What Auxiliary Benefits Are and Who Can Receive Them

Auxiliary benefits are monthly payments Social Security sends to family members of a worker who receives SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance). You do not explore for these benefits separately — they attach automatically to the worker's SSDI case once that person is approved. The worker does not need to do anything extra to trigger them; Social Security identifies may be able to access family members and notifies them by mail.

Family members who may receive auxiliary benefits include a spouse (at any age if caring for a child under 16, or at age 62 or older), unmarried children under 19 (or up to 22 if in high school full-time), and adult children who became disabled before age 22 and remain disabled. A former spouse can also receive benefits if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and that person is at least 62 years old.

The amount each family member receives is a percentage of the worker's benefit amount, not a separate calculation. Social Security reduces the worker's payment and distributes portions to may be able to access family members so that the total household benefit does not exceed a family maximum, which varies but is typically 150 to 180 percent of the worker's individual benefit.

Key Takeaways

  • Auxiliary benefits begin automatically once the SSDI worker is approved; family members do not submit a separate process.
  • Social Security mails notices to the worker's address identifying which family members may have access to and what each will receive.
  • You must report changes in family status — marriage, divorce, a child leaving school, or a child turning 19 — within 30 days or risk overpayment.
  • Each family member's payment is reduced if the household total would exceed the family maximum, which Social Security calculates at the time of approval.
  • Adult children disabled before age 22 can receive benefits for life if they remain disabled, even after age 65.

How Social Security Identifies and Notifies Family Members

When Social Security approves an SSDI claim, a claims representative reviews the worker's household information from the process. The representative identifies all family members who meet the rules for auxiliary benefits based on age, relationship, school status, and disability status. Social Security then mails a notice to the worker's address listing each family member who qualifies, the monthly amount each will receive, and the date payments begin.

The worker receives this notice first, usually within two weeks of approval. Each family member then receives their own notice at the same address or, if they live elsewhere, at the address Social Security has on file. The notice explains the payment amount, the reason they may have access to, and what they must report if their situation changes.

If a family member's address is different from the worker's, you should contact Social Security to update it before approval. Call 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office with proof of the family member's current address. This ensures notices reach the right person and prevents mail delays.

Documents and Information Social Security Needs from Family Members

Social Security does not ask family members to submit documents for auxiliary benefits at the time of the worker's approval. However, the agency may request documents later to verify may be able to access, especially if circumstances change or if Social Security needs to confirm a family relationship.

Common documents Social Security may ask for include birth certificates (to confirm age and relationship), marriage certificates (for spouses), divorce decrees (for former spouses), school enrollment letters (for children 18 or 19), and medical evidence (for adult children claiming disability). If you receive a request for documents, Social Security will specify which ones and give you a important date, usually 10 business days.

Keep copies of the original documents you submitted with the SSDI worker's process. If Social Security asks for the same documents again, you can reference the date you already provided them. If documents are missing or incomplete, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to ask what is needed and how to submit it.

Reporting Changes That Affect Auxiliary Benefits

You must report certain changes within 30 days or Social Security may overpay benefits and later demand repayment. The most common changes are a child turning 19, a child leaving school, a child becoming employed and earning above the work incentive threshold, a spouse turning 62 (which changes the payment structure), marriage, divorce, or a family member moving out of the household.

Report changes by calling 1-800-772-1213, visiting your local Social Security office, or logging into your my Social Security account online at ssa.gov. When you report, have the family member's Social Security number, the date the change occurred, and any supporting documents ready. Social Security will update the record and adjust payments starting the month after the change takes effect.

If you miss the 30-day window, Social Security may continue paying the family member after they no longer may have access to. The agency will eventually discover the error through a periodic review and send a notice demanding repayment of the overpaid amount. Reporting promptly protects both the family member and the worker from debt.

How Payments Are Divided Among Family Members

Social Security calculates each family member's payment as a percentage of the worker's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is the benefit amount the worker would receive at full retirement age. A spouse caring for a child under 16 receives 75 percent of the PIA. A spouse age 62 or older receives 32.5 to 50 percent depending on age. Each unmarried child under 19 receives 75 percent. An adult child disabled before age 22 receives 75 percent.

If the total of all family members' payments would exceed the family maximum (usually 150 to 180 percent of the worker's PIA), Social Security reduces each family member's payment proportionally. For example, if the family maximum is 175 percent and the total would be 200 percent, each person receives 87.5 percent of their calculated amount. The worker's payment is never reduced below 50 percent of the PIA.

Social Security sends each family member their own payment by direct deposit or check. Payments arrive on the same day each month, typically the third of the month or the second Wednesday if the worker was born on the 11th through the 20th. You can view payment amounts and dates in the my Social Security account or by calling 1-800-772-1213.

When Auxiliary Benefits End

Auxiliary benefits stop automatically when a family member no longer meets the rules. For unmarried children, benefits end the month after they turn 19, unless they are in high school full-time (in which case they continue until they turn 22 or leave school, whichever comes first). For spouses caring for a child under 16, benefits end when the youngest child turns 16. For spouses age 62 or older, benefits continue for life unless they become ineligible for another reason.

Adult children disabled before age 22 can receive benefits indefinitely if they remain disabled. Social Security conducts periodic reviews to confirm the disability continues. If an adult child's condition improves or they return to work above the substantial gainful activity level, benefits end. Social Security sends a notice before stopping payments, usually giving 30 days' notice.

If the worker's SSDI benefits end — for example, because they return to work and no longer meet the disability rules — auxiliary benefits end as well. Social Security notifies all family members when this happens. If the worker later becomes disabled again and SSDI is reinstated, auxiliary benefits may restart if family members still may have access to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to tell Social Security about a family member who lives in another country?

Yes. Social Security needs to know where all family members live. Some countries have agreements with Social Security that allow payments to continue; others do not. Contact Social Security to report the family member's location before or when ready after they move. Failure to report can result in overpayment and a demand for repayment.

What happens if the SSDI worker dies?

Auxiliary benefits end when ready. Family members may become may be able to access for survivor benefits instead, which are calculated differently and have different rules. Contact Social Security within 30 days of the worker's death to report the death and ask about survivor benefits for each family member.

Can a family member work and still receive auxiliary benefits?

Yes, but earnings above a certain level reduce or stop the payment. In 2024, a family member under full retirement age can earn up to $23,400 per year before benefits are reduced. For every $2 earned above that amount, $1 in benefits is withheld. Contact Social Security if a family member starts working to understand how it affects their payment.

If I'm divorced from the SSDI worker, can I receive auxiliary benefits?

Yes, if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and you are at least 62 years old. You do not need the worker's permission, and the worker does not need to know you are receiving benefits. Contact Social Security to report the prior marriage and provide a copy of the divorce decree.

What if Social Security made a mistake and overpaid a family member?

Social Security will send a notice explaining the overpayment and how much must be repaid. You can request a waiver of the overpayment if you did not cause the error and repayment would be a hardship. Contact your local Social Security office to request a waiver and explain your circumstances.