The Social Security Administration's Functional
Equivalence Domains: Acquiring and Using Information
There are two pathways to obtaining the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits needed to help care for your disabled child. The most direct pathway is to get the SSA to determine that, based on the medical evidence, your child's impairment (or combination of impairments) meets or medically equals one of the listings for children. Unfortunately, many children are not able to meet or equal a listing solely on the basis of medical evidence.
The second pathway to obtaining SSI benefits for your child is getting the SSA to agree that your child's impairment (or combination of impairments) functionally equals a listing.
Measuring Your Child's Capacity for Learning
The capacity for acquiring and using information is one of the six domains the SSA will look at in determining whether your child's impairment or combination of impairments functionally equals a listing.
The SSA's list of examples of these limitations includes:
- Does not demonstrate an understanding of words that describe concepts such as space, size or time (for example, inside/outside, big/little, morning/night)
- Cannot rhyme words or the sounds in words
- Has difficulty remembering what was learned in school the day before
- Does not use language appropriate for age
- Is not developing "readiness skills" the same as peers (for example, learning to count, reciting ABCs, scribbling)
- Is not reading, writing, or doing arithmetic at appropriate grade level
- Has difficulty comprehending written or oral directions
- Struggles with following simple instructions
- Talks only in short, simple sentences
- Has difficulty explaining things
If your child has what the SSA calls a "marked deviation" in this domain, a marked deviation in a second domain must also be present in order for your child to qualify. If the SSA finds that there is an "extreme deviation" as compared to other children in the same age group, that will generally be enough on its own.
If We Don't Win, You Don't Pay Any Attorney Fees. It's Just That Simple.
Shifrin Newman Smith Inc. has been exclusively dedicated to handling claims for government disability benefits since 1985. We are driven by a passion for helping people who need it and will not turn you away, even if you do not have a great case. We have a well-earned reputation for being able to accomplish the impossible and have helped thousands of people throughout the state of Ohio, including many disabled children and their families.
If you have other questions about the SSA's process for determining whether your child is legally disabled or SSI benefits for children, call 877-230-5500 or contact our lawyers online to make arrangements for a free consultation.
Office Locations in Akron, Cleveland and Toledo.
