The monthly payment amount depends on your parent's earnings record, not your own disability
When you turn 18 and your parent receives Social Security retirement or disability benefits, you may continue to receive a payment based on their work history and earnings — not based on how severe your disability is or how much you need. The Social Security Administration calls this Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits.
Your monthly payment is typically between 50% and 75% of what your parent gets each month. If your parent receives $2,000 monthly, for example, you might receive $1,000 to $1,500 — but the exact amount depends on your parent's specific benefit amount and whether other family members are also collecting on the same record.
The payment does not change based on your living situation, your medical expenses, or how much support you need. It is a fixed percentage of your parent's benefit, recalculated only if your parent's benefit changes or if other beneficiaries are added or removed from the account.
Key Takeaways
- Your DAC payment is a percentage of your parent's Social Security benefit amount, typically 50% to 75%, and does not depend on your disability severity.
- The exact percentage you receive can shift if other family members start or stop collecting on your parent's record, because Social Security divides the family maximum among all beneficiaries.
- Your payment continues as long as you remain disabled and unmarried, even after your parent dies (at which point it becomes a survivor benefit with a slightly different name).
- You can contact Social Security directly to learn your parent's benefit amount and calculate your own, or ask Social Security to estimate it for you.
How the percentage is calculated
Social Security starts with your parent's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) — the monthly benefit they are may have access to to at their full retirement age. Your DAC benefit is normally 50% of that amount.
However, Social Security has a rule called the family maximum. If your parent, your parent's spouse, and multiple children are all collecting on the same earnings record, the total paid to all of them cannot exceed 150% to 180% of your parent's PIA. When the family maximum is reached, Social Security reduces each person's payment proportionally.
For example: if your parent's PIA is $2,000, the family maximum might be $3,200 (160% of the PIA). If your parent receives $2,000 and you and a sibling are each supposed to receive $1,000, the total would be $4,000 — over the maximum. Social Security would reduce your payment and your sibling's payment so the total equals $3,200.
The family maximum is recalculated each year based on wage growth, so your payment amount may change even if your parent's benefit does not.
What happens when your parent dies
Your DAC benefit does not stop when your parent passes away. Instead, it converts to a Disabled Widow's or Widower's Benefit (DWB) if you are unmarried, or a Disabled Adult Child Survivor Benefit depending on your situation. The payment amount typically stays the same or may increase slightly.
You must notify Social Security of your parent's death as soon as possible. The funeral home often does this automatically, but you can also call Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213 to report the death and confirm your benefit will continue.
When your payment can stop or change
Your DAC benefit continues as long as you meet two conditions: you remain disabled according to Social Security's definition, and you remain unmarried. If you marry, your benefit stops when ready, even if you divorce later.
Social Security periodically reviews whether you still meet the disability standard. These reviews happen more often for people whose conditions are expected to improve. You will receive a letter telling you when your review is scheduled. If Social Security determines you are no longer disabled, your benefit ends, though you have the right to request reconsideration or appeal.
Your payment can also increase if your parent's benefit increases (for example, due to a cost-of-living adjustment each January) or if other beneficiaries on your parent's record stop collecting, which would raise your percentage of the family maximum.
How to find out your specific payment amount
The only way to know your exact monthly payment is to contact Social Security directly. You can call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and speak with a representative, or visit your local Social Security office in person.
When you call, have your parent's Social Security number ready, and ask the representative to tell you your parent's PIA and your current DAC payment amount. If your parent has not yet claimed benefits, ask Social Security to estimate what your parent's benefit would be at full retirement age, so you can calculate your own estimate.
You can also create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov if you have a Social Security number and a valid email address. The account shows your own benefit information, though it may not display your DAC amount until you are officially on your parent's record.
Work and earnings limits
Unlike Supplemental Security Income (SSI), there is no limit on how much money you can have in the bank or own in assets while receiving DAC benefits. However, if you work and earn above a certain threshold, your benefit may be reduced.
In 2024, if you are under full retirement age, Social Security reduces your benefit by $1 for every $2 you earn above $23,400 per year. Once you reach full retirement age, there is no earnings limit. These dollar amounts change each year, so ask Social Security what the current limits are when you call.
Work incentives programs exist to help people with disabilities keep more of their earnings while on benefits. Ask Social Security about Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) or other work incentive programs that may explore to you.
The difference between DAC and SSI
If you receive Disabled Adult Child benefits, you are on your parent's Social Security record and your payment is based on their work history. This is different from Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is a needs-based program for people with low income and few assets.
You cannot receive both DAC and SSI at the same time. However, if your DAC payment is very small, Social Security may pay you SSI to bring your total income up to the SSI limit. This is called concurrent benefits. Ask Social Security whether you might be may be able to access for SSI in addition to your DAC payment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a higher payment if my disability is severe?
No. Your DAC payment is always a percentage of your parent's benefit, regardless of how severe your disability is or how much support you need. The only way your payment increases is if your parent's benefit increases or if other family members stop collecting on the same record.
What if my parent never worked or has very low earnings?
Your DAC payment will be small, because it is based on your parent's work history and earnings. If your parent worked very little, your benefit may be only a few hundred dollars per month. You may be able to receive SSI in addition to DAC if your total income is low enough.
Does my payment change if I move to a different state?
No. DAC benefits are federal and the same in every state. However, if you receive SSI in addition to DAC, your SSI payment may change if you move, because SSI rules vary by state.
What if my parent is still working and hasn't claimed Social Security yet?
You cannot receive DAC benefits until your parent claims Social Security retirement or disability benefits. Once your parent files, Social Security will contact you to explain your benefits. You can ask Social Security to estimate your future DAC payment based on your parent's projected benefit amount.
Can I receive DAC if my parent is divorced from my other parent?
Yes. You can receive DAC based on either parent's record if that parent is receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits. If both parents are receiving benefits, you can choose which record to collect on, but not both at the same time.