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Youth Resources
Social Security has youth-friendly resources to connect youth and young adults with disabilities to important information to achieve education, career, and life goals. These resources are available for youth transitioning to adulthood and for their parents, teachers, health providers, caregivers, or representatives as they prepare to successfully transition to adulthood.
Services and Supports
Find out about the services and support available from Social Security.
Learn more about resources for transition-aged youth to connect to national and community supports and resources.
Turning 18
Connect to supports for youth who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and information about what may change when SSI youth turn 18.
Find training for youths with disabilities preparing to work.
Preparing to Work
Navigate to information and support to help SSI youth become self-sufficient.
Connect to free counseling and free employment service providers for SSA beneficiaries ages 18-64 who have a disability and want to work.
Learn how work can affect your payments for ages 14 and up.
Download a Brochure from the SSA Youth Toolkit:
Qualifying for Benefit Continuation After You Turn 18: EN-64-118
What Resources and Services Are Available To Help You Earn Money?: EN-64-119
What You Need to Know About Earning Money and Supplemental Security Income (SSI): EN-64-121
Resources for Work Equals Success for Me!: EN-64-123
How Can Benefits Continue? If we decide that you are no longer medically disabled, your benefits can continue under certain circumstances. To learn more, select continue your benefit payments.
How can I support my students in transitioning?
It’s not too soon to start preparing for your transition. Here are a few tips to get you started.
If you are ages 14 and 15 GET PREPARED!
Share our publications with people in your support system such as, your guardians, parents, representatives, caregivers, healthcare providers, counselors, teachers, etc. Have a conversation with them. You can ask questions like the ones below:
What happens to your SSI payments when you turn age-18?
How can they help you get ready for your transition?
What programs do you qualify for? Tell them what programs you’re interested in!
Of the programs that you’re interested in, do any of them make you potentially eligible for continued SSI payments after an age-18 medical review?
Do you have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)? If not, should you?
Research what reasonable accommodations you can request in educational settings and work environments.
Consider what services you might need to achieve your future plans for continued education, vocational training and work.
Once you’ve considered what programs you’d like to pursue, ask your guardians, counselors, teachers, advocates, etc. for help with researching things like:
When is the best time to apply for VR services or continuing education?
How do you begin the application processes?
What materials are needed for the application?
What is the typical length of waiting lists for programs or services you’d like to enroll in?
Are there scholarships and grants available?
If you are ages 16 or 17 ACT NOW!
Contact your local State VR and ask what services they provide and how you can enroll. Ask if there are waiting lists or timeframes you should be aware of and ask what documentation you should bring. If programs have waiting lists, apply for the program as soon as you are eligible for services.
Start working on your applications for college, community college, vocational rehabilitation, etc. before your scheduled age-18 redetermination. Remember, you must participate in an appropriate program BEFORE a medical cessation to be eligible for Section 301 payment continuation.
Apply for scholarships and grants that are available.
ORDP.OPDR. (2025). Youth | SSA. Ssa.gov. https://www.ssa.gov/youth/index.html?ab=0%2C1#youth_toolkit, Pulled March 16, 2025
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