Child’s Benefits

If you succeed in winning Social Security Disability (“SSD”) benefits, then you may also be entitled to receive additional benefits for your children under 18 years of age. The child’s benefit is usually about half of the SSD benefit. You cannot rely on the Social Security Administration (the “SSA”) to take steps to help you secure the child’s benefits.

I represent a 53 year old press operator whose SSD application was approved after 4 months. The SSA did not notify him about his right to child’s benefits. The claimant did not think he was entitled to child benefits because his son had already graduated from high school. However, the claimant’s SSD benefit onset date was several months before the son graduated. As a result, the claimant will be entitled to receive several additional thousand dollars worth of benefits.

When applying for SSD benefits, always disclose the identities of dependents. The disclosure provides a protective filing date for child’s benefits.