Can my family members receive benefits on my SSDI record?

Your SSDI approval can trigger benefits for your entire household — not just for you. These payments, called auxiliary or dependent benefits, are paid on top of your own SSDI benefit and come from the same Social Security trust fund.

Who qualifies as a dependent:

• Spouse age 62 or older — receives up to 50% of your full benefit.
• Spouse of any age caring for your child who is under 16 or disabled — receives up to 50%.
• Unmarried children under 18 (or under 19 if a full-time high school student) — each receives up to 50%.
• Disabled adult children whose disability began before age 22 — eligible at any age.

Family Maximum Benefit (FMB): The total amount SSA will pay your family is capped under 42 U.S.C. §403. The FMB is calculated using a formula tied to your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) and typically falls between 150% and 180% of your own monthly benefit. If total family payments would exceed the FMB, each dependent’s share is reduced proportionally — your benefit is not reduced.

SSI note: SSI is individual-only. Family members do not receive auxiliary benefits on an SSI recipient’s record. However, a disabled child may qualify for their own SSI payment.

Many families leave auxiliary benefits unclaimed because no one told them they existed. When we win your case, we automatically help you apply for every dependent benefit you are owed.