Can my disabled adult son collect survivor benefits from both deceased parents' Social Security records?

Yes, your daughter would be eligible for survivor benefits as an adult disabled child when either parent passes away, but there are important things to understand. She would receive the higher of either her own SSDI benefit or up to 75% of the deceased parent's benefit - not both added together. If both parents pass away, she would still only receive the highest single benefit amount from either parent's record. And yes, it definitely matters whether you and your ex-husband have started collecting retirement benefits. The survivor benefit amount is based on what the deceased parent was receiving (or would have received) at full retirement age. If a parent dies before taking benefits, the calculation is based on their full retirement age benefit amount. I went through this with my brother who has Down syndrome. The rules for Adult Disabled Children benefits are complicated but important to understand for planning.

this is so confussing. my nephew gets ssi not ssdi and thats different rite? i think with ssi he cant get survivors i think but im not sure. does anyone no if ssi and ssdi have diffrent rules about this stuff??

Let me clarify a few things about Adult Disabled Child benefits: 1. Your daughter would NOT receive both her own SSDI and a parent's benefit simultaneously. She would get the HIGHER of the two. 2. If both parents are deceased, she would receive the HIGHEST of the three possible benefits (her own or either parent's), not all combined. 3. Whether parents claimed early, at FRA, or delayed benefits DOES affect the amount. If a parent took reduced benefits early, the survivor benefit would be reduced accordingly. 4. The disability must have occurred before age 22 for your daughter to qualify as an Adult Disabled Child on your record. One important planning point: if your daughter ever marries, she loses eligibility for these benefits (except in very specific circumstances).

I experienced the SAME ISSUE with my disabled son!!! Sooo frustrating trying to get straight answers from Social Security!!! I called TWENTY TIMES and either got disconnected or got a different answer every time. One rep told me he could get benefits from both parents which was COMPLETELY WRONG. Another said he wasn't eligible at all which was also wrong!! The system is BROKEN and they make it impossible to get help!!!!

My brother is in a similar situation and we found that the local SSA office gave much better info than phone calls. Make an appointment if possible. Bring all the documents: birth certificate, disability determination, parents' SSNs, etc.

To answer your planning question - yes, it might make sense for you or your ex-husband to delay claiming retirement benefits until age 70, especially whoever has the higher earning record. This would maximize the potential survivor benefit for your daughter. The survivor benefit is based on: 1. If the parent died after starting benefits: The amount they were receiving (including any reduction for claiming early) 2. If the parent died before starting benefits: What they would have received at their full retirement age By delaying until 70, you could increase your benefit by 24-32% (depending on your FRA), which would potentially give your daughter a higher benefit for her lifetime after you pass away.

do you have a special needs trust for your daughter? my cousin set one up for her son so he can still get benefits if she leaves him money when she dies. i don't really understand it all but thought i'd mention it

I noticed no one mentioned the Family Maximum Benefit (FMB) yet, which is also important to understand in your situation. There's a maximum total amount that can be paid on any one earner's record. This means if you have a surviving spouse or other children also collecting on a deceased parent's record, it could potentially reduce what your daughter would receive. This is a complex situation that really calls for individualized planning. You might want to consider consulting with a financial advisor who specializes in special needs planning, as they can help coordinate benefit maximization, special needs trusts, ABLE accounts, and other planning tools that work together.

One thing that might help while you're navigating all this complexity - consider reaching out to your state's Developmental Disabilities Administration or similar agency. Many states have benefits counselors who specialize in helping families understand how different programs interact for people with disabilities. They can often provide clearer guidance than SSA phone reps and help you understand the full picture of available supports. Also, since your daughter's current SSDI is only $1,150/month, you might want to explore whether she's eligible for any state supplemental programs or other assistance that could help with her care costs while you're doing this long-term planning. Some states have additional support for people with brain injuries specifically. The fact that you're thinking ahead about all this shows what a caring parent you are. These systems are frustratingly complex, but getting the right information now will make such a difference for her future security.

I'm going through a similar situation with my disabled brother and wanted to share what I've learned from working with a disability attorney. One key thing to understand is that when your daughter becomes eligible for survivor benefits, SSA will automatically pay whichever benefit is higher - she doesn't have to choose or apply separately. Also, regarding the timing of when parents claim benefits - if you're still working and earning a decent income, it might actually be worth delaying your own retirement benefits until 70 to maximize what your daughter could potentially receive as a survivor benefit. The delayed retirement credits (8% per year from full retirement age to 70) would carry over to her survivor benefit. One more tip - document everything! Keep records of all your calls to SSA, get written confirmations when possible, and consider having a disability advocate help navigate the system. The phone representatives often give conflicting information, so having documentation helps ensure consistency in your daughter's case.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation with my disabled daughter who receives SSDI. One thing I learned that might help you is that you can request a benefits estimate from SSA to see what your daughter's potential survivor benefits would be on each parent's record. You can do this online through your my Social Security account or by calling and asking for Form SSA-7004. This will give you actual numbers to compare with her current $1,150 SSDI payment and help you make more informed decisions about when to claim your own benefits. The estimates show what she'd receive if you passed away at different ages (62, full retirement age, 70, etc.), which can really help with the planning you're trying to do. I also second the advice about finding a disability attorney who specializes in adult disabled child benefits. The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) has a directory where you can search for attorneys in your area who focus on special needs planning. Many offer free consultations and can help you understand not just the Social Security piece, but how it all fits together with other planning tools. Hang in there - I know how overwhelming this all feels, but you're asking the right questions to secure her future.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share what I learned when my disabled son turned 18 and we had to navigate the transition from childhood benefits to adult benefits. One thing that caught me off guard was that your daughter's SSDI eligibility as an adult is separate from her potential eligibility for Adult Disabled Child benefits on your record. Since she's already receiving SSDI based on her own work history (even though limited), she has that as her baseline. But when you or your ex-husband pass away, SSA will compare her current SSDI amount to what she could receive as a survivor and automatically pay whichever is higher. I'd also suggest looking into your state's ABLE account program if you haven't already. While it won't directly affect her Social Security benefits, it can be a great way to save money for her disability-related expenses without impacting any means-tested benefits she might need in the future. The contribution limits increased recently and it's become a really useful planning tool. The whole system is definitely confusing, but you're doing the right thing by planning ahead while you can still make strategic decisions about when to claim your own benefits.

I'm a Social Security caseworker and want to help clarify some confusion I'm seeing in this thread. Your daughter would indeed be eligible for Adult Disabled Child (ADC) survivor benefits when either parent passes away, but there are some key points to understand: 1. She cannot receive both her SSDI AND survivor benefits - it's always the higher amount between the two. 2. If both parents are deceased, she still only gets ONE benefit - whichever parent's record provides the highest amount. 3. The benefit calculation depends on when/if the parent claimed benefits. If you delay until 70, those delayed retirement credits DO increase the potential survivor benefit. 4. Her disability onset before age 22 makes her eligible for ADC benefits for life (unless she marries). For planning purposes, I'd strongly recommend getting benefit estimates using form SSA-7004 as mentioned earlier. You can also schedule an appointment at your local field office - we can provide much more detailed guidance in person than over the phone. One often overlooked strategy: coordinate with your ex-husband about timing. If one parent has significantly higher earnings, that person delaying to 70 while the other claims earlier might maximize your daughter's eventual survivor benefit while providing some current income to the family.

I'm new here but wanted to share my experience as someone who went through something similar with my disabled sister. One thing that really helped us was creating a spreadsheet to track all the different scenarios - what her current SSDI pays, what each parent's potential survivor benefit would be at different claiming ages, etc. It made the planning conversations with our attorney much more productive. Also, I noticed someone mentioned the Family Maximum Benefit earlier, which is crucial. In our case, my dad had remarried and his new wife would also be eligible for survivor benefits, which would have reduced what my sister could receive due to the family maximum. This is something to definitely discuss with SSA when you get those benefit estimates. One practical tip: when you do get through to SSA (whether by phone or in person), ask them to mail you a written summary of what they tell you. The representatives are required to do this if you request it, and it prevents confusion later if you get different information from someone else. You're doing such a great job advocating for your daughter's future. The system is complicated, but getting all this information now while you can still make strategic decisions will make such a difference for her long-term security.

I just wanted to add something that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure you understand the "deemed filing" rules if you're married and planning to delay benefits. If you're receiving spousal benefits on your current husband's record while delaying your own benefits to age 70, this could affect the calculation of your daughter's potential survivor benefit. Also, I'd suggest checking whether your daughter might be eligible for any state disability supplements that could help bridge the gap while you're doing this planning. Some states offer additional payments to SSDI recipients, and a few hundred extra dollars a month could really help with her care costs. One more thing - if either you or your ex-husband becomes disabled before retirement age, your daughter could potentially switch to survivor benefits on that parent's record immediately (if it's higher than her current SSDI). Disability benefits don't have the same age restrictions as retirement benefits, so this could be relevant for your planning discussions. The fact that you're thinking through all these scenarios shows incredible foresight. Your daughter is lucky to have someone advocating so thoroughly for her future security.

I'm new to this community but going through a very similar situation with my disabled daughter who receives SSDI. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly helpful - thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and knowledge! One thing I wanted to add that I learned from our special needs attorney is to make sure you understand how Medicare coordination works with survivor benefits. When your daughter eventually transitions to survivor benefits (if they're higher), her Medicare coverage should continue uninterrupted, but there can sometimes be timing issues during the transition that are worth discussing with SSA ahead of time. Also, I'd suggest looking into whether your state has a Protection & Advocacy organization (every state is required to have one). They often have benefits counselors who specialize in helping people with disabilities navigate Social Security programs, and their services are usually free. They can be incredibly helpful for getting accurate information and advocating if there are problems with benefit calculations. The planning you're doing now is so important. Even though the system is complex, having a clear understanding of all the options will give you peace of mind and help ensure your daughter has the maximum financial security possible. Best of luck with getting those benefit estimates and meeting with professionals!

I'm new to this community and wanted to share what I've learned from navigating similar issues with my disabled son. One important detail that hasn't been fully addressed is the timing of when SSA reviews and processes survivor benefit eligibility. When a parent passes away, there's typically a waiting period while SSA verifies death certificates and recalculates benefits. During this transition period, your daughter would continue receiving her current SSDI payments until the new benefit amount is determined and implemented. However, any retroactive difference would be paid as a lump sum once the survivor benefit is approved and if it's higher than her current SSDI. Also, I'd recommend documenting your daughter's current living situation and care needs thoroughly. This information can be valuable when working with SSA representatives or attorneys, as it helps them understand the full context of why maximizing these benefits is so crucial for her long-term care planning. The fact that you're planning this carefully now, while both parents are still living, puts your daughter in the best possible position for future financial security. Many families don't realize they can do this advance planning with Social Security benefits.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help with your planning. One thing I learned when helping my disabled nephew navigate these benefits is that you can actually request a "what if" scenario analysis from SSA. They can show you exactly what your daughter's survivor benefits would be if either parent passed away at different ages - 62, full retirement age, 70, etc. This was incredibly helpful for our family's planning because it gave us concrete numbers to work with rather than trying to estimate. You can request this through your local SSA office when you go in for that appointment everyone mentioned. Just bring both parents' Social Security numbers and ask them to run the calculations for different scenarios. Also, I wanted to mention that if your daughter ever needs long-term care services, many states have Medicaid waiver programs specifically for people with traumatic brain injuries. These programs can provide additional support services while she continues receiving SSDI, and they're designed to work alongside Social Security benefits without reducing them. Your advance planning is really going to make such a difference for her future. The fact that you're thinking through all these scenarios now while you can still make strategic decisions shows incredible foresight as her advocate.

I'm new to this community and dealing with a similar situation with my disabled adult child. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational - thank you to everyone who shared their expertise and experiences! One thing I wanted to add that I learned from our disability attorney is the importance of understanding the "substantial gainful activity" (SGA) rules in relation to Adult Disabled Child benefits. Even though your daughter is already receiving SSDI, it's worth knowing that if she's ever able to do any work in the future, there are specific earnings thresholds that could affect her eligibility for survivor benefits differently than they affect her current SSDI. Also, I'd suggest looking into your state's Assistive Technology program if you haven't already. Many states have low-interest loan programs or grants for adaptive equipment and home modifications that can help with independence and quality of life. These programs are designed to work alongside Social Security benefits without affecting eligibility. The comprehensive planning you're doing now is exactly what every family with a disabled adult child should be doing. Your daughter is fortunate to have someone thinking so thoroughly about her long-term security. The strategies discussed in this thread - getting benefit estimates, coordinating claiming strategies with your ex-husband, consulting with specialized attorneys - will make such a difference in her future financial stability.

I'm new to this community but wanted to share something that might help with your situation. One aspect that hasn't been mentioned yet is the importance of keeping detailed records of all communications with SSA about your daughter's case. I learned this the hard way when helping my disabled sister navigate similar issues. Create a simple log with dates, representative names (if they provide them), and exactly what information was given. This becomes crucial if you ever need to appeal a decision or if there are discrepancies in how benefits are calculated later. SSA representatives are supposed to make notes in the system, but having your own records ensures nothing gets lost. Also, when you do get those Form SSA-7004 benefit estimates that others mentioned, make sure to request them for multiple scenarios - not just current projected benefits, but also what the survivor benefits would look like if either parent delays to age 70. This will give you the clearest picture for making those strategic timing decisions with your ex-husband. Your daughter is so fortunate to have someone doing this level of advance planning. The work you're putting in now to understand all these complex rules and coordinate strategies will provide her with financial security for decades to come. The fact that you're thinking through scenarios while both parents are still healthy puts her in the best possible position.