SSI

Back in late August 2006, we signed Kyle up for SSI - Supplemental Security Income - Disability. When I was looking to return to work, I was worried about medicaid dropping us. Kyle was still in the NICU and there was no way we could afford those bills without medicaid. The social worker suggested I look into SSI since a birth weight of less than 2 lbs 10 oz is a qualification to receive disability payments and insures that medicaid will continue regardless of our income.

While the child is in the hospital, SSI provides the medicaid coverage and $30 check each month. Once the child is released from the hospital and goes home, the parents are required to provide detailed information about income and finances and from then on receive payments based on that information.

We were a little slow in getting all the kinks worked out and all the information given to SSI. In October 2007, we received a letter from SSI stating that based on the information and the fact that they had only been giving us $30 a month for a long time, we were back-owed an amount of almost $5,000! We were thrilled! We thought we could finally pay my mom all the money we back-owed HER for watching Hannah and Kyle all the time I was at school and Chris was at work and for all the gas she spent driving them to Kyle's therapy, doctors and specialists appointments. However, there were stipulations in the letter. Because of the size of the sum, we had to open a dedicated account for the money and in order to use the money, we had to get approval. When I called them, they made it quite clear that paying my mom for childcare was not an approved expense unless she was a registered nurse! Any purchases had to do specifically with his disability (developmental delay).

I asked the caseworker with SSI what would be considered a qualifying expense. She said any doctors bills. But Medicaid pays all of those. Specialists - Medicaid pays those. Special diet requirements - WIC pays for those. Feeding equipment - Medicaid pays those.... Finally, she recommended therapy assists. She said that if the therapists recommended particular toys, videos, books, exercise equipment, etc. for his development, and put it in writing, that would qualify.

In February, the amount was finally deposited into the dedicated account I opened in October. In April, we got the list of recommended items from the therapists. In June, we sent price estimates for everything on the list at the request of SSI, and in July, we finally got approval to use the money for the items. The timing is excellent for Kyle's birthday! We were able to get him push toys, balls, cars, trucks, shape sorters, puzzles, books, Baby Einstein videos, a wading pool, a bouncer/ball pit/slide combo and more.