Does being on the spectrum quality for SSI?

That!!

Plus you have to start out with nothing, and they check family assets sometimes too. It really just is not adequate

I have 2 sons on the spectrum. Not every autistic person can or should get on SSI. For example, I have one son who works full time, has a 401K and is able to build up a savings. We also have a trust set up to help our sons after we are gone. I recommend that your friend's adult child meet with an attorney and financial planner. The attorney will help set up wills and trusts so that it protects those funds in the event that the grandson does go on social security. You cannot have more than $2,000 in savings, so setting up specific accounts for disabled people will be very important. It's called ABLE accounts. Does this grandson have a work history? I'm assuming not if he is 18. Someone with a work history would be denied SSI. They would need to apply for SSDI. If the grandson applies for SSDI with no work history, he will be denied because he has no work history. See how important it is to speak with someone who knows what they are doing? It is so complicated.

I can tell you the steps to apply. You speak with someone in social security. They will ask a series of questions. Because the grandson is 18, he will need to answer. If he doesn't know the answers, he can give permission for his parents to speak for him. The application will be reviewed, they will contact his doctor, and he may be referred to a doctor to evaluate his functional level.

SSI does not provide a lot of money. Honestly, I don't know what the maximum is. I know it depends on living expense. If he lives at home and not planning on paying rent, that will impact how much he gets. But he can always get an increase if he ends up moving out into his own apartment. If he works, that will decrease how much SSI he gets every month. There is some kind of scale where if he starts to make too much, he will no longer be eligible. I'm not sure what that figure is. Again, a lawyer that specializes in elder/disabled law would be able to help. Or financial planners who specialize in special needs trusts would help as well.

It is a lengthy process. They need to stay on top of any paperwork or appointments. SSI will deny for not submitting paperwork. If the parents don't want their child living in poverty while on SSI, then they need to open an ABLE account. The adult child would be able to use that money to supplement expenses (buy a car, pay for a vacation, cover expense that SSI wouldn't be able to cover, etc).

This is just a quick and dirty explanation. Tell your friend to have their adult child meet with a professional. Get a trust set up. Get life insurance. Set up an ABLE account. If they don't have power of attorney already, they need to do that ASAP. And hugs to them. This is such a hard and scary time for special needs parents. Once the child turns 18, so many hard decisions have to be made and it's hard to know what to do.

We are starting this journey now as Ds is 18 and with IRC (Inland Regional Center. Program for disabled persons in the state of Ca).

He will get SSDI and medi-cal.

While he does have Autism, that isn't his qualifying diagnosis.

For ds it is I.D, and his various medical conditions. He will never be able to work a regular job and will always require skilled care.

We also have to start conservatorship soon as well.

Dd has Autism too but that would not qualify her.

However her Primary Immunodeficiency and Ehlers Danlos would as well as POTS if she was not able to work.

He genetics team would help with the process.

my child has autism and is on ssi.. since she lives with us.. she gets about $650 a month. my sister, who lives independently (low income housing) gets about $1,000 a month on ssi.

you need to talk to special needs lawyer.. to set up trust, to set up able accounts, to navigate social security. I hired a consultant, spent thousands to get an independent evaluation (so low on executive functioning skills). and appealed informally the first denial and got it. my child is also a regional center client.. but they don't provide much support for her other than a support person 4 hours once a week. she is very smart and highly verbal. it is a long and tough process but worth it.

I would just say. if you can get a consultant or lawyer. it is not enough to live on really.. but people do. we don't care about disabled people in this country. in SF, it will get you no where but medi-cal and food stamps.

I would say it is not the diagnosis.. it is the level of functioning and impairment due to disability. so some with autism can function daily. some can't.
my kid goes to college.. can take 1 class at a time.. (which means she does not qualify for financial aid from anyone). 2 classes is too much.