Why supplemental security income is important for children and adolescents. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Children With Disabilities.

Congress implemented the children’s component of the 551 program in 1974 in recognition that disabled children who live in low-income households are among the most disadvantaged of all Americans and therefore deserve special assistance. The cost of caring for a child with special needs is an especially heavy burden for families with limited resources. The intent of the 551 program is to reduce the additional deleterious environmental effects that a low family income can have on the growth and development of the disabled child and thereby help these children become self-supporting members of society. The 551 program provides cash benefits. Therefore, parents can decide how best to use these flexible funds to meet the needs of their child, such as for respite care, special equipment, or transportation to the physician’s office. These benefits can also offset the potential income of a second working parent, thus allowing a mother or father to provide care for the child at home. In addition, 551 eligibility automatically qualifies