Children's Benefits
There are multiple programs built around children and their families. Read more below to see if you may qualify. Reach out today to talk with a Sage Disability expert.
Children’s Benefits
Children may qualify for benefits if they have a disability, or if a parent is retired, disabled, or deceased.
Qualifications
Your child (and, in some cases, your stepchild, grandchild or step-grandchild) is entitled to benefits on your earnings record as a dependent if he or she is unmarried and:
- have a parent who is disabled or retired and eligible for Social Security benefits under 18 years of age;
- 18 or (in some cases) 19 and still attending high school full-time;
- or disabled, and the disability started before the child turned 22.
- When a Child Becomes Disabled Before Age 22: Children who are disabled may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income. A disabled child or young adult whose income is low enough can apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), but Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) usually pays more in monthly benefits.
- SSDI: A child may receive a Social Security benefit equal to 50% of the parent’s full retirement benefit or disability benefit. If the parent is deceased, the child is eligible to receive up to 75% of the parent’s full retirement benefit.
Supplementary Security Income
for Children (SSI):
SSI is a federal program that provides financial assistance to eligible individuals with disabilities, including children.
Children under age 18 can receive SSI if they meet Social Security’s definition of disability for children and if there are limited income and resources in the household.
Social Security defines a disability for children as follows:
- The child must have a physical or mental condition that very seriously limits their activities.
- The condition must have lasted or be expected to last at least 1 year or result in death.
Eligibility Requirements:
Your child must meet specific disability requirements to be considered medically eligible for SSI:
- The child (not blind) must not be working or earning more than $1,550 per month in 2024.
- A blind child must not be working or earning more than $2,590.
- These income limits may change annually.
Social Security Benefits for Children:
Young people who are unable to work can collect disability benefits through their parents’ Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), even if they don’t meet the earnings requirements for the program. If you’re over the age of 18, you might be able to qualify for SSDI benefits as a “disabled adult child.”
Disabled Adult Child:
SSDI is a program designed for people who have worked and paid Social Security taxes for years before they became disabled. The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes that most young people haven’t been able to work for long enough to qualify for SSDI on their own, so in certain circumstances, you can receive disability benefits under your parents’ SSDI.
The SSA will consider you a disabled adult child if you meet the following criteria:
- you are over the age of 18;
- you are not married;
- you have a disability that began before you were 22, and
- one of your parents currently receives Social Security benefits, or was insured for Social Security benefits at the time of their death.
