Many people who are disabled and have families wonder if their family members can use their disability benefits. There are certain circumstances that may qualify your immediate family members for auxiliary benefits. This could be beneficial for supporting your family and their financial needs. Talk to a Philadelphia group disability insurance attorney to find out more.

What Are Auxiliary Benefits?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers auxiliary benefits to certain family members who have a loved one with disability or retirement benefits. Auxiliary benefits work similarly to disability benefits in that:

·      They depend on certain factors

·      They have eligibility criteria

·      They are designed to cover basic financial needs

Those who could receive auxiliary benefits must be related in some way to a person who is receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). A spouse and children could be eligible for auxiliary benefits. So can ex-spouses after a divorce, depending on certain factors.

For a child to be eligible for auxiliary benefits, the child must be under the age of 18 or a disabled adult. The child must be directly related to the disabled parent who is receiving SSDI. Spouses must usually be married for at least 10 years to be considered for auxiliary benefits.

Divorced ex-spouses may not be able to receive auxiliary benefits if they remarried. An ex-spouse cannot receive disability benefits from multiple spouses. The ex-spouse will have to cooperate with the SSA to determine which spouse they will receive auxiliary benefits from.

Going through the process of requesting auxiliary benefits can often bring up a variety of questions. Some people may have concerns about their eligibility. Consider contacting a Philadelphia disability lawyer if you have questions or concerns. An experienced lawyer might be able to make the overall disability benefits process smoother.

How Auxiliary Benefits Work

We know that spouses and children can be eligible for auxiliary benefits, but many people wonder if other family members can be too. When it comes to disability benefits for dependents, this may also include auxiliary benefits for grandchildren and stepchildren.

If you are receiving SSDI, your grandchildren or stepchildren may receive auxiliary benefits if:

·      The parents are disabled

·      The parents are deceased

·      You provided half of the child’s financial support

Similar to the eligibility criteria for biological children, stepchildren and grandchildren must be 18 years old or younger. The children must be currently living with you to be considered for auxiliary benefits. Otherwise, they might not be eligible.

However, there are limits on the amount of auxiliary benefits your financial dependents can receive. The SSA limits the amount to 50% of your SSDI monthly payments for each financial dependent. Sometimes the math can be confusing. Feel free to ask a disability lawyer for help.

Disability Attorney in Philadelphia

Filing a disability claim be confusing at times, especially when things do not go as planned. Talk to a Philadelphia bad faith claims lawyer to explore ways to improve your chances of receiving auxiliary benefits. Start by contacting Edelstein & Nelson by dialing (800) 300-0909 for a consultation today. Our legal team of Philadelphia disability attorneys can answer questions about your disability benefits