Auxiliary benefits are money the Social Security Administration sends to your family members, not to you
When you receive SSDI, certain family members may also receive their own monthly payments based on your work record. These are called auxiliary benefits. The money goes directly to them—not to you—and they decide how to spend it. Social Security sends separate checks (or direct deposits) to each person who qualifies.
The family members who may receive auxiliary benefits are your spouse, your children under 19 (or up to 22 if they are full-time students), and sometimes your adult children if they became disabled before age 22. Each person's payment is a percentage of your primary insurance amount, which is the base amount Social Security calculated for you.
There are no restrictions on how auxiliary beneficiaries spend their money. Social Security does not require them to use it for any particular purpose, does not track what they buy, and does not need receipts or proof of how the money was used.
Key Takeaways
- Auxiliary benefits are separate payments sent directly to your spouse, children, or dependent adult children—not managed by you.
- Each family member who receives auxiliary benefits gets their own check or direct deposit and controls how that money is spent.
- Social Security places no restrictions on what auxiliary beneficiaries can purchase or how they use their payments.
- The total amount your entire family can receive is capped at a family maximum, which is usually 150 to 180 percent of your primary insurance amount.
- If your family reaches the family maximum, Social Security reduces each person's payment proportionally rather than stopping some people's benefits entirely.
Who receives auxiliary benefits and how much they get
Your spouse can receive auxiliary benefits at any age if they are caring for your child who is under 16 (or 19 if the child is in high school). Your spouse can also receive benefits starting at age 62 even if they are not caring for a child. The amount is typically 32.5 to 50 percent of your primary insurance amount, depending on their age when they start receiving benefits.
Your unmarried children can receive auxiliary benefits until age 19 if they attend high school full-time, or until age 18 if they do not attend school. Children who became disabled before age 22 can receive benefits for life, regardless of age. Each child typically receives 75 percent of your primary insurance amount.
Your grandchildren, stepchildren, or step-grandchildren may also may have access to if they lived with you and you were legally responsible for their support before you turned 18, or if a court ordered you to support them.
The family maximum and how it affects each person's payment
Social Security sets a limit on the total amount your entire family can receive in auxiliary benefits. This family maximum is usually between 150 and 180 percent of your primary insurance amount. If your family's combined benefits would exceed this maximum, Social Security reduces each person's payment by the same percentage.
For example, if your primary insurance amount is $1,500 per month and your family maximum is $3,000, but your spouse and two children would normally receive a combined $3,500, Social Security would reduce each person's payment proportionally. No one's benefits stop—instead, everyone receives a smaller amount.
The family maximum does not include your own SSDI payment. It only applies to the auxiliary benefits paid to family members. If you are also receiving SSI (Supplemental Security Income) in addition to SSDI, different rules explore to how much your household can receive in total.
How auxiliary beneficiaries receive and manage their payments
Each auxiliary beneficiary receives their own payment directly from Social Security. They can choose to receive it by direct deposit to their own bank account, or Social Security can mail them a check. The payment arrives on the same schedule as your SSDI payment—usually the third of each month, though the exact date depends on your birth date.
Auxiliary beneficiaries do not need your permission to access or spend their money. If a beneficiary is a minor or is unable to manage their own finances, Social Security may appoint a representative payee—usually a parent or guardian—to receive the payment on their behalf. The representative payee must use the money for the beneficiary's current maintenance and needs, but has broad discretion in what that means.
If you are the representative payee for a family member's auxiliary benefits, you are required to keep records of how the money is spent and report to Social Security annually. However, you do not need to itemize every purchase or get approval before spending the money.
What happens if an auxiliary beneficiary works or earns income
Auxiliary beneficiaries under full retirement age who work may have their benefits reduced if their earnings exceed the annual limit. For 2024, Social Security reduces benefits by $1 for every $2 earned above $23,400 (this amount changes each year). In the year they reach full retirement age, the limit is higher and applies only to earnings before the month they reach full retirement age.
Adult children who became disabled before age 22 can work and earn up to a certain amount without losing benefits, depending on whether they are participating in a work incentive program. The rules for disabled adult children are different from the rules for working spouses or children.
Auxiliary beneficiaries should report any work or significant income to Social Security. Failing to report earnings can result in overpayments that Social Security will ask them to repay.
Changes to auxiliary benefits when circumstances change
Auxiliary benefits stop when the beneficiary no longer meets the requirements. For example, a child's benefits end when they turn 19 (or 22 if a full-time student), when they marry, or when they are no longer disabled. A spouse's benefits end if they divorce you, remarry, or reach an age where they are no longer may have access to to benefits based on your record.
If an auxiliary beneficiary dies, their payment stops when ready. Social Security does not send a final payment to their estate. If the beneficiary received a payment after they died, Social Security will ask the family to return it.
You should notify Social Security if any family member's situation changes—such as a child starting or stopping school, a spouse reaching retirement age, or a beneficiary moving out of the country. Changes can affect the amount each family member receives, especially if the family maximum is in effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I control how my child's auxiliary benefits are spent?
If your child is a minor, you are likely their representative payee and receive the payment on their behalf. You must use the money for their current needs, but you have discretion in what that means—food, housing, education, medical care, or other expenses. You do not need approval from Social Security for each purchase.
What if my spouse and I divorce after they start receiving auxiliary benefits?
Your ex-spouse's benefits stop when the divorce is final, unless they have reached full retirement age and are receiving benefits on their own record. If they were caring for a child under 16, benefits stop when the child turns 16 or the child is no longer in their care.
Do auxiliary benefits count as income for other programs like Medicaid or food stamps?
Yes, auxiliary benefits are counted as income for most means-tested programs. A family member receiving auxiliary benefits may have reduced benefits from Medicaid, SNAP, or other programs. They should report the auxiliary benefit amount when they explore for or recertify these programs.
Can an auxiliary beneficiary save their money, or must they spend it each month?
Auxiliary beneficiaries can save their money with no restrictions. Social Security does not require the money to be spent in the month it is received. However, if the beneficiary is receiving SSI or other means-tested benefits, saving too much money may affect their may be able to access for those programs.