Abstract

COMMENTARY An Advocate’s View of Financial Aid for Disabled Children Kristen Weber Over the last year I have been assisting low-income disabled children to qualify for the Supplemental Security Income program (SSI). The SSI pro- gram provides financial support to disabled children whose families are low- income and to disabled children who are not living with their families. In my experiences of advocating for these children, it has come to my attention that children in foster care, including children awaiting adoption, are not access- ing this federal benefit to which they are entitled. While not a cure-all, the SSI program provides much-needed support that is critical for low-income disabled children. Currently the maximum federal cash grant for SSI benefits is $494 per month. States at their option can supplement this amount. Most states also provide an automatic link to Medic- aid for children who are receiving at least $1 of SSI. For many families, the Medicaid linkage is more important than the extra money each month. This support is crucial for many families caring for disabled children. As many of you know, the SSI program was caught up in the welfare reform bill signed on August 22, 1996. The