The procedure for filing for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits is extensive. In addition to filing a claim and proving that your condition is severe enough to keep you from working, you must also satisfy financial and work hour limits. After documenting your medical and work histories—not an easy task!—you’ll then have to wait for the decision and hope that the benefits awarded for your disability will be enough to cover your family’s expenses.
What most people don’t know, however, is that your family may also be eligible for auxiliary benefits if you’re disabled and have dependent children.
Auxiliary Children’s Disability
To help provide for families whose primary guardian or guardians are disabled, the Social Security Administration (SSA) allows for children of the qualifying disabled applicant to receive financial support. This additional aid is awarded to children to supplement living expenses that their disabled parent can’t provide due to being unemployed.
As with normal disability benefits, auxiliary benefits are calculated on a monthly basis and are awarded to eligible, dependent children up until their eighteenth birthday (or nineteenth birthday, if the child is a full-time student).
Eligibility Criteria
When a parent’s disability claim has been accepted and approved by the SSA, the disabled guardian can then petition for his minor children to be auxiliary beneficiaries and receive auxiliary disability benefits. When petitioning, it is important to know the eligibility requirements that you children must satisfy. These requirements include…
- Age. The child must be younger than 18 (student exception of 19).
- The child’s relation to the disabled. Eligibility depends on the legal relationship between the child and the disabled candidate. The child must be one of the following: a biological child; an adopted child; a step-child; or a grandchild or step-grandchild (if there is no living parent).
- Dependency status. The child must be a financial dependent of the disabled parent or grandparent.
- Marital status. The child must be unmarried.
Securing Additional Benefits
We know how frustrating and complicated filing for disability can be, especially when so many things can make or break your claim. But, after helping countless applicants like you receive their approval letters, we know we can ease that frustration and help you get all of the entitled benefits you and your family can receive. Let our experience and knowledge work for you. Contact us today for a free consultation.
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