Can I set up a tiny house for my adult disabled child on my property while preserving her SS benefits?

This is a great question about SSI living arrangements! What matters most is whether SSA considers this a separate household or not. For DAC benefits (on your work record), the living arrangement doesn't affect the payment amount. However, if she receives SSI, it absolutely matters. A few important points: 1. If you charge fair market value rent (look at what small apartments/rooms cost in your area), it helps establish a separate household 2. Having separate entrance, kitchen facilities, and utilities can help document it's truly separate 3. For mail, definitely request Unit A/B designation to establish separate addresses Be prepared to document everything - the rent payments, lease agreement (yes, write one up), and the fair market value research.

DON'T do this unless you talk to a benefits specialist first!!! My cousin tried something similar and his daughter lost almost $200/month in benefits because SSA decided it wasn't TRULY independent living. The SSA is LOOKING for reasons to reduce benefits and they ask VERY detailed questions about kitchens, bathrooms, who buys food, etc. They wanted to know if they share MEALS together even though separate houses!!! Total nightmare trying to get it fixed.

my daughter has her own place on our property too! she gets DAC benefits. as long as u have separate entrance and she pays rent ur good. we just made it unit A and unit B for mail.

I've helped several clients navigate this exact situation. The most important distinction is between SSI and DAC benefits: - DAC benefits (based on parent's work record): Living arrangements generally DON'T affect benefit amount - SSI (needs-based): Living arrangements CAN significantly affect benefit amount If your daughter will receive only DAC benefits, the main concern is establishing that she's paying her fair share of household expenses. If she'll receive SSI (alone or with DAC), then you need to establish a true landlord-tenant relationship with fair market rent. For documentation: 1. Create a formal lease agreement 2. Set up a separate mailing address (Unit A/B works fine) 3. Maintain records of all rent payments 4. Document that the space has separate living facilities 5. Charge fair market value rent I also recommend contacting your local SSA office BEFORE making these changes to ensure you understand exactly how they'll evaluate the living arrangement in your specific case.

The mail thing is super important! My adult disabled son moved into our converted garage, but we didn't change the mail address and SSA found out during his review and said it was the same household. Get the post office to officially recognize it as unit A/B or whatever BEFORE you submit any paperwork to SSA. Trust me on this one!

I work with disabled adults transitioning to independent living, and this is a common scenario. Here's what's critical: 1. For DAC benefits (SSDI based on your record), the living arrangement won't affect her monthly amount. 2. For SSI (if she qualifies for that too), living arrangements absolutely matter. To maintain full benefits under SSI, you need to establish: - She pays her fair share of household expenses - Or pays fair market value rent if treated as a separate household 3. Documentation is crucial: - Written rental agreement - Proof of rent payments (receipts, bank transfers) - Separate mailing address (Unit A/B designations work well) I strongly suggest contacting your local Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC) through the WIPA program. They provide free benefits counseling specifically for these situations and can help you plan the transition properly.

I tried calling Social Security to ask something similar and was on hold for 2 HOURS only to get disconnected!! so frustrating. does anyone know a better way to talk to someone there?

make sure u think about food too! if ur buying all her groceries SSA might say ur "providing support" even if shes paying rent. my daughter buys her own food with her own snap benefits and we keep receipts just in case.

CAREFUL about putting a trailer on your property!! Check zoning laws first!!! Our neighbor tried this for their disabled son and the county made them REMOVE it because it violated some stupid rule about "accessory dwelling units" and cost them thousands!!! The SSA benefits part worked fine but they got in trouble with local government.

Has anyone mentioned how this affects Medicaid? My daughter gets her medical coverage through Medicaid and when she moved into our backyard apartment it triggered some kind of review and we had to reapply. The whole process was a nightmare.

This is such a thoughtful way to support your daughter's independence! I'm in a similar situation with my 19-year-old son who has autism. We ended up converting our detached garage into a small apartment for him. Here's what I learned from our experience: 1. Start with your local zoning office BEFORE SSA - some areas require permits for ADUs or have restrictions 2. For the SSA piece, we found that having a completely separate entrance was key to establishing it as a separate household 3. We set up automatic bank transfers for rent ($450/month in our case) and keep screenshots of every transaction 4. The Unit A/B mailing address designation was surprisingly easy - just had to fill out a form at the post office One thing that caught me off guard was that SSA asked very specific questions about whether we share meals together during his review. We had to document that he has his own kitchen facilities and buys his own groceries (he gets SNAP benefits separately now). The independence has been amazing for him, and his DAC benefits weren't affected at all. Just make sure to document everything from day one - it's much easier than trying to recreate records later if SSA has questions!

As someone who went through this exact process with my daughter last year, I can't stress enough how important it is to get everything documented properly from the start. We made the mistake of being casual about it initially and had to scramble to create proper records when SSA did their review. A few practical tips that really helped us: - Create a simple rental agreement template (you can find free ones online) and have it notarized - Set up a separate checking account just for her rent payments - makes tracking so much easier - Take photos of the separate entrance, kitchen facilities, and living space for your records - Keep a simple log of any maintenance or utilities you handle separately The $500 rent you mentioned sounds reasonable, but definitely research comparable studio/efficiency rentals in your area first. SSA will want to see that it's fair market value, not just a token amount. Also, don't forget to notify your homeowner's insurance about the additional dwelling - some policies require notification or coverage adjustments for accessory units. The independence piece is so worth it though! My daughter has thrived having her own space while still having support nearby. Best of luck with the transition!

I'm new to navigating disability benefits but wanted to share what I learned from a similar situation with my nephew. One thing that really helped was contacting our state's Protection and Advocacy agency - they have disability rights attorneys who can provide free guidance on benefits preservation during housing transitions. They explained that for SSI purposes, what matters most is establishing that your daughter is truly responsible for her own living expenses, not just paying rent. This means she should ideally handle her own utilities, groceries, household supplies, etc. Even if you help coordinate these services, having them billed directly to her or having her reimburse you with clear documentation makes a big difference. Also wanted to mention that some areas have "granny flat" or ADU ordinances that actually make this easier now - especially post-COVID many municipalities relaxed rules to help with housing shortages. Definitely worth checking if your area has any recent changes that might work in your favor. The independence aspect is so important for young adults with disabilities. Sounds like you're being really thoughtful about balancing her need for autonomy with practical benefit considerations. Good luck with the transition!

I'm going through something very similar with my 20-year-old daughter who has developmental disabilities. We're in the planning stages of setting up a small ADU on our property for her. One thing I learned from talking to our local disability resource center is that timing matters a lot - they recommended making all the housing changes BEFORE her 18th birthday review if possible, since it's easier to establish the living arrangement from the start rather than changing it later. Also wanted to mention that we found it helpful to create a "household expenses worksheet" that breaks down exactly what she'll be responsible for versus what we'll continue to handle. This helped us figure out a fair rent amount and also gives us documentation if SSA asks detailed questions about the living arrangement. The emotional side is just as important as the benefits side - seeing how excited my daughter gets when we talk about having her own space makes all the paperwork worth it. It sounds like you're approaching this really thoughtfully and your daughter is lucky to have such a supportive parent helping her transition to independence!

As someone who recently went through this exact transition with my son who has autism, I wanted to add a few practical considerations that might help. We successfully set up a converted garage apartment and maintained his benefits, but there were some unexpected details that came up. First, keep detailed records of EVERYTHING from day one - not just rent payments, but also any repairs, maintenance, or improvements you make to the space. SSA asked surprisingly specific questions during his review about who paid for what. Second, consider having your daughter open her own bank account if she doesn't already have one. This makes the rent payment trail much cleaner and also helps establish her financial independence in SSA's eyes. Third, don't forget about state and local disability services that might be affected by the address change. We had to update his regional center services and transportation assistance when his address changed to the ADU. The independence has been incredible for him - he's gained so much confidence having his own space while still having support nearby. The paperwork was worth it! Feel free to reach out if you have specific questions about the process.

I'm just starting to navigate this world of disability benefits and housing arrangements, so this thread has been incredibly educational! Reading everyone's experiences has helped me understand how complex but manageable this process can be. One question I haven't seen addressed yet - for those who successfully set up separate living arrangements, how did you handle emergency situations? I'm thinking about scenarios where your adult child might need immediate assistance due to their disability. Does having a formal landlord-tenant relationship create any legal complications if you need to enter their space during an emergency? Also, I'm wondering about the long-term implications. If your daughter's condition changes over time (either improves or requires more support), how flexible is this arrangement in terms of modifying the living situation while preserving benefits? Thank you to everyone who has shared their experiences - it's clear that with proper planning and documentation, this can be a wonderful way to support independence while maintaining crucial benefits. The practical tips about separate bank accounts, detailed record-keeping, and getting everything properly documented from the start are so valuable!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone just starting to research this for my 17-year-old son with intellectual disabilities, I'm taking notes on all the practical advice shared here. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone dealt with this situation where the adult child receives both DAC and SSI? From what I'm reading, it sounds like the living arrangement might not affect the DAC portion but could definitely impact SSI. Is that correct? Also, I'm wondering about the transition period. When you first set up the separate living arrangement, did SSA require any kind of inspection or just accepted your documentation? I'm trying to understand if they physically verify the separate household setup or if it's mainly based on the paperwork you provide. The point about checking zoning laws first is so important - I definitely need to look into our local ADU regulations before getting too far into planning. Thanks to everyone sharing their real experiences rather than just general advice!