When it comes to the Social Security disability process age matters, as many different ages have impacts on how Social Security considers disability and how it applies to its rules. One of these ages is 22. Below is information about how adults who have been found disabled prior to reaching the age of 22 can get benefits.
Benefits For A Disabled Child
A child under age 18 may be disabled, but Social Security will not need to consider the child’s disability when deciding if he or she qualifies for benefits as your dependent. The child’s benefits normally stop at age 18 unless he or she is a full-time student in an elementary or high school (benefits can continue until age 19) or is disabled.
Adults Disabled Before Age 22
An adult disabled before age 22 may be eligible for child’s benefits if a parent is deceased or starts receiving retirement or disability benefits. Social Security considers this a “child’s” benefit because it is paid on a parent’s Social Security earnings record.
The “adult child”—including an adopted child, or, in some cases, a stepchild, grandchild, or step grandchild—must be unmarried, age 18 or older, have a disability that started before age 22, and meet the definition of disability for adults.
Example: A worker starts collecting Social Security retirement benefits at age 62. He has a 38-year old son who has had cerebral palsy since birth. The son will start collecting a disabled “child’s” benefit on his father’s Social Security record.
It is not necessary that the adult child ever worked. Benefits are paid based on the parent’s earnings record. An adult child must not have substantial earnings. The amount of earnings Social Security considers “substantial” increases each year. In 2019, this means working and earning more than $1,220 a month.
Certain expenses the adult child incurs in order to work may be excluded from these earnings. What if the adult child is already receiving SSI benefits or disability benefits on his or her own record?
An adult child already receiving SSI benefits or disability benefits on his or her own record should still check to see if benefits may be payable on a parent’s earnings record. Higher benefits might be payable and entitlement to Medicare may be possible.
How does Social Security decide if an adult “child” is disabled for SSDI benefits?
If a child is age 18 or older, Social Security will evaluate his or her disability the same way it would evaluate the disability for any adult. Social Security will send the application to the Disability Determination Services in your state that completes the disability decision for Social Security.
What happens if the adult child gets married?
If he or she receives benefits as an adult disabled since childhood, the benefits generally end if he or she gets married. However, some marriages (for example, to another adult disabled child) are considered protected. The rules vary depending on the situation. Contact a Social Security representative at 1-800-772-1213 to find out if the benefits can continue.
