Generally speaking, the Social Security Administration pays out Social Security Disability benefits directly to persons who live with disabilities. However, families with small or school-aged children may require more support than what those benefits can offer. If this is the case for you, your family may qualify for child’s SSD benefits.
Not just any family with young children qualifies for SSD benefits for children. The SSA explains who qualifies for child benefits and how much in child benefits your family may receive.
Who qualifies for child benefits
Families may qualify for child benefits in select circumstances. Per the SSA, those circumstances are as follows:
- Your child is unmarried and not yet at the age of majority
- Your child is of the age of majority but lives with a disability that he or she developed before the age of 22
- Your child is either 18 or 19 and still attends elementary or secondary school full time
If your child meets one of these three criteria, you or a claimant must also be able to prove that one of two circumstances is true: 1) That you or your child’s other parent passed away before he or she was able to claim SSD benefits and after having accumulated enough work credits, or 2) that you or your child’s other parent lives with a disability or is retired and qualifies for SSD.
Child benefits amounts
Child benefits are fairly generous, at up to half of the amount the parent receives. If a beneficiary passes away, child survivors may receive up to 75% of the parent’s full benefit amount.
The SSA does limit how much one family may receive though. One household may not receive more than 180% of one parent’s full benefit amount. If the total exceeds this maximum, the administration will reduce all but the recipient parent’s amount accordingly.
Child SSD benefits can prove hugely beneficial to recipients with children. However, you must apply for them as you would your own benefits and receive approval.
