Social Security Disability Benefits for Dependents

Posted October 16, 2017 by Premier Disability Services, LLC®

Around 4.4 million children receive approximately $2.5 billion each month because one or both of their parents are disabled, retired, or deceased. Those dollars help to provide the necessities of life for family members and help to make it possible for those children (dependents) to complete high school. When a parent becomes disabled or dies, Social Security benefits help to stabilize the family’s financial future.

Who can qualify?

Your child can get benefits if he or she is your biological child, adopted child, or dependent stepchild.

To get benefits, a child must have:

  • A parent(s) who is disabled or retired and entitled to Social Security benefits; or
  • A parent(s) who died after having worked long enough in a job where he or she paid Social Security taxes.

The child also must be:

  • Unmarried;
  • Younger than age 18;
  • 18-19 years old and a full-time student (no higher than grade 12); or
  • 18 or older and disabled (if the disability started before age 22).

How long do benefits continue?

Benefits stop when your child reaches age 18 (unless your child is a student or disabled).

If your child is a student: Three months before your child’s 18th birthday, Social Security will send you a notice that benefits will end at age 18 unless your child is a full-time student at a secondary (or elementary) school. If your child is younger than 19 and still attending a secondary or elementary school, he or she must notify Social Security by completing a statement of attendance that has been certified by a school official. The benefits then will usually continue until he or she graduates, or until two months after reaching age 19, whichever comes first.

If your child is disabled: Benefits will continue at age 18 to a child who is disabled. Childhood disability benefits are also payable after attainment of age 18, if the disability began before the age of 22.

How much can a family get?

Within a family, a child may receive up to one-half of the parent’s full retirement or disability benefit, or 75 percent of the deceased parent’s basic Social Security benefit. However, there is a limit to the amount of money that can be paid to a single family. The family maximum payment is determined as part of every Social Security benefit computation and can be from 150 to 180 percent of the parent’s full benefit amount. If the total amount payable to all family members exceeds this limit, each person’s benefit is reduced proportionately (except the parent’s) until the total equals the maximum allowable amount.

If you or someone you know is unable to work due to a medical condition, please contact us for a free case evaluation!

Read more here: https://www.ssa.gov/planners/disability/dfamily4.html

By: Joyce Trudeau of Premier Disability Services, LLC®