Understanding Social Security Disability Dependent Benefits

Social Security Disability benefits are not only for the individual who is disabled, but certain family members or dependents may also qualify for benefits. These benefits include:

• Spouse Benefits: A spouse may qualify for benefits if they are caring for a disabled person’s child under the age of 16, or if the spouse is age 62 or older.
• Children’s Benefits: Dependent children under the age of 18 (or up to age 19 if still in high school) may qualify for benefits if they are the biological or adopted children of the disabled worker.
• Ex-Spouse Benefits: A former spouse may be eligible for benefits if they were married to the disabled worker for at least 10 years, and certain conditions are met.

Income Limits for Social Security Disability Dependents

The income limits for Social Security Disability dependents are tied to a concept known as Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), which determines whether a person is engaging in work that provides a level of income that would suggest they are no longer disabled or dependent on benefits.

Income Limits for Spouses and Ex-Spouses

The income of the spouse or ex-spouse does not directly affect their eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits. However, there are income limits in the form of the SGA threshold when it comes to work-related earnings:

• If the spouse or ex-spouse is working and their monthly earnings exceed the SGA level, they may not qualify for benefits. For 2025, the SGA limit is $1,470 per month for non-blind individuals, and $2,460 per month for blind individuals. If their income exceeds these amounts, the SSA may determine they are capable of substantial work and therefore ineligible for auxiliary benefits.
• However, if the spouse or ex-spouse is not working, there is no direct income limit for their eligibility. For example, a spouse who is caring for a disabled worker’s child may receive benefits regardless of their own income, as long as they meet other eligibility requirements.

Income Limits for Dependent Children

Dependent children may qualify for Social Security Disability benefits regardless of their income or work history, as long as they meet the criteria for dependency. These children include biological, adopted, and sometimes stepchildren or grandchildren of the disabled worker. There are no direct income limits for children under 18 or up to age 19 if they are still in school. The key requirements for a child to qualify for benefits are:

• Age: The child must be under 18 or up to 19 if still attending secondary school full-time.
• Dependency: The child must be financially dependent on the disabled worker, which usually means the child does not have a substantial income or savings.

The SSA does not count a child’s own income when determining eligibility for dependent benefits, as long as they meet the age and dependency criteria.

Family Maximum Benefits and Income Limits

While individual income limits may not apply directly to dependents in the traditional sense, there are limits on the total amount of benefits a family can receive. This is known as the family maximum. The family maximum is determined by the disabled worker’s earnings record and is a percentage of the disabled worker’s primary insurance amount (PIA).

• Family Maximum Limit: This limit typically ranges from 150% to 180% of the disabled worker's PIA. For example, if the disabled worker’s PIA is $1,000, the family maximum would be between $1,500 and $1,800. Once the family reaches this cap, no additional benefits can be paid to dependents.
• Impact of the Family Maximum on Dependents: If a family’s total benefits exceed the family maximum, the SSA will reduce the benefits for each dependent to ensure that the total amount does not exceed the maximum limit.

Other Income and Resource Considerations for SSI

If a dependent is applying for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) as a disabled child, the income limits are stricter. SSI is a need-based program, and the SSA considers both the dependent’s and the household’s income and resources. In 2025, the income limit for SSI is as follows:

• Individual Income Limit: The maximum income for an individual to qualify for SSI is $2,000 per month for 2025.
• Couple Income Limit: For couples, the combined income limit is $3,000 per month.

SSI also has resource limits, which include savings and assets. For 2025, the SSI resource limit is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple.