To stay eligible for SSI once turning age 18, a Disabled Child (DC) needs to be found disabled under the adult standards for disability. Social Security through the state Disability Determination Bureau (DDB) conducts a medical reevaluation of the child near the 18th birthday. Unlike a regular medical Continuing Disability Review (CDR) in which DDB reviews a person’s case to determine if the condition has improved, DDB is actually applying different criteria to determine if the individual meets the adult disability standard during the child’s medical reevaluation.
Childhood disability can be found if a child suffers from any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which results in marked and severe functional limitations in terms of the learning process and can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. Source: DI 25201.001
In the age 18 reevaluation, DDB applies the normal adult criterion that includes adult medical listings and analyzing what limitations an individual has on an adult level that would prevent him/her from doing work that exists in the national economy.
Unrealistically optimistic assessments, lack of medical documentation, and the performance of substantial work can be a problem for a youth being evaluated under the adult standards.
If DDB decides that the individual does not meet the adult criteria, he/she can request a reconsideration and have an in-person hearing with a DDB disability examiner.
You can find out more by downloading the Benefits for Youth in Transition Fact Sheet.