The Dedicated Account Rules: Retroactive Supplemental Security Income Benefits for Disabled Children

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Congress restricted, as part of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, the spending of retroactive Supplemental Security Income benefits paid on behalf of disabled children. Because such a revised standard for spending restricts parental decision making to a considerable degree, clients need to be warned of new rules like this before they misuse or misapply funds. Parents and advocates should also be aware that Social Security Administration field offices are often applying the new rules incorrectly and too restrictively.

By Richard P. Weishaupt, Jonathan M. Stein, and Robert J. Lukens From January - February 1999