The age-18 redetermination and postredetermination participation in SSI

Youth who initially become eligible for Supplemental Security Income under the definition of disability for children must have their eligibility redetermined upon attaining age 18, using the definition of disability for adults. Based on 8 years of administrative data from the Social Security Administration, this article provides statistics on the average age-18 redetermination outcomes over time by various individual characteristics. We find little change in the initial cessation rate for all groups over time, although there are large differences in initial cessation rates between disability type and other characteristics. The majority of redeterminations result in initial continuances. The article also examines data on individuals who successfully appeal an initial cessation determination and/or who successfully reapply for payments after losing eligibility. Many youth initially found not to meet the definition of disability for adults successfully appeal that decision, and a nontrivial number who lost eligibility successfully reapply at a later date.