Alpharetta SSDI Benefits for Children and Spouses
The spouses of those who are collecting, or eligible for, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) may also be eligible to receive benefits depending on various criteria. Spousal benefits are only available for recipients of SSDI benefits, not Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Children with a parent who collects disability benefits may also be eligible to receive benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) imposes strict eligibility requirements on qualifying children.
Due to the arduous and time-consuming process of applying for disability compensation, it may prove beneficial to seek legal advice from a Social Security attorney who is knowledgeable in Alpharetta SSDI benefits for children and spouses. Forgoing this may complicate the process and even affect a person’s eligibility, especially if an applicant has little to no knowledge of the SSDI claims process.
Dependents who Qualify for SSDI Benefits
As mentioned before, there are various criteria that must be met before a dependent can qualify for SSDI. If a beneficiary’s spouse is 62 years or older when the individual starts receiving SSDI benefits, a monthly benefit based on the individual’s earning records may be awarded.
However, if the spouse collects any disability benefits prior to the full retirement age of 62 or older, an early retirement penalty takes effect and permanently lowers the overall benefit amount. Although, this does not apply to spouses caring for children under 16 who are eligible for disability benefits.
According to the SSA, the total benefit amount is adjusted based on the number of family members who qualify but is generally the between 150 and 180 percent of the beneficiary’s monthly amount. A spouse may also get benefits if a child is under their care. In order for these benefits to take effect, the child must be under the age of 16, under the care of the beneficiary’s spouse, unmarried, and biologically-related, adopted, or considered a stepchild.
Children who are 18 and over may collect SSDI and receive benefits in the following situations:
- The adult child is disabled, and the disability occurred before the child turned 22 years old
- The child attends a secondary school full-time and is under the age of 19
Common Children and Spouse Benefit Amounts
If the spouse or child is eligible for SSDI, the allotted benefits may be up to 50 percent of the overall amount that the beneficiary receives. If the amount that the family would receive exceeds the 150 to 180 percent limit, the benefits will be reduced equally.
If a spouse has a qualified earnings record with the SSA, that amount will be paid in benefits first. On the contrary, if the spouse’s amount is less than the what the beneficiary is receiving, the SSA will combine the benefits to ensure the spouse is receiving the higher amount.
In some cases, former spouses may also collect benefits based on the beneficiary’s work earnings in circumstances such as:
- The former spouse is 62 years old
- The former spouse is not married, barring exceptions
- The marriage lasted for a minimum of 10 years
Ask an Alpharetta Attorney about SSDI Benefits for Children and Spouses
The SSA requires each family member to supply a substantial amount of information to determine SSDI eligibility. It can be difficult to know what information and the most persuasive way to format the information, so the assistance of a disability representative knowledgeable on Alpharetta SSDI benefits for children and spouses may simplify the claims process and ensure your application’s accuracy. To learn more, call today.