well, no kidding!

[kathyp]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/09/opinion/sunday/kristof-profiting-from-a-childs-illiteracy.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=opinion&

the observation about kids on SSI is a good one too.  as an example,if a kid is diagnosed as ADD or ADHD the parents can apply for SSI disability for them....i know this because my granddaughter was diagnose and the school immediately suggested they my son apply for disability for her.  i could not believe it.  he didn't, but the idea that he could, and that he was encouraged to, was pretty amazing.

[BlueBee]

What is ADD?  When I was a kid there wasn't such a thing!

[iddee]

ADD is the result of too few spankings.......

[kathyp]

 

probably most of the time that's true.

[S.Rummings]

I actually know of some parents who think their main parenting responsibility is to get all their children on SSI so they are "set for life." ADD is the way they do it. Quite a few people know how to work our broken system.

[luvin honey]

Tell me where it says a word about ADD.

[kathyp]

Tell me where it says a word about ADD.

that came out of my comments about my granddaughter.

[luvin honey]

I read the link (yes, I did ) and I was reading about learning disabilities, not ADD. I've had experience with ADD in the family and have never, ever heard of anyone being offered anything, including IEPs, much less SSI.

I will say, though, that we're starting to work with a family that seems a bit too invested in their children having problems. This is just only after a 1-hour observation, so probably not fair quite yet, but we'll be working with them a lot more in the future and will have a better chance to assess it.

As always, I say fix the system rather than trash the whole thing. People should not have to choose between their children doing well academically and putting food on the table. And our help should always aim at getting people independent of it.

[kathyp]

As always, I say fix the system rather than trash the whole thing.

there is a whole industry dedicated to getting people on SSI disability.  there are any number of reasons why.  one of the reasons school push it is that they get more federal money for "disabled" kids.  they don't care about the lable. they care about the money and when the parents see it as free money, why not?

then there's this:  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/03/social-security-disability_n_1474621.html

the system can't survive like this.  you want to preserve it for those it was intended to help.  so do i. 

[luvin honey]

http://www.socialsecurity-disability.org/disabling-conditions/mental-disorders

I don't see ADD as a qualifying condition for SSI on this list.

[iddee]

""Organic Mental Disorder

Fluctuations in emotions and their intensity (e.g., explosive temper outbursts, sudden crying, etc.) and impairment in impulse control;

Marked difficulties in maintaining social functioning; AND/OR
Marked difficulties in maintaining concentration, persistence,""

Those look alot like ADD symptoms to me, and they were copied from luvin honey's link.

[luvin honey]

Organic Mental Disorders
To qualify for disability benefits with organic mental disorders, the medical evidence needs to show that your disorder has continued for two years or more despite treatment and that it hinders you from performing even basic work functions. Essentially, you need to show that you cannot function outside of a highly supportive environment. Alternately, you may qualify if you have at least one condition from each of the columns in the chart below:

Time and place disorientation Significant limitation of daily living activities
Impaired memory (short or long term) Significant limitations in social situations
Hallucinations or delusions Difficulty concentrating or keeping pace
Personality changes Extended and repeated periods of decompensation
Mood disturbances Loss of 15 or more points of IQ
Lability of emotions

[iddee]

Impaired memory (short or long term)    Significant limitations in social situations
Mood disturbances                                      Difficulty concentrating or keeping pace

I would say ADD has at least two from each column.

[luvin honey]

Maybe I'm reading the site wrong, but it appears to be aimed at adults who can't function well enough to work. I'm not finding anything about children and SSI. I cannot fathom a reason they would qualify for SSI for a learning issue. And I've never, ever heard of that.

[kathyp]

Maybe I'm reading the site wrong, but it appears to be aimed at adults who can't function well enough to work. I'm not finding anything about children and SSI. I cannot fathom a reason they would qualify for SSI for a learning issue. And I've never, ever heard of that.

don't know what to tell you.  it's out there and it's a big thing right now.  all the school has to do is to the evaluation right up correctly and the kid qualifies.  parents get paid.  school gets paid.  kid gets labeled.  all is well. 

it's a racket to be sure, but there are lawyers and doctors standing by to assist.

[kathyp]

http://forum.socialsecurityhome.com/showthread.php/817-Can-a-child-with-ADD-ADHD-get-SSI

this is like the 2nd google result for 'how do i get my child on SSI?'

[luvin honey]

Well, crap! I sure hope "marked impairment" is actually required. Hard to imagine why a family would need SSI if the school is dealing with it, though. I can definitely see why districts get extra aid for learning disabilities. I've spent enough time in the school to know that plenty of kids don't fit into the typical learning mold and genuinely need some extra help, which the teacher can't give and requires an aid or learning disability specialist.

[kathyp]

Hard to imagine why a family would need SSI if the school is dealing with it, though

i doubt need has much to do with it.

[S.Rummings]

Maybe I'm reading the site wrong, but it appears to be aimed at adults who can't function well enough to work. I'm not finding anything about children and SSI. I cannot fathom a reason they would qualify for SSI for a learning issue. And I've never, ever heard of that.

What I have learned from your statement is that you (and the others who responded the same way) probably work for a living. You probably never considered any other option.

If you lived in public housing, 2 doors down from your parents, and across the parking lot from your children and grandparents, I guarantee you would understand this very well and there is no doubt you would have heard of it. This is one case where your lack of knowledge shows you are a good person.

As for me, my job forces me to deal with these people every day. I guess it is no wonder I want to be surrounded by creatures who actually work themselves to death.

[iddee]