If I hear about the labeling thing again my head will explode, the fact is that without that you will get no, or very little services. I have two ASD kids, and they both get SSI. I can tell you we put it off for a long time because of the lable and family thoughts, and it litterally cost us thousands of dollars we did not really have. I live in MA so the kids get SSI and they get Mass Health for medical, so when we fill perscriptions there is no co pay at all. there is also no co pay at the Dr.

My daughter is 6 and also non verbal and wears pull ups, and only eats certain things, so the insurance pays for her pull ups and vitamin drinks. she goes through 8-10 pull ups a day, and at $20 a pack for 13 of them you can imagine what that was costing us.

Do what is best for your kids, and do not listen to others that really have no clue, even if they think they have your best interests at heart.

My son is 21 with Aspergers and extremely intelligent, but we're not sure if he'll ever be able to hold a job or even live on his own. We've been advised to get him on SSI to help pay for any schooling that he needs, special living arrangements, etc. If later he is able to function fully in society, he can always get OFF SSI. I'm 56 and we worry that we won't always be around to provide for him.

I fought this off for a long time because I felt guilty like I was being paid to be a mom but alot of family told me why I shouldnt feel that way and how it benefits my son so we applied last year and are now getting the SSI

I strongly feel that these services are in place so that when we need them, we can use them. I am applying for everything I can for my two year old son, who was diagnosed last month. I am hopeful that I won't need everything I've applied for, but I would hate to find myself in a position of needing something for him that I can't get, and wishing I had applied. Also, I keep reminding myself I've worked since I was 15 years old, and paid my share into the system for over 30 years now, so if I need it to be there for me, then so be it.

I just want to give some more advise on this subject. Everyone has to think about if it is worth the second parent working at all when you get SSI for your child. Most likely if both parents work, therey are not going to offer as much to you because of the income coming in. And if it is like it is here at my house, my wife was constantly taking time off of work for the kids because of their needs so she could not longer keep working without getting fired.

So what we had to think about , was the second income so above and beyond what the kids are going to get in SSI, and is it worth my wife being stresssed beyond belief. In our case with just me working, and I do not make great money, we get somewhere around $650 each child a month depending on if I have OT or not. Now I believe the minimum amount if you qualify for SSI is somewhere around $200 so our choice was for my wife to stay home.

As it is now there is not bussing for the summer program my daughter is going to, so my wife drops her off and picks her up, and my sone is starting a half day program with art involved in a few weeks so we would not be able to do that if my wife was working.

I hope this does not sound like we are taking advantage of the system, but we are doing what is best for the kids, and we by no means life a lavish lifestyle. Untill my wife stpopped working she payed into the system for a long time, and I always have so i think they owe us something. Also if people who are not even citizens of this country can get services without question my kids should be able to get them.