Can my children qualify for Social Security benefits when I'm on SSDI for cancer? Will it increase my payment?

Yes! Your children are definitely eligible for auxiliary benefits on your record. Each child could receive up to 50% of your disability benefit amount. This isn't going to reduce your payment at all - it's additional money for your family. There's a family maximum limit (usually 150-180% of your benefit), so they might not each get the full 50%, but it's absolutely worth applying for. The SSA calls these "dependent benefits" or "auxiliary benefits."

yep my kids got benefits when i went on disability. its not much but helps with groceries and stuff. they get checks till they graduate high school

To clarify what others have said: your children qualify for auxiliary benefits because YOU are disabled, not because they are. Each child can receive up to 50% of your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), but there's something called the Family Maximum Benefit (FMB) that caps the total your family can receive. The FMB is typically between 150-180% of your benefit amount, so with three children, they'll likely each receive somewhat less than the full 50%. The good news is this doesn't affect your personal benefit amount at all - it's additional money specifically to help support your family while you're dealing with your health challenges. You should apply for them ASAP as there may be some retroactive benefits available. You'll need their birth certificates, Social Security numbers, and your bank information for direct deposit.

If you're struggling to get through to the SSA to set this up, I recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation and spent weeks trying to reach someone. With Claimyr, I got a callback from SSA in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Honestly, when dealing with cancer treatments, the last thing you need is spending hours on hold. This was a lifesaver for getting my kids' benefits set up quickly.

My nephews get benefts from their mom being on disability. its been super helpful for my sister. but watch out cuz there are rules if your kids work when they get older or if you get income from somewhere else. my sister got in trouble for not reporting something and they made her pay back money!

when I got on ssdi my son got backpay too from when I first applied is that normal? will your kids get money from when you first applied for your disability?

do your kids live with you full time? my friend has 50/50 custody and her ex gets half the kids benefits check which seems unfair since hes not disabled

One more thing to be aware of - if you're also receiving SSI (Supplemental Security Income) in addition to SSDI, the children's auxiliary benefits could potentially affect your SSI amount. This is because children's benefits might count as deemed income in certain situations. However, if you're only receiving SSDI and not SSI, then this isn't a concern.