Benefits specialist outlines steps for families applying for SSI, Medicaid and ABLE accounts after graduation

A benefits specialist from Boone Center in St. Peters, Missouri, told attendees at a community workshop that families should plan ahead to secure adult supports when a student with disabilities graduates from the St. Louis Special School District.

The presenter said families often need a sequence of benefits and supports — Social Security (SSI), Medicaid and sometimes vocational rehabilitation — and recommended specific steps to improve the chance of a successful application. "If you plan to apply for SSI at the age of 18, you will need to wait 1 month past your child's birthday to apply," she said, explaining that waiting ensures Social Security treats the applicant as an adult and does not count parental income.

She explained practical details of the SSI process: applicants must schedule a telephone interview (typically two to three weeks after the…