Should I apply for SSI for my baby in the hospital?

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a need-based cash benefit from the Social Security Administration for children and adults with disabilities who have very low household income. If a child has a qualifying disability and remains inpatient for the whole of a given calendar month (e.g. in NICU, PICU, or other hospital ward), ONLY the child’s income and resources (assets and savings) may be considered for SSI eligibility purposes as long as the child is hospitalized.

When a child (or any person) is in a medical facility, they can receive SSI-linked Medi-Cal for the duration of their stay, plus a short time after they are discharged. The child will also receive SSI for the month in which they are discharged from the hospital.

Note: For the first year of infancy, very low birth weight may qualify as a disability in and of itself within the parameters of SSI disability listings. You can view SSI’s directory of childhood disability listings and eligibility criteria.

Applying for SSI is not a fast process; it can take several months. This approach will be most useful for children who are anticipated to be in the hospital for an extended period.

For more information, see our article How to Get Medi-Cal If Your Baby Is in the NICU.