SSI SPOTLIGHT ON SSI BENEFITS FOR DISABLED OR BLIND YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE 2012 Edition

Disabled or blind youth receiving Title IV-E federal foster care benefits usually cannot become eligible for SSI until foster care payments have stopped. Eligibility for foster care payments in most States ends at age 18 attainment. SSA may accept an SSI application from a youth up to 90 days before his or her foster care eligibility will end due to age. 

A disabled youth transitioning out of foster care may file an SSI application if he or she:

	lives in a foster care situation;
	alleges blindness or disability;
	appears likely to meet all of the non-medical eligibility requirements when foster care payments terminate;
	expects the foster care payments to cease within 90 days of the application filing date; and
	is within 90 days of losing foster care eligibility because of age.