Your SSDI does not automatically give your child SSDI, but your child may be able to receive benefits based on your record

When you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), your child cannot straightforward inherit or receive the same benefit. However, your child may be able to receive child's benefits — a separate payment based on your work history and earnings record — if they meet specific conditions. This is different from your own SSDI payment and has its own rules about age, disability status, and how much they receive.

The key difference: you earned SSDI through your own work history. Your child's benefits exist because Social Security recognizes that your disability affects your family's income. The amount your child receives depends on your benefit amount, not on a separate process or their own work record.

Key Takeaways

  • Your child can receive benefits based on your SSDI record if they are under 19 and in high school, or any age if they became disabled before turning 22.
  • Each child's payment is typically 50 percent of your full SSDI benefit amount, but the total paid to all family members cannot exceed a limit set by Social Security.
  • Your child does not need to file a separate SSDI process; Social Security will contact you about adding them to your record once your SSDI is approved.
  • If your child is already receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) based on their own disability, they may not also receive child's benefits on your record.
  • Your child's benefits stop when they turn 19 if they are in school, or when ready if they are no longer disabled, whichever comes first.

Who on your record can receive child's benefits

Social Security pays child's benefits to your biological children, stepchildren, and adopted children. Your child must fall into one of two categories: they are under 19 and currently enrolled in high school full-time, or they became disabled before age 22 and remain disabled.

The disability requirement is strict. Your child must have a physical or mental condition that prevents them from working and is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. A diagnosis alone is not enough — Social Security must determine that the condition meets their definition of disability. This is the same standard used for adult SSDI, though the rules for children include some differences in how work activity is measured.

If your child is in high school but turns 19 during the school year, they can continue receiving benefits through the end of that school month. Once they graduate or turn 19, whichever comes first, the payments stop unless they are disabled.

How much your child receives each month

Each of your children typically receives 50 percent of your full SSDI benefit amount. If you receive $1,200 per month, each child would normally receive $600. However, Social Security applies a family maximum — a cap on the total amount paid to you and all your family members combined.

The family maximum is usually 150 to 180 percent of your benefit amount, depending on your specific situation. If you have multiple children, Social Security divides the family maximum among them. For example, if your benefit is $1,200 and the family maximum is $2,000, and you have two children, each child might receive less than $600 so the total does not exceed $2,000.

Social Security will calculate the exact amount for each child when they add them to your record. You will receive a notice showing how much each family member receives and why.

How your child gets added to your SSDI record

You do not file a separate process for your child. Once Social Security approves your SSDI claim, they will send you information about child's benefits and ask whether you have children under 19 in school or disabled children under 22. You report this information on a form called the process for Family Member Benefits (Form SSA-25).

Social Security will then contact your child directly to gather information and, if the child is disabled, may schedule a medical evaluation. For children in school, Social Security typically only needs proof of school enrollment, which they can obtain directly from the school. For disabled children, the process is longer and may take several months while Social Security reviews medical records.

You will receive written notice once your child's benefits begin. The notice will show the monthly payment amount and explain any deductions or limits that explore.

What stops your child's benefits

Child's benefits end automatically when your child turns 19 if they are in high school, or at the end of the month in which they turn 19 if they are still enrolled. If your child is disabled, benefits continue past 19 only if the disability persists. Social Security conducts periodic reviews — usually every one to three years — to confirm that your disabled child still meets the disability standard.

Benefits also stop if your child works and earns above the monthly limit. For 2024, Social Security allows up to $1,550 per month in work earnings before benefits are reduced (this amount changes yearly). Earnings above that limit reduce the benefit by $1 for every $2 earned.

If your own SSDI benefits end — because you return to work, reach full retirement age, or for another reason — your child's benefits based on your record end as well. However, if your child is disabled, they may be able to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) based on their own disability and income.

When your child cannot receive child's benefits

Your child cannot receive child's benefits if they are already receiving SSI based on their own disability. A child can receive one or the other, but not both. If your child is on SSI and you later become approved for SSDI, Social Security will explain which benefit is larger and may support your child receives the higher amount.

Your child also cannot receive child's benefits if they are married or have been married. Social Security suspends child's benefits upon marriage, even if the marriage ends later. This rule applies regardless of the child's age.

If your child is in foster care or a state institution, special rules explore that may reduce or eliminate the benefit. Contact Social Security directly to understand how these rules affect your situation.

How child's benefits affect your family's other support

Child's benefits do not count as income for purposes of means-tested programs like SNAP (food information) or Medicaid in most states. However, some states treat SSDI differently, so contact your state's Medicaid office or SNAP administrator to confirm. The benefit also does not affect your own SSDI payment or your ability to work.

If you receive SSI yourself (a different program from SSDI), your child's child's benefits will count as income and may reduce your SSI payment. This is rare — most people receiving SSDI do not also receive SSI — but it is important to know if you are in this situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my child get SSDI if I get SSDI but I am not disabled anymore?

No. Child's benefits are based on your SSDI record, so they end when your SSDI ends. If you return to work and your benefits stop, your child's benefits stop too. However, if your child is disabled, they may be able to receive SSI based on their own disability and your household income.

What if my child is disabled but over 22?

Your child cannot receive child's benefits if they became disabled after age 22. However, if they became disabled before 22 and remain disabled, they can continue receiving child's benefits on your record for as long as they are disabled, regardless of their current age.

Do I have to report my child's earnings to Social Security?

Yes. If your child works, you must report their monthly earnings to Social Security. Earnings over $1,550 per month (as of 2024) will reduce the benefit. Social Security provides a form to report earnings, and you can report online, by phone, or by mail.

Can my child receive child's benefits if we are not living together?

Yes. Your child does not have to live with you to receive child's benefits based on your record. However, Social Security may ask for proof of the relationship and may contact your child to verify they are still in school or disabled.

What happens to my child's benefits when I reach full retirement age?

When you reach full retirement age, your SSDI benefits convert to retirement benefits, but the amount stays the same. Your child's benefits continue at the same rate. If you die, your child may be able to receive survivor benefits instead, which are based on the same rules.