The Social Security Administration (SSA) reviews the disability of children receiving SSI using the adult disability criteria when they attain age 18. This is called an age-18 redetermination. Age-18 redeterminations result in about 33-40 percent of youth losing SSI eligibility (and the accompanying Medicaid access).

Transition-age SSI youth (ages 14-17) often have gaps in awareness and use of services available to them. For example, transition-age youth may not be aware that if they are participating in vocational training or similar services, their benefits may continue under Section 301. Also, individuals ages 18 through 21 may qualify if they are participating in an individualized education program (IEP). This applies if they are already taking part in an approved education, vocational rehabilitation, or employment program when disability ends, and they continue in that program after disability ends.

To learn more about how your benefits can continue after your disability ends, click the link to visit the Section 301 information page on our Youth Website or you can type the URL in your web browser https://www.ssa.gov/youth/Section301-SBC.html.

SSA has identified this difficult transition into adulthood as a critical period, including the return of many youths to the SSI program in early adulthood. SSA conducted the Youth Transition Demonstration (YTD) as seen in Fraker et al. 2014, which provided employment support to transition-age youth. Results from the YTD show that employment-focused services can help youth as they move into the workforce. There are many opportunities to close the service gap and promote successful transition for SSI youth outside the research arena, too. SSA operates a yearly informational campaign designed to inform the families of SSI youth ages 14 through 17 about resources that can help them prepare for adulthood.

This publication provides information about:

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  SSA's work incentives (such as the Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE) in SI 00820.510 and Section 301 in DI 14505.000) available to transition-age youth; and

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  Programs and services offered by other agencies and organizations (such as vocational rehabilitation and the Department of Education's Parent Centers) that may help with a successful transition into adulthood.

Information to help SSI recipients prepare for a successful transition to adulthood is available on SSA's Youth Website at https://www.ssa.gov/youth. The website includes the publication "What You Need to Know About Your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) When You Turn 18". The publication is available online to review and download and may be provided in paper format upon request.

To see the most current version of the publication "What You Need to Know About Your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) When You Turn 18", click here: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-11005.pdf.