Often a family will support an adult child who is mentally ill until he is 30 or 40. Many families don’t realize that mental illness qualifies as a disability and that the relative may be eligible for income assistance and health care.

There are two federal disability programs: SSI (Supplemental Security Income) and SSDI (Social Security Disability Income). To get these benefits, your relative will have to apply at the local Social Security office. When you meet with a representative from your social security office, make sure you bring along the following:

• Social Security number;
• birth certificate or other proof of age and citizenship;
• information about the home where your family member lives, his work history and any sources of financial support;
• Dates of any military service,
• and names, addresses and phone numbers of doctors, hospitals, clinics, and institutions where your relative has received treatment and the dates of treatment.

If you do not have all of the above information, apply anyway. For information or an appointment at your Social Security office, call 1-800/772-1213 weekdays between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Have the Social Security number with you when you call.

SSDI payments may be larger than SSI payments. Some persons are eligible for both. SSI payments may be reduced if the person lives at your home rather than independently.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

To be eligible for SSI based on disability, a person must have a physical or mental impairment which prevents them from performing normal activities of daily living, or which prevents an adult from doing any substantial gainful work, and has lasted or is expected to last at a year or to result in death.

Social Security Disability Income (SSDI)

To be eligible for SSDI a person must

• Have worked and paid Social Security taxes (FICA) long enough to be covered under Social Security, or be an unmarried son or daughter (with rare exceptions) who became disabled before age 22, who has a parent eligible for retirement/disability/death benefits. The disabled child does not have to be dependent or be financially supported by the parent.
  
• Have a physical or mental impairment that prevents the person from doing any substantial gainful work and has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year.

Since benefits are retroactive only to the day of application, apply as early as possible and follow up persistently. If benefits are denied, the ruling may be appealed by requesting (1) reconsideration, (2) a hearing before an administrative law judge, (3) a review of the decision by the Appeals Council, or (4) civil action in federal district court. You have 60 days to appeal between each of these steps.

While waiting for a decision on eligibility for SSI or SSDI, a disabled person may qualify for food stamps, or assistance with emergency food and shelter through the Department of Social Services (DSS). Contact your local DSS or DHS office.

For some people, it may be helpful to appoint a payee who will receive SSI and SSDI payments. This is appropriate if your relative is unable to manage his funds. The payee may be a relative or an agency. In most cases it isn’t a good idea for family members to be the payee because you’ll end up in the position of having to haggle over money.

There is a provision that allows SSI and SSDI payments to continue for a limited time while a person is in the hospital or other institution. This is designed to ensure that the person will be able to keep their apartment during a short hospitalization. Application for this must be made to the Social Security office.

Medicaid is available for those who qualify for SSI. Medicare covers persons on SSDI after 24 months of eligibility. Apply for Medicaid at the DSS (Department of Social Services) office; Your local DSS office can be found in your phone book under county government) Apply for Medicare at the Social Security office.