A person attains age 18 on the day before their 18th birthday. For additional information attainment of age 18, see DI 25201.010B.

For Title XVI claims, the application effective date is the first day of the month following the later of the date the claimant:

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  filed the application; or

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  becomes eligible for such benefits.

For additional information about the SSI policy on application dates, see SI 00601.009.

When the youth in foster care does not meet the non-medical eligibility factors before the youth attains age 18, the FO:

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  Establishes the Supplemental Security Record (SSR) with a claim type of "DI;"

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  Completes the SSA-3368-BK (Disability Report-Adult);

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  Identifies a third-party contact on the SSA-3368-BK if the applicant is the foster care agency.

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  Identifies the date the claimant attains age 18 as the Potential Onset Date in item 3 of the SSA-3367 (Disability Report-Field Office);

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  Includes the remark "Youth in Foster Care - Hold determination until age 18 attainment. No payment due before age 18 attainment." as the explanation for the Potential Onset Date (POD) on the SSA-3367;

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  Adds a "Special Handling" flag annotated "Youth in foster care - no payment before age 18" to the electronic folder; and

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  Adds a message "Youth in foster care - no payment before age 18" to the Alerts and Messages tab in the electronic folder.

When you receive a Youth in Foster Care case, use the preliminary record that the FO established and follow normal procedures in SM 06001.101 and SM 06001.120. Receipt the case in as an adult disability (DI) claim, even though the child is under age 18.

Follow normal case development procedures in DI 22505.001 through DI 22505.028. If you need to obtain additional evidence with a consultative examination, follow DI 22510.015.

Determine whether the evidence will be sufficient and current at age 18 based on the evidence in the case.

Obtain updated evidence closer to age 18, if needed.

Evaluate the evidence using the adult sequential evaluation process when you have sufficient evidence to make the determination. Use the appropriate adult evaluation forms.

If the claimant is disabled under the adult rules, establish the onset date for disability as of the attainment of age 18 (or at a later date, if appropriate)

Do not input the determination until the claimant has attained age 18. If the claimant has not attained age 18, put the case in medical deferment status with code "IO" as the Reason for Deferment. For the instructions on medical deferment, see SM 06001.202 and SM 06001.220B.

REMINDER: If you establish an onset date before the attainment of age 18, the file must include the appropriate child evaluation forms. For claims with both a child and adult determination, see DI 25230.001.