How Many Children Are SSI/Disabled & What Is Their Behavioral Health Profile?

The federal government operates two separate disability benefit programs – supplemental security income (SSI) and social security disability insurance (SSDI). Both SSI and SSDI share very similar criteria for establishing disability, but offer very different paths to health care coverage. Adults may qualify under both disability benefit programs (SSDI requires work credits), but children under the age of 18 can only qualify for SSI. Whereas SSDI includes a pathway to Medicare after receiving benefits for 24 months, SSI benefits only translate into Medicaid (not Medicare) coverage. Although initially a small portion of the overall SSI program, the share of recipients that . . .