Published on: November 25, 2015
Children can get disability benefits if one or both of their parents is receiving a disability check (or retirement check). When a parent receives a disability check, the amount they receive is determined by how much money they have earned over the course of their working years. So if they've worked and made a substantial amount of money, then they will receive more in SSDI benefits. SSDI stands for Social Security Disability Income. When it comes to a child or children receiving benefits, they can get a check for up to half of what their parents are entitled to for benefits.
For example, if a parent has a disability and cannot work and they receive a check for $600 each month for their benefits, their child will receive up to $300 a month for their benefits. In some cases, children are entitled to less than one-half of the amount being paid to the disabled person. In these cases, there is a special Family Maximum Amount calleed the Disability Maximum that applies to that particular Social Security Record.
Requirements
There are certain requirements that have to be met, however. These requirements are for all eligible children. These children include not only biological children but also adopted Children, stepchildren and even grandchildren, if their grandparents are raising them. The stipulations are that the child cannot be married, they must be younger than the age of 18 or if they are over age 18, they have to have a disability. The disability must have begun before they were 22 years of age. Also, one parent must have a disability, be deceased, or be retired.
When you are applying for benefits for your children, you will need to provide their birth certificate as well as the social security numbers of both the children and the parents. The Social Security office will tell you what other documents you may need to furnish.
Benefits for your children will cease when the child turns 18. There are two exceptions to this. If your child is a full time high school student or your child has a disability, their benefits may continue. Normally, the Social Security office will send you a notification in the mail that your child’s benefits will cease once the child turns 18 years of age. If your child is still enrolled in high school, they are entitled to receive benefits until they graduate or two months after their 19th birthday, whichever one comes first. If your child has a disability, they will stop receiving benefits when they turn 18, unless their disability started before the age of 22. In that case, they will just continue to receive their monthly stipend. They must file a special application for a benefit called Childhool Disability Benefits (CDB).
If the parent receives benefits because they are caring for a child, the benefits of the parent may stop at a different time than those of the child. If your child does not have a disability, their benefits will stop at age 16. If they do have a disability, your benefits may continue but in order for that to happen, you will have to exercise your parental responsibility for caring for a mentally disabled child or that you provide personal services to your child who has a physical handicap.
How We Can Help
If you are thinking that the above requirements are complicated, it is because they are. But the experts at Disability Experts of Florida can help you cut through all that red tape and paperwork. This way you will feel not feel as stressed or overwhelmed. We will ensure that your child gets what they are entitled to.
