Disability information for those interested (USA)

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An adult disabled before age 22 may be eligible for child's benefits if a parent

is deceased or starts receiving retirement or disability benefits.

We consider this a " child's " benefit because it is paid on a parent's Social

Security earnings record.

We make the disability decision using the disability rules for adults.

The " adult child " —including an adopted child, or, in some cases, a stepchild,

grandchild, or step grandchild—must be unmarried, age 18 or older, and have a

disability that started before age 22.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the adult child never worked?

It is not necessary that the adult child ever worked because benefits are paid

on the parent's earnings record.

What if the adult child is currently working?

The adult child must not have substantial earnings. The amount of earnings we

consider " substantial " increases each year. In 2010, this means working and

earning more than $1,000 a month.

Certain expenses the adult child incurs in order to work may be excluded from

these earnings. For more information about work and disability, refer to Working

While Disabled--How We Can Help.

What if the adult child is already receiving SSI benefits?

An adult child already receiving SSI benefits should still check to see if

benefits may be payable on a parent's earnings record. Higher benefits might be

payable, and entitlement to Medicare may be possible.

What if the adult child is already receiving disability benefits on his or her

own record?

An adult child already receiving disability benefits should still check to see

if benefits may be payable on a parent's earnings record. It is possible for an

individual disabled since childhood to attain insured status on his or her own

record and be entitled to higher benefits on a parent's record.

What if the parent never worked?

No benefits would be payable on the record of a parent who never worked.

Can an application be completed online for disabled adult child's benefits?

At this time you cannot apply for child's benefits online. If you wish to file

for benefits for a child, contact Social Security immediately at 1-

(TTY number 1-) so that you

do not lose any potential benefits.

Your disabled adult child cannot apply for benefits online, but he or she can

get the process started by completing the online Adult Disability Report before

contacting us.

How do we decide if an adult " child " is disabled for SSDI benefits?

If a child is age 18 or older, we will evaluate his or her disability the same

way we would evaluate the disability for any adult. We send the application to

the Disability Determination Services in your state that completes the

disability decision for us. For detailed information about how we evaluate

disability for adults, see Disability Benefits (Publication No. 05-10029).

The definition of disability under Social Security is different than other

programs. Social Security pays only for total disability. No benefits are

payable for partial disability or for short-term disability.

" Disability " under Social Security is based on your inability to work. We

consider you disabled under Social Security rules if:

• You cannot do work that you did before;

• We decide that you cannot adjust to other work because of your medical

condition(s); and

• Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to

result in death.

This is a strict definition of disability. Social Security program rules assume

that working families have access to other resources to provide support during

periods of short-term disabilities, including workers' compensation, insurance,

savings and investments.

Go to the next page to see how we decide if you are disabled.

To qualify for benefits, you must first have worked in jobs covered by Social

Security. Then you must have a medical condition that meets Social Security's

definition of disability. In general, we pay monthly cash benefits to people who

are unable to work for a year or more because of a disability.

Benefits usually continue until you are able to work again on a regular basis.

There are also a number of special rules, called " work incentives, " that provide

continued benefits and health care coverage to help you make the transition back

to work.

If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits when you reach full

retirement age, your disability benefits automatically convert to retirement

benefits, but the amount remains the same.

Let's look at the requirements more closely:

• How much work do you need?

• What we mean by " disability. "

• How we decide if you are disabled.

• Special Situations

In addition to meeting our definition of disability, you must have worked long

enough--and recently enough--under Social Security to qualify for disability

benefits.

Social Security work credits are based on your total yearly wages or

self-employment income. You can earn up to four credits each year.

The amount needed for a credit changes from year to year. In 2010, for example,

you earn one credit for each $1,120 of wages or self-employment income. When

you've earned $4,480, you've earned your four credits for the year.

The number of work credits you need to qualify for disability benefits depends

on your age when you become disabled. Generally, you need 40 credits, 20 of

which were earned in the last 10 years ending with the year you become disabled.

However, younger workers may qualify with fewer credits.

IMPORTANT: Remember that whatever your age is, you must have earned the required

number of work credits within a certain period ending with the time you become

disabled. Your Social Security Statement shows whether you meet the work

requirement at the time it was prepared. If you stop working under Social

Security after the date of the Statement, you may not continue to meet the

disability work requirement in the future.

Go to the next page to learn what we mean by " disability. "

The rules for how much work you need to qualify for disability benefits are as

follows:

Before age 24--You may qualify if you have 6 credits earned in the 3-year period

ending when your disability starts.

Age 24 to 31--You may qualify if you have credit for working half the time

between age 21 and the time you become disabled. For example, if you become

disabled at age 27, you would need credit for 3 years of work (12 credits) out

of the past 6 years (between ages 21 and 27).

Age 31 or older--In general, you need to have the number of work credits shown

in the chart below. Unless you are blind, you must have earned at least 20 of

the credits in the 10 years immediately before you became disabled.

Born after 1929,

Become Disabled At Age Number of Credits You Need

31 through 42 20

44 22

46 24

48 26

50 28

52 30

54 32

56 34

58 36

60 38

62 or older 40

Always contact a attorney who specializes in Disability Law preferably one that

has a retired disability judge on their

law team. You'll stand a better chance of winning your case.

This information came directly from the SSA.gov web page.

Hope this helps some

Mist