An Experienced Hobart Family Benefits Attorney Helping Families With SSD

Family members may also be eligible for SSD benefits. The best time to apply for Social Security Disability (SSD) benefits for family members is when you apply for benefits for yourself. That way, the moment you become eligible for support, your family will, too. This is especially important for families with young children.

Joseph Nugent, Attorney at Law, can help you and the people you love get the benefits you need. Based in Hobart and serving the families of northwest Indiana, he assists people with applications and denials for SSD/SSDI benefits.

Which Relatives Qualify For SSD Family Benefits?

The following family members may be supported by SSD benefits:

• Spouses: If he or she is 62 or older, or has been caring for a child under 16. Spouses can collect up to one-half of the monthly benefit that you receive.
• Ex-spouses: If you are divorced but were together for 10 or more years.
• Minor children: They must be under 18 and unmarried. Children can collect up to one-half of the monthly benefit that you receive.
• Adult children: They must either be in school, not including college, and under 19, or they must be a disabled adult from a condition that started before age 22.
• Grandchildren and step-grandchildren: The child’s parents must be deceased or disabled, and the child must have begun living with you before age 18. Other conditions apply.
• Parents: If you have died and they were dependent on you. There are other conditions as well.

The rules governing family eligibility are complicated. You will need to talk to an experienced disability benefits lawyer to be certain your family members qualify for SSD benefits.

How Are Family SSD Benefits Calculated?

When a worker qualifies for SSD benefits, certain family members may qualify for additional benefits. The Social Security Administration (SSA) calculates family benefits based on the disabled worker’s primary insurance amount (PIA). Generally, eligible spouses and children can receive up to 50% of the worker’s monthly benefit.

However, the government caps the total amount that a family can receive. This is known as the family maximum benefit. The formula varies, but it ranges between 150% and 180% of the disabled worker’s benefits. If the total combined benefits of the worker and their dependents exceed this maximum, the worker’s benefits do not change. The dependents’ checks, though, decrease proportionally until the total fits under the family maximum benefit.

Applying For Family SSD Benefits

To get family benefits, you have to meet certain eligibility criteria. You also have to go through a detailed application process. To apply, you must submit a claim directly through the SSA online, over the phone or in person at a local office. You will need extensive documentation to prove your relationship to the disabled worker. Be prepared to provide:

• Birth certificates
• Social Security numbers
• Marriage certificates (for spousal benefits)
• Medical evidence if applying for a disabled adult child

Any missing paperwork can cause lengthy delays. Working with an experienced SSDI lawyer helps to ensure that you submit a complete, accurate application on your first try.

When Do Family SSD Benefits End?

Family SSD benefits are usually not permanent. Since the goal is to support dependents, changes in a family member’s status can halt the payments. Some of the most common reasons for family benefits to end include:

• Minor children turn 18 or 19 if they are full-time high school students.
• The marital status of a dependent child or an ex-spouse changes
• The worker returns to substantial work
• The worker’s medical condition improves

When you sit down with Joe Nugent, he can help you understand these timelines, challenge a cessation of benefits and help your family plan financially for the future.

Ask For A Free Consultation From An Indiana SSD/SSI Attorney

Are you interested in helping your family members get Social Security family benefits? For more information, call Hobart family benefits lawyer Joseph Nugent, Attorney at Law, toll-free at 888-393-2475, locally at 219-945-9766 or drop us a line using our online contact form.