Can I get Social Security benefits as caregiver to my disabled adult daughter receiving DAC from ex-husband?

Your situation is actually fairly common. As her caregiver, you wouldn't qualify for any special Social Security benefits simply for being her caregiver. Social Security doesn't have specific caregiver benefits. However, when you retire, you could potentially file for divorced spousal benefits if you were married to your ex for at least 10 years and haven't remarried. But if you remarry, you would lose eligibility for any divorced spousal benefits from your ex. Your daughter's DAC benefits wouldn't be affected by your remarriage though - those continue regardless of your marital status as long as she remains eligible.

my sister gets DAC benefits too and my mom got nothing extra for taking care of her. its really unfair how they dont help the caregivers at all!! you might want to check with your state tho because some states have caregiver programs that pay family members. not social security but still something

I went thru something similar. Social Security doesn't care AT ALL about caregivers!!! I took care of my disabled son for 30+ yrs and got ZERO help from them. The system is BROKEN!!! Check if your state has a Medicaid waiver program - some will pay family caregivers. Also look into whether your daughter might qualify for SSI in ADDITION to her DAC (sometimes possible if the DAC amount is low). That might at least help with household expenses.

To answer your questions more specifically: 1) There are no caregiver benefits through Social Security itself, but you should look into: - Your state's Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver program - If your state offers a Paid Family Caregiver program through Medicaid - Tax credits for dependent care (speak with a tax professional) 2) About remarriage: Your ex's benefits to your daughter continue regardless of your marital status. However, if you were planning to claim divorced spousal benefits on your ex's record when you retire, those would terminate if you remarry. You should compare your own work record benefit to what you'd get as a divorced spouse (50% of his FRA amount) and choose the higher option when you retire. One other consideration - if you're providing more than 50% of your daughter's support, you might be able to claim her as a dependent on your taxes which could be beneficial.

getting thru to SSA to ask these questions is almost impossible these days! I spent 3 hours on hold last week and then got disconnected

I think your working might actually be the best thing right now. My mom was in a similar situation with my disabled brother. When she stopped working, her own SS benefit was actually higher than what she would have gotten from my dad's record (they were also divorced). Keep building up your own earnings record as long as you can!

One more important point: If your ex-husband passes away, your daughter's DAC benefit would increase to 75% of his full benefit amount. And if you're still unmarried at that point and over 60, you might qualify for surviving divorced spouse benefits. The remarriage rules are different for surviving divorced spouses versus regular divorced spouse benefits - you can remarry after 60 and still collect surviving divorced spouse benefits.

my friend got some kind of moms benefit when her son was getting disability but i dont remember what it was called

I know this isn't strictly about Social Security, but have you looked into becoming her paid caregiver through your state's Medicaid program? My cousin does this for her disabled daughter in Arizona and it's been a lifesaver financially. The pay isn't amazing but it acknowledges the work you're already doing. Every state has different rules though.

I'm in a very similar situation with my disabled son who gets DAC benefits from my ex-husband's record. One thing that helped me was getting a benefits estimate from SSA to compare my own retirement benefit to what I'd get as a divorced spouse. You can do this online at ssa.gov/myaccount or by calling. Since you've been working continuously (except for those 3 years), your own benefit might actually be higher than the divorced spousal benefit, especially if you can work a few more years. Also, definitely look into Michigan's MI Choice waiver program - that's their HCBS program that sometimes pays family caregivers. The waiting list can be long, but it's worth getting on it. I wish I had applied sooner!

I'm also caring for my disabled adult child and have been researching this topic extensively. One thing I discovered that might help is that even though Social Security doesn't have specific caregiver benefits, you should definitely track all your caregiving expenses for tax purposes. You may be able to claim medical expense deductions if your daughter's medical costs exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income. Also, if you're considering retirement timing, remember that your Social Security benefits increase by about 8% per year if you delay claiming past your full retirement age until age 70. Given that you're still working full-time, it might be worth running the numbers to see if delaying retirement a bit longer would significantly boost your monthly benefit compared to taking divorced spousal benefits earlier. The SSA website has calculators that can help with this comparison.

I'm a newcomer here but have been dealing with similar Social Security questions for my disabled brother. One thing I learned that might help is to also check if your daughter qualifies for any state disability services that could provide respite care or day programs. This could potentially allow you to work longer and build up your own Social Security earnings record, which might end up being more valuable than divorced spousal benefits. Also, since you mentioned planning ahead for potential remarriage, you might want to consult with a Social Security advisor or elder law attorney who can run scenarios based on your specific earnings history and your ex-husband's benefit amount. They can help you understand the exact timing and financial implications of different choices. The rules around divorced spousal benefits, surviving divorced spouse benefits, and remarriage timing are complex enough that professional guidance could save you from making costly mistakes.

I'm new to this community but facing a very similar situation with my disabled adult son. One thing I discovered that might be helpful is to also look into whether your daughter might be eligible for ABLE accounts (Achieving a Better Life Experience). These special savings accounts allow people with disabilities to save money without affecting their SSI or Medicaid eligibility, and family members can contribute up to $17,000 annually (as of 2023). While this doesn't directly address your caregiver situation, it could help with long-term financial planning for your daughter's care. Also, since you mentioned you're 63 and still working, you might want to consider that if you can delay your own Social Security until age 70, your benefit could be significantly higher than divorced spousal benefits - but definitely run the numbers first! The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) has a directory where you can find attorneys who specialize in Social Security and disability planning if you want professional guidance on timing these decisions.