How does SSI work?

If you are already on SSDI and have been approved for continuation, it will seamlessly continue. The only reason you MIGHT not get a full check, is if you don't apply for continuation of SSDI benefits by next week AND you have already graduated from high school.. If you are in high school and they know you are in high school it won't matter anyway as you can get the benefits until you graduate or 19 and 2 months whichever comes first.

Judith and JMITW are correct. You are getting benefits now as a dependent not because you have Aspergers. That diagnosis is VERY unlikely to qualify you for SSI or even be entitled to continuing benefits after you finish high school. Your mom may have misunderstand what's happening. Your benefits are probably continuing because you're in school, but once you graduate they won't.

If you are 18 that means you are probably graduating high school in May, right? Or next year if you were held back? What you need to do is fill out your FAFSA and apply to colleges in your state. If you're drawing social security as a dependent, you'll probably get the full award. At a community college or regional university that will usually be enough to cover everything and give you a change check back each semester for other expenses. You will get extra support at college due to your disability and that will help you to succeed and find the right career path for yourself.

https://fafsa.ed.gov/

You aren't getting SSDI because there is no such thing as SSDI before age 18. If you've been getting a social security benefit you've been getting a CHILD'S benefit which normally ends at age 18. Social Security benefits are paid to minor children for no other reason than they are minors - they do not need to be attending school and they do not need to be disabled. They are entitled simply because they have a parent who is getting a social security disability or retirement benefit or a parent is deceased. Social Security child's benefits are payable at age 18 or later only if the child is a full-time high school student OR has become disabled before age 22. If you get a social security benefit then the benefit received in February is payment for January.

So if you get a social security child's benefit it will only continue if you are a full-time high school student or you become entitled because they determine that you are disabled. If the social security benefit is low enough they might also take a claim for SSI benefits as well. Some people get both social security and SSI.

As for SSDI (social security disability insurance) - that ONLY applies to a disabled wage earner who has worked and paid social security taxes long enough to become entitled to a monthly social security benefit on their own account. It DOES NOT apply to children receiving benefits off of a parent's account.

Only SSI (supplemental security income) pays a disability benefit to children before age 18. SSI is the federal welfare program which means that not only must you be disabled but you must also have financial need. Once a child graduates from high school their disability will be re-evaluated using adult criteria for entitlement. It is at this point that benefits are often terminated because many children do not meet the adult disability criteria. The SSI benefit received in February is for February.