Qualifying for Social Security Disability Dependent Benefits in Indiana

When the primary wage earner in a household becomes disabled and is unable to work, the family members who depend on his wages suffer financially as well. That is why the Social Security Administration provides benefits to the dependents of workers who qualify for disability in some situations.

Who Can Apply for SSDI Dependent’s Benefits?

The following family members of a person collecting benefits may also be eligible for SSDI benefits:

• Spouse. If your spouse is 62 or older or is caring for children who are under the age of 16 or disabled, and is not working, they may collect dependent benefits.
• Ex-spouse. An ex to whom you were married for at least 10 years and who is not remarried, is eligible as a dependent if he or she is 62 or older.
• Minor children. Unmarried children under the age of 18 are able to collect benefits if they have a parent who is collecting SSDI. This applies to biological children, adopted children, and dependent stepchildren.
• Disabled children. Adult children who became disabled before the age of 22 are eligible for dependent benefits if a parent is collecting SSDI.

Each of these dependent family members may collect benefits of up to 50 percent of your disability benefit amount, but there is a maximum amount that can be received by a single family. In general, the total amount you and your family can receive is between 150 and 180 percent of your total disability benefit. So, for example, if you are collecting SSDI and you have a wife who is caring for two minor children, they can each only collect about 16 percent of the amount you are collecting. Since the average SSDI check in 2019 was $1200 a month, in this example, each dependent would receive a little less than $200 per month.

Need Help? Contact our Social Security Lawyers Today

If you are struggling to get the Social Security disability benefits to which you and your dependents are entitled, our Indianapolis disability attorneys may be able to help. Contact our office to discuss your situation. If we can apply our knowledge and experience to your case to get you the benefits you deserve, we will explain how. Fill out the form on this page to get started.