What are the eligibility requirements for SSD benefits for disabled adult children?

Worldwide, it is estimated that over one billion people are living with a disability. One in ten of those with disabilities are children. For the parents of a disabled child, planning for their child’s future is of paramount concern. Raising a child with a disability can take a financial toll and once the child becomes a disabled adult, many parents will remain financially responsible for their care. Social Security Disability benefits are one source of potential support for disabled adults. Our NYC Social Security Disability attorneys explore the requirements for seeking SSD benefits for your disabled adult child below.

SSD and Adult Disabled Children

Typically, to receive SSD benefits you must prove that you are disabled and have worked a certain number of hours within your lifetime so as to enable you to pursue federal benefits. For adults who have been disabled since childhood, it is usually impossible to meet the work hours requirement based on their own work record. Fortunately, an exception exists for adult children who became disabled before the age of 22.

To be classified as an “adult child” per the SSA’s definition, you must be a disabled person over the age of 18 who became disabled before the age of 22. If this criterion is met, your adult child can then draw disability benefits as a dependent, or survivor should one parent be deceased, under the work record of the parent. An additional requirement is that the parent of the adult child either be deceased or receive either Social Security Retirement benefits or Social Security disability benefits.

For disabled adult children who do not meet the SSD requirements, likely because their parent is not eligible for benefit, Supplemental Security Income or SSI may represent another benefits option. SSI benefits do not require a work history and can be attained by disabled adult children so long as their income falls below the limit in his or her state, along with other factors. At times, your adult child may be able to receive both SSD and SSI benefits, but SSI benefits will cease if the total benefits exceed a certain value. Contact an SSD attorney for more assistance with protecting your adult child financially today.