Can My Family Members Receive Disability Benefits?

If you are approved for Social Security Disability benefits, some members of your family may also be eligible for monthly benefits. If you are in the process of applying for benefits or have recently been diagnosed with a serious medical condition, you should learn more about Social Security Disability benefits for family members.

For more information or assistance with your claim, contact our disability attorneys for a free, no obligation consultation now.

Benefits for Husbands or Wives

Spouses qualify for benefits at any age if they are caring for their husband’s or wife’s child with a disability or a child who is under the age of 16. Once the child turns 16, the spouse’s benefits stop unless he or she is old enough to receive retirement benefits or survivor benefits.

Spouses ages 62 and older may also receive benefits on your record unless they receive a higher Social Security benefit that is based off their record of earnings. Your spouse’s benefit amount is permanently reduced by the Social Security Administration (SSA) by a percentage that is based on the number of months until the spouse reaches full retirement age.

If your spouse is entitled to benefits from the SSA based on his or her own earnings record, that amount is paid first. If the spouse benefit amount on your record is higher, a combination of benefits is given to your spouse to equal the higher amount.

What If You are Divorced?

Your ex-spouse may qualify for benefits through your earnings record, even if you have remarried. For an ex-spouse to be eligible, he or she must:

• Be at least 62 years of age
• Have been married to you for a minimum of 10 years
• Be unmarried
• Not be eligible for equal or higher benefits on someone else’s record or his or her own record

If your ex-spouse is eligible for a pension due to work not covered by Social Security, his or her benefit on your record could be impacted.

Disability Benefits for Children

Your children may also be eligible for benefits based on your record once you start receiving disability benefits. These benefits are for biological and adopted children as well as stepchildren. Dependent grandchildren may also be eligible for these benefits.

To be eligible, your child must be unmarried and:

• Be under the age of 18; or
• Be between the ages of 18 and 19 as well as a full-time student (grades 12 and under only); or
• Be age 18 or older with a disability that began before the child reached age 22

Unless your child is disabled, benefits through your record typically stop when the child reaches age 18. If your child is 18 years old and still a full-time student in secondary or elementary school, his or her benefits continue until graduation, or until two months following the child’s 19th birthday – whichever date is soonest.

How to Apply for These Benefits

To apply for benefits for family member, contact the SSA. Each person must provide his or her birth certificate and Social Security number. For spouses, proof of marriage as well as dates of any prior marriages may also be needed. For direct deposit of benefits, the SSA needs the recipient’s bank routing information.

Our Disability Attorneys Are Here to Offer Assistance

If you need assistance, our Phoenix Social Security Disability lawyers are here to guide you through every step of the disability application process.

Request your no-risk consultation with our disability attorneys now. The consultation is entirely free, and you do not owe any upfront fees for our services. Payment is only due if we recover compensation for you.

Call us right now at 1-800-503-2000 or complete our Free Case Review form to get started.