If you don't qualify for SSI, there are some things you can do to try again, and also some other benefits you can try to get.
If you don't qualify because of the disability, you can appeal the decision. This means you try again, maybe with some new information or proof of the disability.
If you don't qualify for SSI based on your resources, you should know that Social Security allows you to do 2 things to get under the SSI resource limits:
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Transfer assets into a payback or qualified 'Special Needs Trust,' or
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Sell or 'spend down' resources (and possibly get SSI while you're trying to sell them - called 'Conditional Benefits').
You can also look into other public benefit programs.
These include:
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Medicaid (health insurance)
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Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP: used to be called Food Stamps)
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Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF: used to be called welfare)
See the next pages and sections to learn about all these options.
Also, remember that situations can change. You can always apply again!
You can try again if any of these change:
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Your child's age - the limits change once they turn 18
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Type of disability
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Your income or resources
Income and resources can change. And the nature of a disability can also change, especially for children. Keep track of new developments in how the disability affects your child or adult's ability to function.