Many of us know that the Social Security Administration provides benefits to workers who are going to retire, or those who have been injured or suffer from a disability. However, for the most part, we believe that these benefits are only available to adults, or citizens of working age. But what about children? If you have a child with a disability, can they benefit from Social Security? If you’re a low-income household, a disabled child can be a monumental expense. Fortunately, however, the SSA does have options to provide financial benefits to children. If you have a disability application in Atlantic County, then this information can be vital to get it accepted.
Before we begin, we should note that the SSA classifies children as both under the age of 18 and above. If the recipient is over 18, they are referred to as an “adult child”. It may seem a bit confusing, but there’s a reason for it. If your child has suffered from a disability since an early age, once they reach adulthood they are no longer classified as a youth. However, if the disability hinders their ability to work, and they are still dependent on you or someone else for care, then they are classified as an “adult child” in order to continue to receive benefits.
The SSA helps children in a variety of ways. First, if you or your spouse is disabled and files for SSDI, then your children can be listed as dependents, meaning that your settlement is higher to include them. Second, if your child is disabled, then they can receive benefits on their own, regardless of if you or your spouse is on Social Security. However, once the child reaches 18, they must fall under one of the categories of disability for adults to continue receiving benefits. This is where the term “adult child” comes into play. What’s also important to note about this, though, is that the term only applies to adults who are dependent on a parent or guardian for primary care. If your child goes off on their own and still receives benefits, then they are just classified as an adult. Finally, if your child has been getting benefits due to disability, and then you or your spouse qualify for SSI or SSDI, they can get additional benefits as an “adult child.” Even if they are on their own, they can still qualify, as long as the disability occurred before the age of 22.
When it comes to your children’s welfare, nothing is more important. If you have a child that suffers from a disability, feel free to contact us, and we can help you to ensure that their quality of life is as high as possible.
