If I Receive SSDI Benefits, Are My Children Also Eligible For Benefits?
You have been approved to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, but does SSDI also take into account that you may have dependent children at home that you need to support?
Fortunately, the answer is yes, although the Social Security Administration (SSA) places limitations on who is considered a dependent child and how long they can receive benefits based on your payment.
To qualify for Social Security benefits based on your record, a child must be either be a biological child, an adopted child or a stepchild. Also, a child must be under age 18 or 18-19 years old and a full time student (no higher than grade 12). A child can be older than 18 and receive benefits as long as that child had a disability that that started before age 22, but generally, SSDI benefits will stop once your child reaches the age of 18.
The total of your child’s payment varies on how large your payment is, but generally a child may be eligible for a monthly benefit of up to 50 percent of your disability rate. However, there is a limit on the amount a family can be paid. The rule of thumb is that payment is capped at about 150 to 180 percent of your benefit.
Say you are receiving $1,000 in SSDI benefits a month. One child may be eligible to receive $500 a month based on your payment. However, say you have four dependent children. If Social Security has determined that those dependents can only receive up to 150 percent of your benefit payment, then the percentage each dependent child receives drops. Each child would not receive $500 per month, since that would add up to 300 percent of your monthly family total (your payment is included in the calculation.) So, each child would receive a benefit check of $125 per month.
The Social Security Disability Insurance attorneys at Farah & Farah in Jacksonville encourage you to contact us if you have questions regarding your SSDI benefits or what benefits your family may be entitled to. Knowing this information can make a huge difference, especially for families where the breadwinner has suffered a job-ending disability and every penny counts.
Let us help you and your family. If you have questions about SSDI, contact Farah & Farah online or call us at (800) 533-3555 for a free review of your case.
