What Auxiliary Benefits Are and Who Gets Them

Auxiliary benefits are monthly payments to family members of a worker who receives Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). When a parent, grandparent, or other relative gets SSDI, certain family members may receive their own separate payment based on that worker's earnings record — even if they have never worked themselves.

A child can receive auxiliary benefits in two situations: when a parent is receiving SSDI, or when a parent has died and was insured under Social Security. The child does not need to have a disability to receive these payments. The payment is based entirely on the parent's work history and earnings, not the child's circumstances.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) calls these payments "child's benefits" when the child is under 18, or "student's benefits" if the child is 18 or 19 and a full-time high school student. A child age 18 or older who has been disabled since before age 22 may also receive benefits under a different category called "disabled adult child" benefits, though that follows different rules.

Key Takeaways

  • A child can receive auxiliary benefits based on a parent's SSDI record without having a disability themselves, as long as the child is under 18 or a full-time high school student under 19.
  • The monthly payment amount is typically 50 percent of the parent's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), though the family maximum may reduce this if multiple family members receive benefits.
  • Auxiliary benefits stop automatically when the child turns 18, unless the child is a full-time high school student, in which case they stop at age 19.
  • The parent must report changes in the child's school status, living situation, or work income to SSA, because these changes can affect the benefit amount or continuation.
  • If a parent dies while receiving SSDI, the child's benefits may continue or begin under the parent's survivor's insurance, with different age rules and payment amounts.

How the Payment Amount Is Calculated

The SSA calculates a child's auxiliary benefit as a percentage of the parent's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). The PIA is the monthly payment the parent receives from SSDI before any reductions. For a child, the standard rate is 50 percent of the parent's PIA.

However, the actual payment may be lower because of the family maximum. This is a cap on the total amount SSA will pay to all family members based on one worker's record. The family maximum is typically 150 to 180 percent of the worker's PIA, though the exact percentage varies. If the parent receives $1,200 per month and has two children and a spouse all receiving benefits, SSA divides the family maximum among all of them, and each person's share may be less than 50 percent of the parent's amount.

The child's benefit is recalculated each year when the parent's benefit changes due to a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The child's payment increases or decreases along with the parent's, maintaining the same percentage relationship.

When Auxiliary Benefits Start and Stop

A child's auxiliary benefits begin the month after SSA approves the parent's SSDI claim, provided the child meets the age and school-status requirements at that time. SSA does not automatically enroll the child; the parent or guardian must report the child to SSA and provide proof of the child's age and, if applicable, school enrollment.

Benefits stop automatically on the first day of the month after the child turns 18, unless the child is a full-time high school student. If the child is in high school, benefits continue until the end of the month in which the child turns 19 or graduates, whichever comes first. A child who drops out of high school before age 19 loses benefits when ready.

If the child becomes disabled before age 22 and remains disabled, the child may continue to receive benefits past age 19 under the "disabled adult child" category. This requires a separate medical review and approval by SSA, and the rules for these benefits differ from student benefits.

What Changes You Must Report to Social Security

The parent or guardian is responsible for telling SSA about changes that affect the child's benefits. SSA requires notification within 10 days of the change, though reporting sooner is safer.

Report these changes when ready: the child drops out of high school or stops attending full-time; the child moves out of the parent's home; the child gets married; the child begins work or increases work income above the annual earnings limit; the child's school status changes (for example, switching to part-time school); or the child is convicted of a crime.

Failure to report changes can result in overpayment — SSA sends money the child was not may have access to to receive. The parent then becomes responsible for repaying the overpayment, even if the child received the money. SSA can recover overpayments by reducing future benefits or by other collection methods.

Work Income Limits for Student Beneficiaries

A child who is a full-time high school student and receiving auxiliary benefits can work and earn money without losing benefits, as long as earnings stay below the annual limit. For 2024, that limit is $23,409 per year (the amount changes each year). If the child earns more than this amount in a calendar year, SSA will reduce or stop the benefit for that year.

The earnings limit applies only to work income — money from a job. It does not include school scholarships, grants, or money from family members. SSA counts only the child's own wages or self-employment income.

Once the child turns 19 or stops attending high school full-time, the earnings limit no longer applies. At that point, the child's benefits straightforward stop, regardless of income.

What Happens When the Parent Dies

If the parent who is receiving SSDI dies, the child's benefits do not automatically stop. Instead, they may continue or begin under the parent's survivor's insurance. The rules are different from auxiliary benefits while the parent is alive.

Under survivor's benefits, a child can receive payments until age 19 if the child is a full-time high school student, or until age 18 if not in school. A child who became disabled before age 22 may continue to receive benefits past age 19. The payment amount is typically 75 percent of the parent's PIA, which is higher than the 50 percent rate for auxiliary benefits, though the family maximum still applies.

The parent's death must be reported to SSA as soon as possible. SSA will contact the family to explain survivor benefits and what documentation is needed. A death certificate, the child's birth certificate, and proof of school enrollment (if applicable) are usually required.

How to Report a Child and Provide Required Documents

To begin auxiliary benefits for a child, the parent or guardian must contact SSA and report the child. This can be done by calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213, visiting a local SSA office, or creating an account on ssa.gov and reporting the child online through "my Social Security".

SSA will ask for the child's full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number. If the child does not have a Social Security number, SSA can issue one as part of the process. The parent will also need to provide proof of the child's age (a birth certificate) and, if the child is 16 or older, proof of school enrollment (a letter from the school or a recent report card showing full-time enrollment).

After the initial report, the parent must update SSA each year if the child is a student. SSA typically sends a form in the mail asking the parent to confirm that the child is still a full-time high school student. If the form is not returned, SSA may stop the child's benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a child receive auxiliary benefits if the parent is on SSDI but the child lives with someone else?

Yes. The child does not have to live with the parent to receive auxiliary benefits based on the parent's SSDI record. However, the parent or guardian must still report the child to SSA and provide proof of the child's age and school status. If the child is living independently or with a non-parent, SSA may ask for additional information about the child's living arrangement.

What if the child turns 18 in the middle of the school year?

If the child is a full-time high school student and turns 18, benefits continue until the end of the month in which the child turns 19 or graduates, whichever comes first. The child must remain a full-time student to keep the benefits. If the child graduates before turning 19, benefits stop at the end of the month of graduation.

Do auxiliary benefits count as income for other programs like Medicaid or food information?

Yes. Auxiliary benefits are counted as unearned income when determining whether a household qualifies for other information programs. The amount of the benefit may affect may be able to access or the benefit amount for Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition information Program (SNAP), or other means-tested programs. Contact your state or local benefits office to understand how SSDI auxiliary benefits affect your household's other benefits.

Can a child receive auxiliary benefits from more than one parent's SSDI record?

No. A child can receive auxiliary benefits based on only one parent's SSDI record. If both parents are receiving SSDI, SSA will pay the child based on whichever parent's record results in the higher benefit amount. The parent or guardian should tell SSA about both parents so SSA can calculate which record is more advantageous.

What happens if the parent's SSDI benefits are stopped or suspended?

If the parent's SSDI benefits stop, the child's auxiliary benefits stop as well. This can happen if the parent returns to work and earns above the limit, if the parent's medical condition improves, or if the parent fails to report a required change. If the parent's benefits are suspended temporarily (for example, due to work earnings), the child's benefits are also suspended during that period and resume when the parent's benefits resume.