FAQs about Family Benefits

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    Disability FAQs about Family Benefits

    Common Questions About Family Benefits (Spousal, Widow/Widower, Child) from the Social Security Administration

    The SSA does not consider your spouse’s income – whether high or low. Instead, you apply for your benefits with your income for SSD. If applying for SSI, your spouse’s income does apply, and the SSA will consider any income from your spouse available to you, which affects how much you qualify for.
    Yes, you can if you are at least 50 years old. In this situation, you are applying for a disabled widow’s benefit. Your disability must have begun within 7 years of your spouse’s death or within 7 years of the time when your children were under 16 years.
    A disabled child under 18 years can receive SSI benefits. The standards used in these claims are stricter than an adult seeking SSI benefits for their disability. Therefore, it is best to consult with an attorney.
    The SSA allows children to receive benefits if their parent is eligible and disabled, retired, or deceased. Children receive benefits until they turn 18 or graduate high school – whichever comes later. Their benefit amount depends on how much the adult would have received, and if the parent did not earn much of a living to invest in Social Security, the child may not receive anything.
    Children who are over 18 years can receive their adult child’s share of benefits as long as their disability started before they turned 22. Also, the insured parent must be disabled, deceased, or now receiving Social Security retirement.