Answer Summary

Members overwhelmingly reassured someone worried that filing for Social Security disability might result in losing custody of their children,... Read more

Members overwhelmingly reassured someone worried that filing for Social Security disability might result in losing custody of their children, with the unanimous consensus being that disability status has no connection to parental fitness and that children are only removed in cases of proven abuse or severe neglect. Several members shared their own experiences as parents on disability, explaining that not only did they keep their children, but they also received additional financial support for them, and they encouraged persistence through the denial and appeal process, which many described as standard and intentionally discouraging. A recurring theme was the importance of documenting all symptoms with doctors, considering free legal aid or consulting a disability lawyer who only gets paid if you win, and remembering that being disabled does not mean being an unfit parent.