United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Health, Education, and Human Services Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1994-09-09 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:HEHS-94-225 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-94-225 P0b002ee18037e8e0 f:he94225 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-HEHS-94-225 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-HEHS-94-225 HEHS-94-225 Social security benefits Disability benefits Children Eligibility criteria Eligibility determinations Mental illnesses Judicial opinions Behavioral sciences research Handicapped children Supplemental Security Income Program Letter Report HEHS The number of children receiving Supplemental Security Income disability benefits has more than doubled during the last four years. Although much of the attention has focused on the Sullivan v. Zebley Supreme Court decision as the cause of this growth--that decision made the Social Security Administration's disability criteria for children less restrictive--GAO found that most of the children who received new awards would have qualified for them even without the functional assessment process mandated by the Zebley decision. Huge increases in the number of children awarded benefits because of mental impairments account for more than two-thirds of the growth in awards. Most awards to the mentally impaired go to mentally retarded children. Although the portion of mental awards to children with "behavior problems," such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, personality disorders, and autism, is growing, it is still relatively small. From February 1991 through 1993, children with "behavior problems" have received 22 percent of awards made to children with mental impairments. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-94-225/html/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-94-225.htm GAO/HEHS-94-225 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-HEHS-94-225 Letter Report GAO/HEHS-94-225; Social Security: Rapid Rise in Children on SSI Disability Rolls Follows New Regulations; Social security benefits Disability benefits Children Eligibility criteria Eligibility determinations Mental illnesses Judicial opinions Behavioral sciences research Handicapped children Supplemental Security Income Program