YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY
By DAVID BROWN

Many people think of Social Security as just a retirement program. While it is true that most of the people receiving Social Security collect retirement benefits, Social Security touches families in many other ways - including those struggling to meet the basic needs of children with disabilities.

Children who have physical or mental disabilities may qualify for Supplemental Security Income, or SSI. SSI is a needs-based program that provides payments to people with disabilities who have not worked enough and paid enough Social Security tax to receive Social Security payments - including children.

When determining whether a child is eligible for SSI benefits, Social Security considers the income and resources of not only the child, but also the parents or other family members living in the household.

The child must have a physical or mental condition that seriously limits his or her daily activities, and the condition must be expected to last 12 months or more, or end in death. To help us determine whether a child is disabled, we will ask for any information available pertaining to the condition. We also will ask the applicant - the parent, grandparent or guardian - to sign releases that allow us to obtain information from doctors, hospitals, clinics, teachers, therapists and other professionals who have information about the child's condition.

You can learn more about SSI by reading You May Be Able To Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (SSA Publication No. 05-11069), at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/11069.html .

You also may want to visit Social Security's Kids and Families page at www.socialsecurity.gov/kids /index.htm. There, you'll find information for kids, parents and teachers about Social Security numbers, benefits for children, the importance of saving and low-cost health insurance for children. You also may call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office.

Mr. Brown is District Manager of the Social Security Administration's Downtown New York Office.