What SSDI children's benefits are and who receives them

SSDI children's benefits are monthly payments made to children whose parent, grandparent, or in some cases great-grandparent receives Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or has died while insured under Social Security. The child does not need to have a disability themselves to receive these payments. Instead, the child's benefit is based on the earnings record of the working parent or relative.

The Social Security Administration calls these auxiliary benefits because they attach to someone else's claim. A child can receive benefits from age birth through age 18, or until age 19 if still in high school full-time. In some cases, benefits continue past 19 if the child became disabled before age 22 and remains disabled.

The monthly amount each child receives is typically between 50 and 75 percent of what the parent or relative receives, though the exact percentage depends on the family's situation and how many other children are also collecting on the same record. There is a family maximum — a cap on the total amount all family members can collect together on one person's earnings record — which is usually between 150 and 180 percent of the worker's benefit amount.

Key Takeaways

  • A child can receive SSDI benefits based on a parent's or grandparent's work record without having a disability themselves, as long as the parent or grandparent is receiving SSDI or was insured at death.
  • Benefits normally stop at age 18, or age 19 if the child is in high school full-time, unless the child became disabled before age 22 and remains disabled.
  • The monthly payment to each child is a percentage of the worker's benefit amount, and all children together cannot exceed the family maximum.
  • A parent or grandparent must have already filed for SSDI or have died while insured for the child to receive benefits; the child cannot file independently.
  • The Social Security Administration must have a birth certificate, proof of the family relationship, and proof of school enrollment (if the child is 18 or 19) to set up the child's benefit.

How a child becomes may have access to to benefits

A child becomes may have access to to SSDI benefits only after the worker — the parent, grandparent, or other relative — has already filed for SSDI and been approved, or has died while insured under Social Security. Social Security does not make a separate information about the child. Instead, once the worker's claim is approved, Social Security automatically considers the worker's children and notifies the family about who may be may have access to.

The child must meet three conditions. First, the child must be under age 18 (or under 19 if in high school full-time, or any age if disabled before age 22 and still disabled). Second, the child must be the biological child, stepchild, adopted child, or grandchild of the worker. Third, the child must not be married. Social Security requires proof of each of these facts: a birth certificate showing the relationship, a school enrollment letter if the child is 18 or 19, and documentation of any disability if the child is over 19.

If the worker is receiving SSDI, the child's benefits begin the same month the worker's benefits begin. If the worker has died, the child's benefits can begin as early as the month of death, though the family usually does not receive the first payment until one or two months later. The child does not need to do anything to "set up" the benefit — Social Security handles the paperwork once the worker's claim is processed.

When children's benefits end

For most children, SSDI benefits end on the last day of the month in which they turn 18. If the child is in high school full-time, benefits continue through the end of the month in which they turn 19, provided Social Security receives proof of school enrollment each year. Once the child graduates, leaves school, or turns 19 (whichever comes first), the benefit stops.

The one major exception is if the child became disabled before age 22 and remains disabled. In that case, benefits can continue indefinitely, even after age 19. The child must have a condition that meets Social Security's definition of disability — one that prevents substantial work and is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death. Social Security calls these disabled adult children benefits, and they follow different rules than regular children's benefits.

A child's benefit also ends if the worker's SSDI benefit ends — for example, if the worker returns to work and earns above the substantial gainful activity level, or if the worker's medical condition improves and Social Security determines they are no longer disabled. The child's benefit also stops if the child marries, even if the child is still in school.

How the family maximum affects what each child receives

Social Security sets a family maximum on every SSDI record. This is the highest total amount that all family members combined can receive each month based on one worker's earnings record. The family maximum is usually between 150 and 180 percent of what the worker receives, though it varies based on the worker's age and earnings history.

If only one child is receiving benefits, the family maximum usually does not affect that child's payment. But if two or more children are receiving benefits, or if a spouse is also receiving benefits, Social Security divides the family maximum among all of them. When the family maximum is reached, each person's payment is reduced proportionally. For example, if the family maximum is $2,000 and three children are may have access to, each child might receive $600 instead of the full $700 they would otherwise get.

The family maximum is recalculated each year when the worker's benefit is adjusted for cost-of-living increases. If a child ages out or a family member's benefit ends, the remaining family members' payments may increase because more of the family maximum is now available to them. Social Security sends a notice each year showing the family maximum and each person's share.

How work and earnings affect children's benefits

A child's own work and earnings do not affect their SSDI children's benefit. Unlike Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which has strict limits on how much a child can earn, SSDI children's benefits continue at the full amount regardless of whether the child works, how much they earn, or whether they are in school. The benefit is based on the parent's or grandparent's work record, not the child's.

However, if the child is over 18 and still receiving benefits because they are disabled, their work and earnings may affect their benefit under different rules. A disabled adult child can work and earn up to the substantial gainful activity level (which changes each year and is currently around $1,550 per month) without losing benefits. Above that level, benefits may be reduced or stopped. Additionally, if a disabled adult child works, they may be subject to work incentives that allow them to test work without when ready losing all benefits.

The worker's own work and earnings do affect the entire family's benefits. If the worker returns to work and earns above the substantial gainful activity level, their SSDI benefit stops, and the children's benefits stop as well. If the worker earns below that level, benefits continue for the whole family.

Medicare and Medicaid for children receiving SSDI benefits

Children receiving SSDI benefits based on a parent's or grandparent's work record are usually covered by Medicaid, not Medicare. Medicaid is the health insurance program for people with low income or disabilities, and it is administered by each state. A child's Medicaid coverage begins the same month their SSDI benefit begins and continues as long as the SSDI benefit continues.

The specific services and rules covered by Medicaid vary by state. Some states cover dental, vision, and therapy services for children; others do not. A parent should contact their state Medicaid agency or ask Social Security for the Medicaid contact information when the child's benefit is set up.

Medicare, by contrast, is for people age 65 and older and for some younger people with disabilities who have been receiving SSDI for at least 24 months. A child receiving SSDI children's benefits would not normally may have access to for Medicare unless the child is also disabled and has been receiving SSDI as a disabled adult child for 24 months.

What happens when the worker dies

If the worker who is receiving SSDI dies, the children's benefits do not automatically stop. Instead, they convert to survivor benefits. The child continues to receive a monthly payment based on the worker's earnings record, and the amount is usually the same or very similar to what they were receiving before.

Survivor benefits follow the same age rules as children's benefits: they normally end at age 18, or age 19 if in high school full-time. If the child became disabled before age 22 and remains disabled, survivor benefits continue indefinitely. The family maximum still applies, so if there are multiple children or a surviving spouse also receiving benefits, the total is still capped.

A child receiving survivor benefits can work without affecting the benefit amount, just as with regular children's benefits. However, if the child is over 18 and disabled, the same work incentive rules explore as for disabled adult children.

Documents Social Security needs to set up a child's benefit

To set up a child's SSDI benefit, Social Security requires original or certified copies of several documents. The most important is a birth certificate showing the child's name, date of birth, and the names of both parents. If the child is a stepchild or adopted child, Social Security also needs proof of the legal relationship — a marriage certificate (for stepchildren) or adoption decree (for adopted children).

If the child is 18 or 19 and still in high school, Social Security needs a school enrollment letter or report card showing the child is in school full-time. This proof must be provided each school year. If the child is over 19 and claiming disabled adult child benefits, Social Security needs medical evidence of the disability — doctor's reports, test results, and a detailed description of how the condition limits the child's ability to work.

Social Security also needs the worker's Social Security number and proof of the worker's SSDI approval or death. If explore after the worker's death, the family will need a death certificate. The parent or guardian should bring these documents to the local Social Security office or submit them by mail. Social Security can also accept documents electronically through its online account portal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a child receive SSDI benefits if the parent is still working?

No. The parent must be receiving SSDI (meaning they have been approved as disabled and their benefit has begun) or must have died while insured. If the parent is still working and has not filed for SSDI, the child cannot receive benefits. Once the parent files for and is approved for SSDI, the child becomes may have access to retroactively to benefits going back up to one year before the parent's process date.

What if the child turns 18 and drops out of high school?

The child's benefit ends at the end of the month they turn 18. If the child is still in high school on their 18th birthday, the benefit continues through the end of the month they turn 19, but only if Social Security receives proof of full-time school enrollment. If the child drops out before turning 19, the benefit stops at the end of that month.

Can a child receive SSDI benefits from two different workers?

No. A child can receive benefits based on only one worker's earnings record at a time. If the child is may have access to to benefits from both a parent and a grandparent, Social Security pays based on whichever record gives the higher benefit amount. The child cannot receive from both simultaneously.

Do children's SSDI benefits count as income for tax purposes?

SSDI benefits are generally not taxable income for federal income tax purposes, even for children. However, if the child has other income (such as wages from work), that income is taxable. A parent should consult a tax professional if the child has earned income or other sources of income in addition to SSDI benefits.

What if the parent's SSDI benefit is reduced because of the family maximum?

If the family maximum is reached and the parent's own benefit is reduced to make room for the children's benefits, that is how Social Security allocates the family maximum. The parent receives a reduced amount, and the children receive their shares. This is rare but can happen in families with many children or when a spouse is also receiving benefits.