Once a child is found eligible for SSI, special rules apply to past-due SSI benefits. If the past due SSI is more than 6 times the monthly SSI amount, this money must be held in a separate account. This special account is called a dedicated account.

The dedicated account money may be spent only for goods or services that relate to the child’s disability. For example, this money could be used to buy a computer or teacher-recommended software to help promote learning and to aid the child in developing skills in reading or math. This money also could be used for any of the following:

• modifications to the home needed because of the nature of the child’s disability;
• aids to help the child learn or move about, such as assistive technology devices, modified instructional materials, or specialized transportation
• special food for dietary needs, e.g., sugar-free foods for a diabetic;
• special clothing, e.g., orthopedic shoes or pants;
• day care or recreation not included in a special education program
• respite care or therapeutic foster care not covered by insurance,
• repayment of past debt if the debt is related to the child’s disabilities;
• reading and language development games or a jungle gym to use for exercise

Parents must keep receipts for any transactions involving this special bank account, and must submit a record of expenditures to the government upon request.