Social Security benefits are available to children under the age of 18 if they meet the disability rules, these types of benefits are known as Supplemental Security Income (SSI). But, what if someone meets the disability rules between the ages of 18-22?
Many young people do not have a long work history and many have not earned enough work credits to earn Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) like older adults, due to this factor, there is another type of program, the Disabled Adult Child (DAC) people 18-22 who are found disabled during this age may qualify for. This type of benefit allows for the disabled adult child to collect SSDI benefits based on a parent’s earnings record.
When May A Child Receive Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB)?
An adult son or daughter, age 18 or over, is eligible to receive CDB if he or she:
Meets the definition of disability in §507.1;
Became disabled before age 22;
Meets the other requirements for child’s insurance benefits (see §323); and
Is not imprisoned within the U.S. for conviction of a felony (see §1850).
(See §340 for events that end these benefits.)
Note: There is no upper age limit for childhood disability benefits. Disabled adult sons and daughters can qualify on the record of a stepparent or grandparent in some cases.
When May A Disabled Adult Child Become Re-Entitled To Benefits?
A disabled adult (age 18 or older) child may be re-entitled to CDB if he or she becomes disabled again. The recurrence of the disability must occur within seven years (84 months) of the month in which benefits were terminated because the earlier disability ended. These benefits are payable without a waiting period.
Effective 10/01/2004, P.L. 108-203 allows re-entitlement to childhood disability benefits after the 7-year period if the beneficiary’s previous entitlement to disability terminated because of the performance of Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA).
