[lotyrin]

It's written right in that the condition must be expected to last 12 months or more.

Depending on case loads in your jurisdiction, it might take longer than that to apply and appeal your (likely) denial.

Maybe you're thinking of short-term disability insurance, which is a private service unavailable to those who can't afford it?

Edit because we're too deep in this thread: from ssa.gov

"Social Security has a strict definition of disability for children.

The child must have a physical or mental condition(s) that very seriously limits his or her activities; and The condition(s) must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least 1 year or result in death."

Perhaps you were in a state-run program for minors with different eligibility requirements, I'm not sure.

[Domenic_S]

No.

I personally applied for - and received - state disability payments when I was diagnosed with cancer. I was barely an adult and had no financial means to speak of.

[Zimahl]

You immediately say 'no' but then admit that it was a state disability payment. So was it Federal SSI or some state program? From what I can tell here are the only states with those programs: California, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Hawaii.

[Domenic_S]

The poster above me added the stuff about state programs in an edit, which he pointed out.

All you're saying is that state programs work, which is a right/libertarian position and probably not what you're going for.