A Special Case: Social Security Disability Benefits for Adults Injured in Childhood

Thousands of parents have gotten help for their disabled children through Social Security benefits. The income helps pay for child care, rehabilitation, and other costs relating to the child’s injury.

But sometimes, child disability cases will last into adulthood-and the costs of care only increase with time. What does this mean for the child’s benefits?

If an adult is still suffering from the effects of an injury he received in childhood, there is a special clause for his Social Security disability benefits. These are commonly called “adult child” benefits, because the payments are made to the parents or guardians of the injured adult.

Many different kinds of relatives can receive these benefits, including adopted children, stepchildren, grandchildren and step grandchildren.

In order to receive adult child disability benefits, the disabled adult must:

• Be age 18 or older
• Be unmarried
• Have a disability that began before age 22

Because the payments for adult children are paid into their parents’ Social Security record, much more depends on the parents’ Social Security status than the child’s.

If you are a parent or guardian of a disabled adult, you must either:

• Already receive your own Social Security benefits (such as retirement or disability)
• Have worked long enough to qualify for Social Security, or
• Have survived a spouse that earned Social Security at a workplace

As experienced Palm Beach Social Security disability attorneys, we know the rules surrounding disability payments can be confusing. The different disability categories are meant to help those in need, but often leave them floundering in a sea of documents. We can help you understand the rules surrounding your family’s benefits, but also get you the maximum amount for your child’s care.

A few facts you may not know about adult children’s Social Security disability benefits:

• Adult children can receive disability benefits as well as Social Security Income. However, they may receive a higher amount under their parent’s earning’s record.
• Since benefits are paid on the parent’s earnings record, adult children do not need to have been employed at any time to receive benefits.
• If the adult child does work, he will lose Social Security benefits if he has “substantial earnings,” or income over $1,000 per month in 2011.
• If an adult child’s parents never worked, no benefits will be paid to the parents’ earnings record. Any benefits the adult child receives must be paid into his own account.
• Applications for adult child benefits must be completed by contacting a Social Security representative. You cannot apply for these benefits online.

Remember: as long an adult child remains disabled, his benefits should continue for the rest of his life. If you are the parent of a disabled adult whose benefits have been revoked, we can help. Call Fetterman & Associates today at (866) 865-1244 to get your family the help they deserve.