the data from the assessment already performed. We do SSI recommendations in our reports and he would benefit from it, if ultimately he qualifies and pursues disability due to asd.
SSDI requires a work history and proves that an individual's autism prevents them from working. Since autism is present from birth, it can be challenging to prove that it significantly impacted a person's ability to work, especially if they have a history of employment.
You can always apply for SSI, but whether he gets it or not depends not so much on the diagnosis but by how disabling the condition is in interfering in the ability to sustain gainful employment, by how incapacitating it is in the academic arena if he is still in school, or how deficient adaptive behaviors or activities of daily living are. I do many evaluations for Social Security, and I have three adopted children with ASD, one mild, one moderate, and one severe. The mild and moderate ones are identical twins. The moderate and severe ones were approved for SSI, the mild one was denied benefits even though her twin was approved. So it depends on capabilities and not necessarily diagnosis. Apply anyway and SSA will determine if he qualifies. The test results from the psychiatrist and his or her opinion can be used to to aid in their decision or they may send him to another independent consultant for another opinion. You can have ADHD and get SSI, or have ADHD and function normally from being on Adderall and therefore not be granted SSI because you're not disabled. See? It's not entirely about a diagnosis, but by the degree of disability. Even a high functioning ASD like Aspergers Disorder can still get SSI if it interferes significantly with schoolwork, socializing or keeping a job. If you don't like SSA's denial, you can always appeal their decision and even hire a lawyer to advocate your case, but you better be able to prove how disabled he is by SSA criteria.
Yes, I believe you can. I would apply with them directly. And they will send packets of info to be filled out by the diagnosing doctor.
Have him be seen by a psychologist who specializes in ADD - see if psychologist agrees with prognosis of psychiatrist. The psychologist should administer the ADOS assessment. If he is able to function well enough to go to college or find a good job, then no.
Yes, a psychiatrist may be ok, but I have never seen one that does a very good job writing several pages for SSDI. This usually is a job for a good psychologist who has an interest in doing so. Psychiatrists don't usually give complete psychological testing.
Possibly, you have to apply and have a doctor's note and may take a year to be accepted. I would try it because you deserve extra help.
If you believe that your grandson will be unable to support himself sufficiently, should something happen to your or your wife, then I would by all means apply. At the same time, many adults with high functioning autism are able to go to school, work, and be very successful in caring for themselves. The psychiatrist should be able to give you his/her opinion on the matter as well. The main goal is that your grandson receive whatever support and resources he needs in order to thrive and live a fulfilling life.
This is best answered by someone in the Social Security office.