Disability Benefits for Adults Who are Disabled Before Age 22

The “adult child” still needs to meet the Social Security’s definition of a disabled adult and must be unmarried, age 18 or older, and have a disability that started before age 22.

Normally, to be eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you need to have worked and contributed a minimum amount in FICA taxes (usually paid by your employer and withheld from your paycheck.) An adult disabled before age 22 may be eligible for child’s benefits if a parent is deceased or starts receiving retirement or disability benefits. This is considered a “child’s” benefit because it is paid on a parent’s Social Security earnings record.

The “adult child” still needs to meet the Social Security’s definition of a disabled adult and must be unmarried, age 18 or older, and have a disability that started before age 22.

The adult child who is applying for these benefits will not be eligible if he/she is earning more than a certain amount from employment (see Substantial Gainful Activity). The adult child does not need to have worked, but his/her parent must have worked enough to qualify for these benefits.

Benefits for an adult child cannot be applied for online. You must contact the Social Security Administration in order to get the application process started. You may want to consult with an experienced social security disability attorney to help with your claim.