The Three Requirements a Child Must Meet

A child qualifies for SSDI when three conditions are all true at the same time: the child has a medical condition that is severe enough to prevent substantial work activity, the condition is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death, and the child's parent, grandparent, or other relative who is the wage earner has earned enough work credits in Social Security or is already receiving Social Security or railroad retirement benefits.

The first two conditions are about the child's medical condition itself. The third is about the family's connection to Social Security—it is not about the family's income or assets. A child whose parent has never worked enough to earn Social Security credits cannot receive SSDI, even if the child is severely disabled. That child might be able to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) instead, which is a different program with different rules.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates all three at the time you submit your request. If any one is missing, the child will not be found to meet the rules for SSDI.

Key Takeaways

  • A child must have a medical condition severe enough to prevent substantial work activity, expected to last 12 months or longer or result in death.
  • The child's parent, grandparent, or other wage-earning relative must have earned enough Social Security work credits or already be receiving Social Security or railroad retirement benefits.
  • SSA uses the same medical standards for children as for adults, but applies them to what a child of that age should be able to do.
  • A child can receive SSDI on a parent's record even if the parent is still working, as long as the parent has earned the required work credits.
  • If the parent has not earned enough work credits, the child may be able to receive SSI instead, which does not require a parent's work history.

How SSA Measures Disability in Children

SSA does not use the same functional limits for children that it uses for adults. Instead, it asks whether the child's condition causes marked and severe functional limitations in two or more areas of development or functioning. These areas include physical function, communication, the ability to learn and explore information, the ability to interact with others, and the ability to care for oneself.

For a young child, this might mean that a developmental delay or birth defect prevents the child from reaching normal milestones—walking, speaking, feeding themselves, or understanding straightforward instructions—by the age when most children reach them. For an older child or teenager, it might mean that a condition like cerebral palsy, autism, or a mental health disorder prevents school attendance, learning at grade level, or social interaction with peers.

SSA compares the child's functioning to what is typical for children of the same age. A condition that would be disabling in a five-year-old might not be disabling in a teenager, or vice versa. The agency uses medical records, school records, and reports from doctors and therapists to make this comparison.

The Parent's Work History Requirement

The wage earner—usually a parent—must have earned at least 40 Social Security work credits, with at least 20 of them earned in the 10 years before the child's disability began. A person earns one work credit for each $1,640 of wages in 2023 (the amount changes each year), and a person can earn a maximum of four credits per year. This means a parent typically needs to have worked for at least 10 years to meet the requirement.

If the parent is already receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits, or if the parent has died and was insured at the time of death, the work credit requirement is already met. You do not need to verify it again. If the parent is still working and has not yet claimed benefits, SSA will check the parent's earnings record to confirm the credits are there.

A parent who is self-employed, who worked for cash wages that were not reported, or who worked outside the United States may have difficulty proving work credits. SSA will ask for tax returns, W-2 forms, or other documentation of earnings. If the parent cannot prove the required credits, the child cannot receive SSDI on that parent's record.

When a Child Can Receive SSDI on a Parent's Record

A child can receive SSDI on a parent's record in three situations: when the parent is receiving Social Security retirement benefits, when the parent is receiving Social Security disability benefits (SSDI), or when the parent has died and was insured at the time of death.

If the parent is still working and has not yet claimed retirement benefits, the child cannot receive SSDI on that parent's record, even if the parent has earned enough work credits. The parent must claim benefits first. A parent can claim retirement benefits as early as age 62, or can wait until full retirement age or later to claim a larger benefit. Once the parent claims, the child becomes may have access to to a benefit amount that is usually 50 percent of the parent's primary insurance amount—the amount the parent receives.

If the parent dies, the child can receive survivor benefits on the parent's record if the parent was insured at the time of death. A parent is insured if they have earned the required work credits. The child does not have to be disabled at the time of the parent's death; the disability can develop later. But the disability must have begun before the child turns 22 for the child to receive benefits on a deceased parent's record.

Medical Conditions That Often Lead to SSDI for Children

SSA maintains a list called the Compassionate Allowances List of conditions that are so severe that they almost always meet the medical standard for disability. These include conditions like Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, severe autism, and some childhood cancers. If a child has a condition on this list and the diagnosis is confirmed by medical records, SSA may approve the claim quickly without waiting for a full evaluation.

Conditions not on the list are evaluated individually. A child with asthma, ADHD, anxiety, or a learning disability can still meet the standard if the condition is severe enough to cause marked and severe functional limitations. SSA will look at medical records, school records, and reports from doctors and therapists to determine whether the child's functioning is limited enough.

The condition does not have to be permanent at the time of the claim. If medical evidence shows that the condition is expected to last at least 12 months or result in death, that is enough. A child recovering from a severe injury or illness, or a child in the early stages of a progressive condition, can meet the duration requirement.

The Difference Between SSDI and SSI for Children

SSDI and SSI are separate programs with different rules. SSDI is based on a parent's or other relative's work history. SSI is based on the child's own income and assets. A child who does not have a parent with enough work credits, or whose parent is not yet receiving benefits, cannot receive SSDI. That child may be able to receive SSI instead.

To receive SSI, a child must have a disability that meets the same medical standard as SSDI, but the child's own income must be below $935 per month (in 2024; the amount changes each year) and the child's assets must be below $2,000. A parent's income and assets are counted toward the child's limit, which usually means a child in a household with working parents will not meet the SSI income limit.

Some children receive both SSDI and SSI at the same time. This happens when the child has a parent with work credits who is receiving benefits (making the child may have access to to SSDI), but the SSDI benefit amount is very small. SSI then pays the difference up to the SSI benefit amount. A child cannot receive a total benefit from both programs that is more than the SSI limit.

How to Request a Decision on Your Child's Condition

To request that SSA make a decision about whether your child meets the rules for SSDI, you submit a claim to your local Social Security office, by mail, or online at ssa.gov. You will need to provide the child's Social Security number, birth certificate, medical records, school records, and the name and contact information of the parent or relative whose work history is the basis for the claim.

SSA will send the claim to a Disability information Services (DDS) office in your state. The DDS office will request medical records from the child's doctors and may ask the child to attend a medical examination. The office will also request school records and may contact the child's teachers or therapists. The evaluation usually takes three to six months, though it can take longer if SSA needs additional information.

If SSA denies the claim, you have the right to request reconsideration, then a hearing before an administrative law judge, then an appeal to the Appeals Council, and finally an appeal to federal court. At each stage, you can submit new medical evidence or other information that was not in the original claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my child receive SSDI if I am still working and have not claimed benefits yet?

No. You must claim Social Security retirement or disability benefits first. Once you claim, your child becomes may have access to to benefits on your record. If you are still young and do not want to claim yet, your child cannot receive SSDI on your record until you do.

What if my child's condition improves or goes away?

SSA will continue to pay benefits as long as the condition meets the medical standard. If the condition improves significantly, SSA may schedule a continuing disability review to determine whether your child still meets the rules. If your child no longer has a severe condition, benefits will stop. You should report any improvement to SSA.

Can my child work while receiving SSDI?

Yes. Children can work and still receive SSDI. There is no limit on how much a child can earn. However, if a child works and earns substantial income, SSA may review whether the child still meets the medical standard for disability. Work is considered evidence of the ability to function, so SSA may use it in making that decision.

What happens to my child's benefits when I turn 65 or die?

If you are the parent and you turn 65, your benefits change from retirement benefits to retirement benefits, but the amount does not change and your child's benefits do not change. If you die, your child's benefits continue as long as the child remains disabled and under age 19 (or 22 if in high school full-time). The child's benefits are now called survivor benefits instead of child benefits, but the amount is the same.

Can my child receive SSDI on my parent's record instead of mine?

Yes, if your parent is receiving Social Security benefits or has died and was insured. Your child can receive benefits on your parent's record if your parent has earned the required work credits. SSA will use whichever record results in the highest benefit for your child.