PS- some people who do get Medicare ALSO can qualify for Medicaide. (depending on their whole overall situation, financial picture) and yes, it is a 2 year wait to get your Medicare. ANd no, even if BOTH parents get Medicare - it does not mean the kids WILL qualify for Medicaide. Often they do, depending on the dollar amount of the parents soc sec income and or other income- etc. But sometimes the kids DO qualify.
SOme state automatically award Medicaide to SSI recipients, some states don't. (some award food stamps, too and some don't)
ANd yes, some states have things such as Katie Beckett waivers etc for disabled kids to help kid regardless of parents financial situation, and some states do not have such waivers or help.
Our soc sec office asked me if I wanted to be rep payee for my dtr due to the type of her disability and symptonms of her disability. FOr our under 18 kids, I was automatically rep payee, but my dtr could have chosen to NOT have me be her rep payee, and then becuz of her type of disability, soc sec MAY (but might not) decide she MUST have someone else be her rep payee and possibly a guardian- IF she leaves MY home. Also my husband soc sec I did not have to become his guardian legally, but, I am also HIS rep payee, unless HE decides he does not want me to. BUT then he may require a guardian. (soc sec may require him to have a guardian, and same for my dtr, if either of them decides they do not want me to do it)
BUt that is becuz part of my husband and my dtrs qualifying for soc sec has to do with their mental level of functioning.
