Requirements

• If you are approved for disability benefits (either Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplementary Security Income), your child qualifies to receive benefits if she is unmarried and younger than 18. She also qualifies if she is younger than 19 and enrolled in full-time elementary or secondary school, or if she is unmarried and became disabled before age 22. Adopted children may also receive a parent's disability benefits.
  
  

Types

• The rules regarding children receiving benefits vary depending on the type of disability benefit you receive. When determining whether your child qualifies for benefits on your record, disability Insurance considers your duration of work while paying Social Security taxes, your child's age and dependency and whether your child has a disability. Supplemental security income is less stringent: the only basic requirement is that your family has little income and few resources.
  
  

Exceptions

• In some cases, a stepchild or grandchild may qualify to receive benefits due to a guardian's disability. Sometimes an adult child may receive benefits on a parents' record if he doesn't qualify for Social Security himself. To qualify for benefits on your record, the adult child must have a disability that he incurred before age 22.
  
  

Other Resources

• If you are a low-income family, there are usually state programs available to aid your dependent children. For example, Medicaid is a state-run health insurance program for all ages, as long as you earn under a certain amount of income. Other services are specially designed for mothers and dependent children. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which provides nutrition education and food resources to low-income mothers and babies, is an example of such a program. Check with your local Social Security office to see what may be available to your family.
  
  

Application Process

• When you apply for Disability benefits, your family's information will be taken into account. You can apply for disability insurance online by going to the link in Resources and filling out the application. You can return to the online application many times, so don't feel obligated to finish it in one sitting. If you're uncomfortable applying online, you can call 800-772-1213 to set up an appointment at your local Social Security office where you will fill out an application in person. You will typically need your personal information, work and income information, and extensive medical information. The Social Security Administration will help you obtain any documents you don't have, so don't hesitate to apply for benefits as soon as you become disabled.