Yes. Under some circumstances, Social Security can immediately start Social Security disability benefits, and continue to pay benefits for up to six months, while the state agency component of Social Security makes a formal decision of whether the child is disabled. These are called “Presumptive Disability” cases.

Basically, Social Security is saying that the child is probably disabled, and as such will pay benefits, while it reviews the case to confirm the presumed disability.

Here are the conditions that may qualify:

• HIV infection;
• Total blindness;
• Total deafness;
• Cerebral palsy;
• Down syndrome;
• Muscular dystrophy;
• Severe mental retardation (child age 7 or older); and
• Birth weight below 2 pounds, 10 ounces.

According to Social Security (POMS DI 11055.230):

The presumptive disability/blindness payments end the earliest of:

• The month in which the Disability Determination Services (DDS) makes a formal finding on whether the claimant is disabled or blind;
• The month for which the claimant is paid the sixth monthly payment based on PD or PB; or
• The month in which the claimant no longer meets one of the other eligibility requirements for SSI (e.g., excess income/resources).

If the Social Security state agency decides that the condition is not severe enough for SSI, you do not have to pay the money back. And that is very good news.

However, (you knew there had to be a however, didn’t you?) payments on presumptive disability cases CAN be considered overpayments (which a parent/guardian may have to pay back) if:

• The claim is disallowed due to ineligibility based on non-medical factors; or
• Social Security subsequently determine that it computed the amount of payment in error.

Or, put in English, if the child is later denied for non-medical reason (for example, if the household makes too much money or has too much in assets) or if Social Security got the benefit amount wrong.

See Social Security publication for a general overview. See  DI 11055.230 Presumptive Disability (PD) and Presumptive Blindness (PB) Provisions for more information about the overpayment issue.