I live in Missouri. I have a 7 year old son whose father was killed 6 years ago- social security denied benefits for my son because his father (who died when he was 21) didn't have enough work credits. My son won a wrongful death suit and has $17,000 in the bank that cannot be used until he turns 18. A couple months after my son turned 3 he was diagnosed with a brain tumor (pineoblastoma) again, he was denied any benefits this time due to the money he has in the bank that we cannot use.
I have contacted a lawyer on these issues and they seem to agree with social security, but I still believe that there has to be some loop-hole somewhere. Any advise?

Social security is only available to those that have paid, so if the father had not been fully insuranced under SS then there is no payments available. I am sorry but many who don't work, or who work for cash only find this out the bad way all the time. The money should have been put in a trust, not in a bank account, in a trust, it would not even be reported, since it is not money available.