Who Qualifies as a Dependent?

• Spouses who are age 62 or older, caring for the disabled worker’s child under 16, or disabled themselves.
• Children who are under 18, up to 19 if attending high school, or disabled before age 22.
• Dependent parents may qualify if they rely on the disabled worker’s earnings.

Types of Benefits Available

• Monthly payments provided to eligible family members based on the disabled worker’s SSDI record.
• Medicare coverage eligibility for dependents under certain conditions.
• Auxiliary benefits are added to the primary beneficiary’s payment amount.

Impact on Family Income

• Supplemental income can help cover living expenses, medical care, and education costs.
• Benefits can reduce financial stress for families adapting to a disability.
• Benefit limits apply to family total payments, which may affect amounts received.

Eligibility Requirements in Maryland

• Applicants and dependents must meet the federal SSA criteria for relationship and age.
• Maryland does not have additional state-specific rules altering SSA SSDI family benefits.
• Proper application and documentation are key for receiving benefits.

Important Considerations

• Some SSDI benefits to dependents are affected if the disabled worker passes away, switching benefits to survivor’s benefits.
• Changes in family status(e.g., marriage, divorce) can impact eligibility.
• Families should understand how income and employment of dependents might affect benefits.