There is no minimum age to receive SSDI

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) has no lower age limit. You can receive benefits as an infant, child, teenager, or adult—the only requirement related to age is that you must have earned enough work credits before you became disabled. A child whose parent worked and paid Social Security taxes can receive benefits on that parent's record, even if the child has never worked.

The age that matters is not how old you are now, but how old you were when your disability began. If you became disabled at age 16, you can receive SSDI at 16. If you became disabled at age 45, you can receive SSDI at 45. The work credits you need depend on your age at the time you became disabled—younger workers need fewer credits.

There is also no upper age limit. You can continue to receive SSDI for the rest of your life, as long as your condition remains disabling and you report any changes in your situation to Social Security.

Key Takeaways

  • SSDI has no minimum age—children and adults of any age can receive benefits if they meet the disability and work credit requirements.
  • The work credits you need depend on your age when you became disabled, not your age now.
  • Younger workers need fewer work credits than older workers to be insured for disability benefits.
  • You can receive SSDI until you reach full retirement age, at which point your benefits convert to retirement benefits on your own record.
  • Family members of any age may also receive benefits on your SSDI record if they meet their own requirements.

How age affects the work credits you need

Social Security divides workers into age groups, and each group needs a different number of work credits to be insured for disability. The younger you were when you became disabled, the fewer credits you need.

If you became disabled before age 24, you generally need only 6 work credits earned in the 3 years before you became disabled. If you became disabled between ages 24 and 30, you need 20 credits. If you became disabled at 31 or older, you need 40 credits total, with at least 20 of them earned in the 10 years before you became disabled.

One work credit is earned for each $1,550 of wages you report to Social Security in a calendar year (this amount changes each year). Most workers earn 4 credits per year if they work full-time, but you can earn credits at any pace—part-time work counts.

When SSDI benefits stop and what happens next

SSDI does not continue forever in the same form. When you reach your full retirement age—which depends on your birth year and ranges from 66 to 67 for people born in 1943 or later—your SSDI benefits automatically convert to retirement benefits. The amount you receive stays the same, but the program name changes and the rules that explore to you change slightly.

Before you reach full retirement age, there are limits on how much you can earn from work without losing benefits. In 2024, if you are under full retirement age for the entire year, Social Security deducts $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above $23,400. The year you reach full retirement age, the limit is higher and applies only to earnings before the month you reach full retirement age. Once you reach full retirement age, you can earn any amount without losing benefits.

If your condition improves and you are no longer disabled, Social Security will stop your benefits. You have a right to request a new review if you believe the decision is wrong.

Children and family members on your SSDI record

If you are receiving SSDI, your unmarried children under age 19 (or up to age 19 if they are in high school full-time) may also receive benefits on your record. Adult children who became disabled before age 22 can continue to receive benefits for life, regardless of their current age.

Your spouse can also receive benefits on your SSDI record if they are age 62 or older, or if they are caring for your child who is under age 16. A former spouse may also be may have access to to benefits on your record under certain conditions.

Each family member's benefit is calculated as a percentage of your primary insurance amount. The total amount all family members can receive is capped at 150 to 180 percent of your benefit amount, depending on your situation.

Disabled adult children and the age 22 rule

A child who became disabled before reaching age 22 can receive benefits on a parent's SSDI or retirement record for life. This is called Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits, and it is one of the few situations where age does not limit how long you can receive.

The disability must have started before the child turned 22, but the child can be any age when they explore. A 45-year-old person who became disabled at age 20 can still explore for DAC benefits on a parent's record. The parent must be receiving SSDI, retirement benefits, or have passed away (in which case the child may receive survivor benefits instead).

DAC benefits end only if the person's disability ends, they reach full retirement age (at which point the benefits convert to retirement benefits on the parent's record), or the parent's benefit record ends.

What happens if you were born outside the United States

Age requirements for SSDI are the same regardless of where you were born, but there are additional rules about where you can live and receive benefits. U.S. citizens can receive SSDI anywhere in the world. Non-citizens have more restrictions: most must live in the United States to receive benefits, and some non-citizens cannot receive benefits at all.

If you are not a U.S. citizen, check with Social Security about your specific situation before you explore. Your immigration status and the country where you live both affect whether you can receive SSDI.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a baby or young child receive SSDI?

Yes. A child of any age can receive SSDI if a parent or grandparent who worked and paid Social Security taxes becomes disabled, retires, or passes away. The child does not need to have worked or earned work credits themselves. The child must have a disability that is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death.

What if I became disabled before I turned 22 but did not explore until I was older?

You can still explore. Social Security looks at when your disability began, not when you applied. If you became disabled at age 19 and explore at age 35, you are still may have access to to DAC benefits on a parent's record (if your parent is receiving or may have access to to benefits). However, benefits are usually paid only back to the month you explore, not back to when the disability began.

Do I lose SSDI when I turn 65?

No. At age 65, you do not lose SSDI. Instead, your benefits convert to retirement benefits when you reach your full retirement age (66 or 67, depending on your birth year). The amount you receive stays the same. If you reach full retirement age before your disability ends, the conversion happens automatically.

Can my teenage child receive benefits while still in school?

Yes, if you are receiving SSDI and your child is under age 19 and in high school full-time, they can receive benefits on your record. Once they graduate or turn 19, whichever comes first, the benefits stop unless they became disabled before age 22, in which case they may continue as a Disabled Adult Child.

What if I am over 62 and disabled—do I get SSDI or retirement benefits?

Social Security will pay you whichever benefit is higher. If you are over 62 and disabled, you can claim either SSDI or retirement benefits. You cannot receive both at the same time. Social Security will automatically pay you the larger amount, though you have the right to choose which one you want if you prefer the smaller amount for other reasons.