Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a Federal Government Program that provides cash assistance to persons age 65 or older and to blind or disabled persons of any age who have limited income and assets. Children, including children in foster care, adopted children and children in guardianship may qualify for SSI if they have a severe physical or mental impairment, or a combination of impairments, that significantly limit their ability to function in an age-appropriate manner. Even though a child meets the disability requirements, other factors may prevent entitlement to SSI.

For example:
• if a child in foster care is receiving assistance from another Federal Program (Title IV-E) he or she will not be eligible for SSI;
• part of the income and assets of the adoptive parents count when determining the income and assets of an adopted child until he or she reaches 18. This may make their child ineligible for SSI; and
• if a subsidy is paid to a guardian who has accepted responsibility for a child with disabilities that was formerly in foster care, the amount of the subsidy may count as income to the child. Counting the subsidy may reduce or eliminate the SSI payment.