Does eligibility for special education services make the child eligible for SSI or medical care?

Dear Cindy:

School districts are required to provide those services necessary for a child with a disability to benefit from education. Under some circumstances, this might include extra tutoring, but would never include medicine or medical care.

Approval for a 504 plan or an IEP does not automatically mean that your child qualifies for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or other forms of government assistance that may be available in your state for children with disabilities. However, it does suggest that a disability has been confirmed by the school district, which may mean that your child’s disability may also meet the criteria for SSI or other financial supports. However, these funding sources use different criteria for eligibility than do school districts. Generally, qualifying for one does not automatically mean you qualify for the other.