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 , 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 Fraker et al.2014 . 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.