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 while they are participating
in a program of vocational training or similar services (for example, individualized
education program (IEP) for an individual age 18 through 21), their benefits may continue
until participation in the program ends, even though benefits would have otherwise
have ceased based on the age-18 redetermination.
SSA has identified this difficult transition into adulthood and the return of many
youth to the 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. The results from the
YTD demonstrate that employment-focused services can assist youth as they enter in
the labor market. There are many opportunities to close the service gap and promote
successful transitions for SSI youth outside the research arena, too. The Office of
Retirement and Disability Policy’s Office of Research, Demonstration, and Employment
Support operates a yearly informational campaign designed to inform 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.