Your child can receive benefits on your SSDI record once you are approved for SSDI yourself
If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), your child may be able to receive child's benefits based on your work record. This is not a separate program you explore for—it is an automatic entitlement once the Social Security Administration (SSA) determines your child meets the rules. Your child does not have to be disabled to receive these benefits; the child's benefit exists because you are disabled and receiving SSDI.
The SSA will contact you about your child's benefits during your SSDI approval process. If you have not heard from them and you have a child under age 19 (or up to age 19 if still in high school full-time), contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213 to report the child.
Key Takeaways
- Your child can receive benefits on your SSDI record without being disabled themselves, as long as they are under 19 (or 19 if in high school full-time).
- The SSA will ask about your children during your SSDI case, but you must report any child born or adopted after your approval date.
- Your child's benefit amount is typically 50 percent of your primary insurance amount, but the family maximum means the total paid to all family members cannot exceed 150 to 180 percent of your benefit.
- You do not need to do anything special to "add" your child—report their existence to SSA, and they handle the rest.
- If your child turns 19 and is not in high school, or graduates before turning 19, their benefits stop at the end of that month.
Who counts as your child for SSDI purposes
Your biological child, stepchild, or adopted child can receive benefits on your SSDI record. The child must be unmarried. There is no age requirement to begin receiving benefits, but benefits continue only until the child turns 19—or until the end of the month in which they turn 19 if they are enrolled full-time in high school.
A grandchild or other relative can also receive benefits on your record, but only if you legally adopted them before they turned 18, or if a court declared you their parent before they turned 18. Step-grandchildren do not count unless you legally adopted them.
The SSA will ask for proof of the relationship. Bring a birth certificate, adoption papers, or court order showing parentage. If the child's last name differs from yours, bring a marriage certificate or other document showing the connection.
How much your child receives and the family maximum
Your child's benefit is normally 50 percent of your primary insurance amount (PIA)—the monthly amount SSA calculated for you at approval. If you receive $1,200 per month, your child would normally receive $600 per month. However, the family maximum rule often reduces this amount.
The family maximum is a cap on the total amount SSA will pay to you and all your family members combined. This maximum is usually 150 to 180 percent of your PIA, depending on your work history. If you receive $1,200 and your family maximum is $1,800, and you have two children, SSA divides the $600 remaining ($1,800 minus your $1,200) between both children—each receives $300 instead of $600.
The family maximum applies to all family members receiving benefits on your record: your spouse, your ex-spouse (if divorced), and all your children. When a family member's benefits stop—for example, when a child turns 19—the remaining money is redistributed among the others still receiving benefits.
Reporting your child to Social Security
During your SSDI process and approval, the SSA will ask whether you have children under 18. If you answer yes, SSA will begin the process of setting up benefits for them. You do not need to file a separate form or take extra steps; SSA handles this automatically once you report the child.
If you have a child after your SSDI approval, or if you did not report a child during your case, contact your local Social Security office in person or call 1-800-772-1213. You will need to provide the child's name, date of birth, and Social Security number (or explore for one if the child does not have one yet). SSA will then set up the child's benefits, usually within two to four weeks.
You can also report a child online through your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Log in, select "Manage Your Benefits," and look for an option to report a family member. Not all local offices support online reporting yet, so if you do not see the option, call or visit in person.
When your child's benefits stop
Your child's benefits end on the last day of the month in which they turn 19, unless they are enrolled full-time in high school. If your child is in high school, benefits continue through the month they turn 19, even if they turn 19 before graduating.
Benefits also stop when ready if your child marries, even before age 19. If your child is adopted after age 18, they do not count as your child for benefits purposes.
SSA will send you a notice before your child's benefits end. If your child is still in high school and will turn 19 before graduating, contact SSA to confirm the end date. Some children remain in high school past age 19 due to special education or other circumstances; SSA has rules for these situations, but you must report the child's status.
What happens if you work or your benefit changes
If you return to work and your SSDI benefits stop, your child's benefits stop as well. Child's benefits exist only because you are receiving SSDI. If your benefit amount increases or decreases, your child's benefit changes proportionally (subject to the family maximum).
If you receive a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) each year, your child's benefit increases by the same percentage. If you reach full retirement age and your SSDI converts to retirement benefits, your child continues to receive benefits on your record under the same rules.
Your child's own SSDI or SSI benefits
If your child is disabled and meets SSA's definition of disability for children, they may be able to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or their own SSDI benefits based on their own work record (if they have worked). These are separate from the child's benefits they receive on your record.
A child can receive both child's benefits on your SSDI record and their own SSI or SSDI at the same time. However, if the child receives both, SSA reduces the child's own benefit so that the total does not exceed the family maximum. Report any disability or work history to SSA so they can determine whether your child qualifies for additional benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be working for my child to receive benefits on my record?
No. Your child receives benefits because you are disabled and receiving SSDI, not because you are working. If you return to work and your SSDI stops, your child's benefits stop too. The child's benefit is tied to your SSDI status, not your employment.
What if my child's other parent also receives SSDI?
Your child can receive benefits on either parent's record, but not both. SSA will pay whichever benefit is higher. If both parents receive SSDI and both have the same benefit amount, SSA typically pays on the record of whichever parent reported the child first.
Can my child work and still receive benefits?
Yes. Child's benefits have no work restrictions. Your child can earn any amount and continue receiving the full benefit. This is different from your own SSDI, which has work incentives and limits on how much you can earn.
What if I remarry or my marital status changes?
Your child's benefits do not change if you remarry, divorce, or separate. The child's benefit is based on your SSDI record alone. A new spouse does not affect your child's benefits, and your child's other parent's marital status does not affect them either.
How do I know if my child's benefits are being paid correctly?
Check your Social Security statement online at ssa.gov, or call 1-800-772-1213 to ask about your child's benefit amount. SSA will tell you the exact amount and explain how it was calculated, including whether the family maximum reduced it. Review your statement each year to catch errors.