Understanding Supplemental Security Income
SSI Spotlight on Deeming Parental Income
and Resources
2008 Edition

I have a disabled child under age 18 and I am working.

Possibly. We consider some of your incomeincome and resourcesresources to be available to your child. They may affect whether your child can get SSI benefits and how much.

The process of determining how much of your incomeincome and resourcesresources we will use is called "deeming."

Deeming applies if the parent(s) has incomeincome and/or resourcesresources that we must consider.

AND

The child:

	is under age 18; and
	lives at home with his or her natural, or adoptive parent(s); or
	lives away at school, but comes home on some weekends, holidays, or school vacations and is subject to parental control.

Yes. A stepparent's incomeincome and resourcesresources count.

We do not deem some types of incomeincome and resourcesresources.

Examples of incomeincome that we do not deem are:

	Temporary Assistance for Needy Families;
	Department of Veterans Affairs pension;
	general assistance;
	foster care payments for an ineligible child; and
	income used to make court–ordered support payments.

Examples of resourcesresources that we do not deem are:

	a home;
	household goods;
	personal effects; and
	money in pension funds.

We deem only a part of the types of incomeincome or resourcesresources we use.

Deeming stops the month after a child turns age 18. Therefore, a child, who could not receive SSI benefits because of deeming, may be able to get SSI benefits when he or she turns age 18.

Deeming does not apply in some other situations.