PA Specialist Corner: Planning for the Future and Social Security Benefits
Many people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) get SSI, also called Supplemental Security Income. When planning for the future, it’s important to know how a parent’s retirement can affect the benefits of their child with a disability.
SSI is funded as a “program of last resort”, meaning it’s the last option for support. So, if you qualify for other benefits, you have to apply for them. Some adults with disabilities are eligible to get disability benefits based on their parent’s work record. These benefits are called Disabled Adult Child benefits (DAC)—or Social Security Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB), which is a new term used by Social Security for the same benefits.
Who can get Childhood Disability Benefits?
A person may qualify if:
Their disability started before age 22
They are 18 or older
They are not married
A parent has retired, become disabled, or passed away
CDB is part of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). If a person works and earns too much money, they may not qualify.
How much is the benefit?
An adult child with a disability can get:
Up to 50% of the benefit their parent gets when that parent retires.
Up to 75% if the parent has passed away.
But the adult child’s actual payment might be less because there is a limit on the total benefits a family can get from one person’s work record.
How to apply for benefits:
When a parent applies for Social Security retirement benefits, the form asks if anyone in their family, including a child with a disability, may qualify for benefits on their work record. The parent should list their child with a disability on the form. Social Security will then contact the adult child with a disability to apply for benefits.
When Childhood Disability Benefits start, SSI benefits usually stop. But sometimes a small SSI payment continues because the amount of the person’s SSI benefits was higher than the amount they can get through SSDI. In this case, they will receive both.
What to do next:
If your Social Security benefits change, it’s important to report changes to Oregon’s Department of Human Services (ODHS)/Oregon Health Authority (OHA). Go to one.oregon.gov to report changes. Tell them the Social Security income is from DAC/CDB and that the person (adult child with a disability) receives DD services. This can help you keep your Medicaid eligibility.
Definitions to help you understand your benefits:
SSA stands for Social Security Administration. It administers benefits like Retirement, Disability, Survivor, and Family. It also manages Supplemental Security Income (SSI), enrolls people in Medicare, and issues Social Security numbers and cards.
SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income, which serves low-income disabled, blind, and aged individuals regardless of work history.
SSDI stands for Social Security Disability Insurance. It’s a federal program that provides monthly cash benefits to workers who’ve paid Social Security taxes and can’t work because of a long-term medical condition.You apply through the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Upcoming PA Specialist Corner: “What about Medicare?”
- Christine Xthona, PA Specialist at Community Pathways
Do you have a question for our PA Specialists?
Send any questions you might have about disability services, including Community Pathways’ brokerage support services, to info@communitypath.org.
Our PA Specialists will try there best to respond to the questions we get by sharing helpful information and resources in an upcoming blog post. Thank you!