Social Security Benefits for Children with Disabilities Part II

What happens when your child turns age 18?  Under Social Security benefits, the child becomes an adult and new rules apply.  The biggest change is that only the adult child’s income and resources are used in determining eligibility (not the other family members).  So individuals may qualify for SSDI as an adult child when they couldn’t qualify for SSI as a child.   The definition of disabled also shifts to the adult definition.  Disability under the Social Security definition means:

• “you cannot do work that you did before;
• We [Social Security] decide that you cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition(s); and
• Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.” 
• www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dqualify4.htm

If an adult child was disabled before the age of 22, they may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).  Social Security considers this a child’s benefit since it is paid on the parent’s Social Security earnings record.  If the parent has never worked, no benefits would be paid to the adult child.  The adult child can still work and receive SSDI, they just cannot have “substantial earnings.”  In 2011, Social Security defines that as earning more than $1000 per month. 

The application process is the same as it is for SSI benefits.  You can either call 800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office.  Because we are taking about disabled adult’s child benefits, you cannot apply online at this time.  That can be misleading because ordinarily, SSDI benefits can be applied for online.