If a parent is receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, their children might also be eligible to receive benefits on the basis of their parent’s work history. However, a lot of people wonder how much they will get in benefits per child while on SSDI.
The amount received in benefits per child while receiving Social Security Disability Insurance benefits varies based on the recipient’s work history and the number of eligible children. Generally, the monthly benefit for each child is up to half of the amount of the recipient’s SSDI benefits.
This article will discuss in detail how children of disabled parents on SSDI get monthly benefits.
How The Parent’s SSDI Benefits are Determined
SSDI provides monthly cash benefits to workers or children of workers who have paid enough social security taxes to get disability benefits they can use when they are no longer able to work.
Children with disabilities or special health care needs can receive SSDI benefits in two ways. The first is when your child gets benefits based on their employment record, if they are approved for these benefits. The second is by collecting a child’s benefits, which is when an adult child gets benefits through their parent’s social security retirement and disability earnings.
The formula that the Social Security Administration (SSA) uses to calculate a person’s Social Security Retirement benefit is also used to calculate the SSDI recipient’s benefit amount. The recipient’s average lifetime earnings determine the amount of both benefits.
The highest 35 years of wage-indexed earnings are averaged to compute the worker’s average indexed monthly earnings (AIME), and then the worker’s AIME is used to calculate the primary insurance amount. In other words, the SSA considers the 35 years in which you made the most money, which then “indexes” those 35 figures.
Your figures are changed through indexing to reflect the increase in inflation and the cost of living. Your 35 indexed annual incomes are then added up and divided by 35. You may get your average indexed monthly income, or AIME, by taking that amount and dividing it by 12.
Children Getting SSDI Benefits From Disabled Parents
The following prerequisites must be satisfied to be eligible for child benefits resulting from a parent’s disability:
- The child or children are under 19 and enrolled in secondary school (high school).
- Unmarried and younger than 18 years old.
A disabled older child under 18 who became disabled before the age of 22 may be eligible for SSDI benefits based on their parent’s Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). Even if their parents were just “insured” by SSDI, if they met the requirements for SSDI benefits by acquiring enough work credits, they might still be eligible to receive those payments.
How Social Security Determines the Amount You Receive For Each Child
A child’s monthly benefit under the SSDI program is calculated based on the disabled parent’s SSDI benefit amount. A child may qualify for up to half of the disabled parent’s benefit amount.
For example, a child would be eligible for a month’s benefit of $725 if the disabled parents’ SSDI benefit amount is $1,450.
- Maximum Family Benefit: If the disabled parent has two or more eligible children, the 50% benefit is distributed equally among them. A child may receive up to 50% of the parent’s benefit amount. A maximum family benefit that is greater than 150% to 180% of the parent’s monthly payment cannot be paid out under the SSDI program.
Can Grandchildren and Dependents of Disabled Grandparents Get SSDI Benefits?
When a disabled grandparent receiving SSDI benefits cares for their grandchildren, the child-of-a-disabled-parent payment arrangement functions similarly. The following conditions must be met for grandchildren living with a disabled grandparent to be eligible for benefit payments:
- The child’s natural parents must be deceased
- The disabled grandparent (or stepparent) must regularly support the child
- The grandchildren must have lived with you for the 12 months immediately before they become eligible for SSDI or if they are under 12 months old,
- They must have lived with you substantially their entire lives, and a qualifying event must have occurred.
Figuring Your Child’s Monthly Disability Amount
The Social Security taxes that you paid are considered your covered earnings, or Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME), which are indexed over your lifetime and used to determine your SSDI benefit amount. The amount and number of years that you contributed to social security taxes determine your work credits when applying for SSDI benefits.
A dependent child who is receiving SSDI benefits for children based on the parent’s Social Security earning history can receive up to 50% of the parents’ monthly benefits. As a result, the monthly SSDI compensation for your child will be higher when your AIME is higher (as the disabled parent).
Let’s take the example of a parent with a disability whose AIME was $3,000 monthly. Your child may receive roughly $750 per month in SSDI benefits, while you could receive around $1,500 per month. You might have an AIME of $6,000 per month and get disability benefits of around $2,500 per month if you made twice as much money while working. If so, your child might be eligible for a monthly benefit of almost $1,250.
However, let’s say that, as a disabled individual, more than one family member is receiving social security payments based on your work history. In that situation, the payments for your children will decrease following the SSA’s calculation and are subject to a family maximum.
- Survivors Benefits
The dependent minor kid may be eligible for survivor’s benefits if the parent receiving SSDI died while receiving disability benefits or if the parents had accrued enough social security credits to be eligible for benefits at the time of their death.
The highest amount to be paid to a family is the family maximum. However, the child may get up to 75% of the parent’s monthly benefits.
- Disabled Children Of Adult SSDI Benefit Recipients
Even if your impaired child is now an adult and you receive SSDI payments, they may be eligible for up to 50% of your monthly benefit. The impairment or disability must start before the child turns 22 to qualify.
Even as an adult, if your disabled child is eligible for SSDI benefits, they will continue to be paid for as long as their disability exists. This is true even when the parents’ condition improves.
Social Security Disability Benefits For A Disabled Child or Young Adult
An eligible applicant for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can be a disabled adult, child, or young adult with a low income. However, SSDI often provides higher monthly compensation than SSI. Fortunately, even if your disabled child has never worked or paid into social security, they may be eligible for SSDI-dependent payments if you have paid social security taxes (FICA or self-employment tax).
If the child became disabled before the age of 22, the Social Security Administration does not consider your child’s age when determining eligibility. Even though the qualifying disability may not have been apparent until adulthood (between 18 and 22), this program is frequently called SSDI for ‘adults disabled since childhood.’
Because they receive social security disability benefits based on their parent’s employment history, program beneficiaries are frequently referred to as disabled Adult Children (DAC).
- Maximum Family Benefits
The total amount your family can receive in benefits depends on the maximum family benefit (MFB) cap.
Often, the total sum of a disabled parent’s SSDI payments and the benefits for at least two children (or one child along with an eligible spouse) crosses the maximum family benefit cap.
The MFB varies depending on the circumstances, but it is normally 150% of the SSDI benefit amount for the disabled parent. If a family member claims dependent benefits, your SSDI benefits will never be lowered.
Four rules determine your maximum family benefit if one of you is disabled:
- Your MFB cannot exceed eighty-five percent of your AIME, which is the sum of all of your past years’ earnings, which you can obtain from the SSA.
- Your SSDI monthly benefit amount (also known as your primary insurance amount, or PIA) cannot exceed your MFB.
- More than 150% of your PIA cannot be your MFB.
- Your maximum family benefit will not include any disability or old-age benefits given to a divorced spouse.
Except for you as the disabled parent, each person’s benefit is correspondingly decreased if the total benefits paid to your family exceed the MFB until the combined benefits of all family members equal the family maximum. Therefore, if the family maximum applies, your minor child receives less than 50% of your benefit.
How To Apply for SSDI Benefits for Your Children
You must contact the Social Security Administration and give them the relevant details to apply for SSDI benefits for your children. The birth certificate, social security number, and, if necessary, documentation of the child’s disability should be included here. Before starting the application process, having all the required paperwork is crucial to guaranteeing a quick and easy application.
How Work Credits Affect SSDI Benefits For Children
SSDI benefits for a parent with disabilities are determined by their employment history and the number of work credits they have accrued. The amount of a parent’s monthly benefit and the amount their children can potentially get depends on how many work credits the disabled parent has accrued.
To ensure you are receiving all of the benefits to which you and your children are entitled, it is important to keep track of your employment history to ensure your work credits are correct.
How Marital Status Affects SSDI Benefits for Children
Based on the parent’s employment history, an ex-spouse and children may still be qualified for SSDI benefits if a disabled parent gets a divorce. The amount you receive in benefits, however, may differ based on the particulars of the divorce. To completely understand your rights and alternatives in this scenario, it might be helpful to consult with a disability attorney.
How Other Income Affects SSDI Benefits for Children
The SSDI payments a disabled parent or grandparent can receive may be impacted if they receive other income, such as workers’ compensation or private disability insurance. To ensure you receive the proper benefits from the Social Security Administration, it is important to disclose all of your income sources.
Appealing a Denial Of SSDI Benefits for Children
If you apply for SSDI benefits for your children and are denied, you may appeal the decision. Working with a knowledgeable disability attorney may help you understand the appeals procedure and gather the necessary evidence you need in your case.
Getting Help From The SSA
The SSA will determine the amount of your child’s monthly benefit amount by calculating your child’s benefit amount using your AIME and PIA (monthly benefit amount). If the sum of your benefits plus those for your children and spouse combined exceeds the family maximum, the SSA will reduce the amount.
You can apply by phone or get assistance from the SSA by calling the SSA office at 800-772-1213. The hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. To apply, you will need the following details:
- The birth certificate, adoption papers, or any documentation of your child
- Your social security number
- If not you, the Social Security number of the disabled parent
- The Social Security number of your child
- When applying for survivor benefits for a child, you must also provide evidence of the parent’s death in the form of a death certificate
You must also provide medical documentation to support the child’s disability if you are applying for SSI or the disabled adult child program benefits for a child with a disability.
Conclusion
Based on their parents’ employment history, children of disabled parents receiving Social Security Disability Insurance payments may also be eligible for benefits. The monthly benefits for each eligible child may be up to half of the recipient’s SSDI benefits, with the amount given per child depending on the recipient’s work history and the number of eligible children.
To ensure you are receiving all of the benefits to which you and your children are entitled, it is important to keep track of your employment and credit history. You have the right to appeal the judgment if your application for SSDI benefits is rejected with the aid of a knowledgeable Social Security Disability attorney, assistance from the SSA office, or an SSDI advocate.
