Who is eligible for benefits under my account and how do I get them benefits?
If you qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), then some members of your family may also be able to receive monthly benefits under your work record. Only certain family members meet Social Security Administration (SSA) eligibility rules, and the rules that govern who gets benefits and how much they receive are a bit complex, but here’s the gist of it.
Dependents
The people who qualify under your work record may include your spouse, biological child, legal ward, adopted child, or in some cases a grandchild or stepchild. Each person deemed eligible on your work record or SSDI account must be your legal dependent and must meet other eligibility requirements:
- Spouse – a spouse can qualify for dependent benefits if one of the follow is true:
- He or she is 62 years old or older
- Your spouse is the caregiver of a child who is under age 16
- Your husband or wife is the caregiver of a disabled child, no matter how old the child may be
- Children (including any legal ward, adopted child, or biological child) – children qualify for SSDI dependent benefits based on their age, marital status, student status, and whether or not they too have a qualified disability. Your child can receive benefits on your account under several different conditions. Specifically, a child must be:
- 18 years old or younger and unmarried
- 19 year old, unmarried, and still a full-time high school student
- 18 or older, unmarried, and disabled, with a disability onset date before his or her 22nd birthday
- Grandchildren and Stepchildren – your grandchildren or stepchildren can additionally receive dependent or auxiliary benefits through your SSDI account if all of the following are true:
- The child’s parents are disabled or deceased
- He or she is 18 year old or younger and lives with you
- You financially funded at least half of the child’s support in the year prior to your disability eligibility date OR, if the child is under one year of age, you must have provided at least half of his or her financial support since birth
Notably, disabled adult children can also qualify for benefits on their own, even if they are married in some cases. Ex-spouses can additionally qualify under your work history record, if you were married for 10 years or longer.
How Much Dependents Receive
The SSA limits the total amount of dependent benefits available to a single family through SSDI. Each dependent can receive a monthly payment that is 50% of your own SSDI payment. The grand total that all your dependents receive on your record cannot exceed 150% to 180% of your monthly SSDI however. In other words, if you have several dependents who are eligible, the SSA will reduce the amount each dependent receives so total dependent benefits don’t exceed program limits.
Applying for Dependent Benefits
You can apply for dependent or auxiliary benefits at the same time that you apply for disability for yourself, though you can also submit dependent benefit applications later. Whether you apply online via the SSA’s website or at your local SSA office, you’ll need to complete additional forms to request spouse or child benefits. An SSA representative can assist you or you can get help from a Social Security advocate or attorney, social worker, or a friend or family member.
Blog comments
In reply to My son was arrested as a sex by Lena (not verified)
HI Lena,
HI Lena,
You may need to adopt your grandchild for them to be eligible for disability based on your work record.
Hi, I am on ssdi and receive
Hi, I am on ssdi and receive a benefit for my almost 16 year old son. He is going to be working over the summer. Is this money going to be deducted from the benefit amount I receive for him? How does his working affect my benefits received? How does this all work out when he is earning money? He wants to save up for a car, teen stuff etc. Thank you!
In reply to Hi, I am on ssdi and receive by Selena (not verified)
Hi Selena,
Hi Selena,
Your son will be able to work while receiving auxiliary benefits.
and your son working won't affect your SSDI benefits at all!
My husband is getting SSDI,
My husband is getting SSDI, based off of his work record and he had a stroke. My daughter gets SSI for her disability, and i get ssi and ssd also. I was told his getting his benefits wouldnt hurt ours. So i want to know if thats correct? We barely make it as it is.
In reply to My husband is getting SSDI, by Tmg (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
It wouldn't affect your SSDI, but that additional benefits from your husband's auxiliary benefits could affect your SSI though. I would recommend speaking with someone at the SSA if you have any additional questions 1-800-772-1213.
My son passed and ss said my
My son passed and ss said my daughter in-law makes too much money for the kids to qualify for benefits. What can be done if anything? They are step children.
My husband and I have been
My husband and I have been married for almost a year. He is currently receiving SSI disability benefits. I have a child from a previous relationship, which is now his step-child. Is my husband able to add my child to his disability? If so, how long does he have to wait to do so?
In reply to My husband and I have been by Lisa (not verified)
Hi Lisa,
Hi Lisa,
Unfortunately, family members of SSI recipients are not eligible for auxiliary benefits.
hello. MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAD
hello. MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAD OUR GRANDSON FOR 3 YRS NOW AS A GUARDIANSHIP AS MY OLDEST DAUGHTER HAS DRUG AND ALCOHOL PROBLEMS.SHE IS NOT DOING ANY BETTER AND EITHER IS THE FATHER. WE ARE STARTING PROCESS FOR ADOPTION. CAN I ADD HIM TO MY DEPENDANTS.
In reply to hello. MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAD by donald kramer JR (not verified)
Hi Donald,
Hi Donald,
Once you have adopted your grandson you can add him.
I receive SSDI for a mental
I receive SSDI for a mental disability. My girlfriend and I had a child 9 years ago. I had to live with my parents. They got older and couldnt deal with me. My girlfriend and got married and now we live as a family. She is overwhelmed with me and our child. She has to miss work sometimes. I read about auxiliary benefits just trying to help her out. Our daughter gets dependent benefits and has her entire life. We have been married for six months but together 15 years. I'm afraid that due to my condition she may need to be home more. Can we apply for auxiliary benefits?
In reply to I receive SSDI for a mental by Robert (not verified)
Hi Robert,
Hi Robert,
As long as your daughter is under 18, unmarried and is one of your dependents then you can apply for auxiliary benefits since you receive SSDI!
What forms of documentation
What forms of documentation do you need to apply for dependent SSDI benefits? Their website is extraordinarily hard to navigate on this topic. Thanks!
In reply to What forms of documentation by Kacey (not verified)
Hi Kacey,
Hi Kacey,
The most important documentation to obtain is anything from your doctor. Diagnosis, treatment plans, anything of that nature.
You can also go through the SSA blue book with the doctor to make diagnosis specifically for the criteria that the SSA is looking for.
I had no idea that my
I had no idea that my dependents could receive payments since I'm on SSDI until just recently. They are 7 and 5 years old. The 5 year old recieves her own SSI for autism. Will dependent benefits effect the amount she gets in SSI each month? Do the kids get backpay or does it start from the moment you apply and get approved for dependent benefits? Thanks!
In reply to I had no idea that my by Jessica (not verified)
Hi Jessica,
Hi Jessica,
Auxiliary benefits may impact her SSI since her SSI is based on household income. I would call the SSA or visit an office before to make sure her payments are interrupted! They may be eligible for back pay as well.
I have just taken custody of
I have just taken custody of my 2 grandchildren, I am on disability, would my grandchildren be able to get benefits
In reply to I have just taken custody of by Chicgaila (not verified)
Hi Chicgaila,
Hi Chicgaila,
If you are receiving SSDI, then your grandchildren are eligible for auxiliary benefits if they are under 18 (or under 19 if enrolled full time in school) and your grandchildren's parents are deceased or also disabled, has been living with you before they turned 18, and in the year before you were eligible for SSDI your grandchildren received at least half of their support from you.
If you legally adopted your grandchildren then they would just need to be unmarried and under 18.
Husband has Stage IV cancer
Husband has Stage IV cancer and has been approved for disability, but not until June 2020!! Is our 15 year old son eligible ?
In reply to Husband has Stage IV cancer by Karter@99 (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
If your husband is receiving SSDI then your son should qualify for auxiliary benefits under your husband's disability benefits.
I was under the impression
I was under the impression when each of my dependents age out, the total amount would not change, it would simply be split between the younger ones. Ex: 2 kids = $181 each for total of $362, one ages out, total amount remains $362 but all goes to the younger one. Is this true?
In reply to I was under the impression by Andi (not verified)
Hi Andi,
Hi Andi,
Yes and no. As one ages out, the other's benefit may increase. But a dependent is granted up to 50% of your benefits. So if the $362 is higher than 50% of your benefit, then they won't receive the full $362 but still may see an increase from the $181.
I have recently married and
I have recently married and my spouse has a 13 and a 11 y/o. I’m on SSDI. Is there a waiting period before I can apply to add them as dependents?
In reply to I have recently married and by Lisa (not verified)
Hi Lisa,
Hi Lisa,
For them to qualify for auxiliary benefits, you must have been financially funding half of you stepchildren's support at least one year before your disability eligibility date, the children are under 18 and live with you, and the children's parents are diseased or disabled.
My ex wife just got approved
My ex wife just got approved ssdi,. Married only 5 years but had two children which I have custody of and receive no child support from her. Will our kids be eligible to receive ssdi under her benefit even if the kids are in my court order custody?
In reply to My ex wife just got approved by Jeff (not verified)
Hi Jeff,
Hi Jeff,
If the kids are her dependents, under 18 and unmarried then they may qualify for auxiliary benefits.
My daughters father was in a
My daughters father was in a horrible car accident in 2015 and suffered a traumatic brain injury and now receives social security and disability would my 6 year old daughter apply for disability through her father ? Because they said she would not qualify when I called ssi via phone
In reply to My daughters father was in a by Rebecca (not verified)
Hi Rebecca,
Hi Rebecca,
If your daughter's father is receiving SSDI, then she may qualify for auxiliary benefits. She would need to be a dependent of his to qualify.
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