Tag: SSI

Plan, plan, and plan some more

I can’t predict, so I plan.

Having a child with a severe mood disorder forces me to look at the future through a different lens than my friends with neurotypical kids. I hope my daughter will be able to complete college, live independently, and hold a job, but I don’t know if that will be possible. Creating a safety net helps me to feel much more secure, especially since my daughter has passed that scary milestone, her 18th birthday.

Balanced Mind's Top Six Blogs of 2011

1. Nickelodeon's "iCarly" Stigmatizes Mental Illness
by Susan Resko, Executive Director

Providing for your child’s future

As parents of kids with serious disabilities, we worry. How will we afford treatment costs? What if our child cannot hold a steady job as an adult? How will he or she afford food, shelter, and medical care? If needed, will our child have access to supported housing and other services?

Supplemental Social Security Income

The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) offers social security benefits for eligible children. Disabled children who have limited income and resources, or who come from homes with limited income and resources, may be eligible to receive social security, or specifically, Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Children can qualify if they meet SSA's definition of disability and if their income and assets fall within eligibility limits.

Transitioning from Teen To Adult

by Donna Gilcher
adapted for
Flipswitch by Sara Hunter

Teenagers with bipolar disorder face many challenges as they transition from childhood to adulthood. You must begin planning for life after high school, careers, and independent life long before your 18th birthday or high school graduation. Life after high school can create a greater need for emotional support and social structure and it can be hard to find that support in a college setting or at home.

With that thought in mind, It may be a good idea to investigate transitional programs aimed at individuals with disabilities between the ages of 18-24. These programs can offer a helpful stepping-stone that provides structure and support while nurturing one’s need for independence. They also provide opportunities for development of employability, independent living, and social skills while strengthening awareness of living with bipolar disorder.

Transitioning from Teen To Adult

by Donna Gilcher
adapted for
Flipswitch by Sara Hunter

Teenagers with bipolar disorder face many challenges as they transition from childhood to adulthood. You must begin planning for life after high school, careers, and independent life long before your 18th birthday or high school graduation. Life after high school can create a greater need for emotional support and social structure and it can be hard to find that support in a college setting or at home.

With that thought in mind, It may be a good idea to investigate transitional programs aimed at individuals with disabilities between the ages of 18-24. These programs can offer a helpful stepping-stone that provides structure and support while nurturing one’s need for independence. They also provide opportunities for development of employability, independent living, and social skills while strengthening awareness of living with bipolar disorder.