Having a disability can be hard on you and your family. There’s no question that your standard of living can become more expensive, so it’s natural to worry about how you can continue to support your children. But if you’ve worked long enough to qualify for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) benefits, your dependents, such as a spouse or child, may also receive payments.
Is my child eligible for benefits?
If you are qualified for SSDI payments, your child may be eligible for benefits too. Check below to see whether your child meets the family benefits criteria:
- They must be your biological child, adopted child or stepchild
- They must be unmarried
- They must be under the age of 18, or
- They must be 18-19 years old and a full-time high school student
Unless your child has a disability, payments will stop after their 18th birthday. Benefits may only continue after the child turns 18 if they are still a student but no higher than grade 12. Your child will receive payments until they graduate school or two months after turning 19, whichever comes first.
How much will my child get in benefits?
Your child can receive up to 50% of your monthly disability benefits. However, having other dependents such as your spouse or another child, will reduce the amount. This is due to the Social Security Administration’s family cap on monthly payments, which ranges from 150% to 180%.
Assuming you get $1,500 in SSDI benefits each month, your dependent would be entitled to $750. If you apply for other family members to receive benefits, Social Security Administration will split $750 between each qualifying member.
You can apply for SSDI payments for your child by scheduling an appointment and accomplishing the necessary paperwork at a Social Security office in your area. If you run into problems, talking to other parents in similar situations, joining a disability advocates group or consulting an SSDI lawyer are some good places to start.