Social Security Disability does allow child applicants to file. Normally, the parent and/or the legal guardian is the person who files the application on behalf of the child applicant. A child applicant may be eligible to file for Legg-Calve-Perthes (LCP) disease. Social Security Disability has certain criteria that an applicant needs in order to be medically approved.
LCP disease is a disease that occurs during childhood and this condition affects the hip. More specifically, LCP affects the ball and socket joint of the hip. Basically, LCP disease cuts off the blood supply to the ball part of the socket. When the blood is cut off, it makes the joint more prone for breaks. Typically, LCP affects boys between the ages of 4 to 8.
When a parent and/or legal guardian makes an application for childhood Social Security Disability, a child needs to be suffering symptoms of the alleged condition. In regards to LCP disease, the child needs to be experiencing problems with the child’s ability to walk. If the child is not having any problems walking, then LCP disease is not severe enough to meet Social Security Disability’s requirement.
If the child is having difficulty walking and is currently treating with a primary care physician and with a physical therapist, the child might have a claim for Social Security Disability. Social Security Disability’s requirement requires a persistent disability that has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 consecutive months.
If your child is experiencing difficulty in walking and is having pain in the hip, thigh or knee area, you (the parent/legal guardian) should see the child’s primary care doctor. Talking with the primary care doctor and/or surgeon, if surgery is needed, will cover the time frame of what to expect in treatment for LCP disease.
Social Security Disability does not have a separate listing for LCP disease. As a result, LCP disease will be evaluated under Social Security child listings of 101.02, which is a major dysfunction of a joint; or listing 101.03, which is reconstructive surgery of a major weight-bearing joint. If the child is going to need to have major surgery on the hip’s ball socket, listing 101.03 will be the listing that Social Security will use in analyzing the condition. If the child needs to use an assistive device like braces, a cane or a walker because of the child’s difficulty with walking, then listing 101.02 will be used by Social Security.
If the child continues to have problems and needs to use an assistive device to help with the child applicant’s disability, filing for Social Security Disability would be a proper decision. If the child just needs some physical therapy and is doing well after physical therapy, Social Security would not be a proper decision, because the condition is not severe enough and is not expected to last 12 consecutive months.
As a result, depending on the severity of the child applicant’s condition, Social Security might or might not be a proper decision. The more severe the condition, the more symptoms, and the more long lasting the condition is the more likely filing for Social Security Disability on the child’s behalf is proper.
