Autism Disability Benefits: Understanding Social Security Eligibility

The Social Security Administration recognizes Autism, or Autistic Disorder, as a disabling condition. Benefits are available for those who have the condition, or a similar Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and meet certain eligibility criteria. Aspects of the condition must be medically documented and/or, in some cases, show obvious marked difficulties and impairments.

Adults

• Adults must show medical documentation proving deficits in communication abilities, social interaction, imaginative activity and restricted interests and activities.

Results

• For an adult to qualify, the above deficits must result in two of the following: restrictions in daily living, trouble maintaining social function, difficulties keeping concentration and/or repeat episodes of prolonged duration.

Children

• Medical documents for children must show deficits in communication, imaginative activity, development of social interaction and restricted activities and interests.

Ages 3 to 18

• For a child between the ages of 3 and 18 to qualify, the above deficits must result two of the following criteria: difficulty keeping concentration, age-appropriate communication impairment, impairment in age-appropriate social functioning and/or impairment in age-appropriate personal functioning.

Ages 1 to 3

• For a small child between the ages of 1 and 3, the above deficits must result in at least one of the criteria for children ages 3 to 18.

Parents

• The findings for children are based on medical documentation and history as well as statements made about observations made by parents and other adults in the affected child's life.