An SSDI award can help replace income when a disability keeps you from working, but you may wonder whether your benefits can also help support your family. If your household depends on your earnings, knowing what your SSDI record could provide for your family may help you plan for your financial needs.
Here are the family members who may qualify and the basic rules that apply.
Spouses
Your spouse may qualify for benefits if they are 62 years old and above, or if they care for your child who is younger than 16 or has a qualifying disability. In general, Social Security also requires you to have been married for at least a year, although exceptions can apply.
Certain divorced spouses may also receive benefits based on your work record. Generally, the former spouse must still be unmarried, reach the age of 62 and have been married to you for 10 years or more.
Children
Your unmarried child may qualify if they are younger than 18. Benefits can continue through age 19 if your child remains a full-time student up to secondary school.
An adult child may also qualify if they have a disability that began before age 22 and they meet Social Security’s definition of disability. The condition does not necessarily need a formal diagnosis before they turned 22. What matters for this benefit category is showing that the disability began before your child reached that age. Social Security refers to these as Disabled Adult Child, or DAC, benefits.
Other qualifying family members
Certain adopted children, stepchildren, grandchildren and step-grandchildren may also qualify under specific circumstances. Eligibility depends on the family relationship and other requirements, so not every relative will qualify.
Family benefit limits
Your family members’ benefits may face a limit based on your work record. Social Security applies a family maximum to the total benefits payable to certain relatives. As a result, the amount each person receives can change when multiple family members qualify.
Check whether your family qualifies
Your SSDI record may provide benefits for more than just you, particularly if you support a spouse or children. If you receive or plan to apply for SSDI, reviewing your family’s circumstances with an attorney can help you identify relatives who may qualify and understand how the family maximum could affect their benefits.