Can my disabled child receive both Social Security survivor benefits and SSI at the same time?

Yes, your child can potentially receive both Social Security survivor benefits AND Supplemental Security Income (SSI) at the same time. These are two completely different programs: 1. Survivor benefits - This is based on your late husband's work record and isn't means-tested. 2. SSI - This is needs-based with strict income and resource limits ($2000 for an individual). However, the survivor benefits count as income for SSI purposes, which reduces the SSI payment dollar-for-dollar (after a small exclusion). So if your son's survivor benefit exceeds the maximum SSI payment (currently $943/month for 2025), he wouldn't receive any SSI payment even if he medically qualifies. I'd recommend applying now regardless, because: - It establishes a medical determination of disability - The application process can take many months - When your financial situation changes, you can update SSA rather than starting from scratch The home you live in and one vehicle are excluded from the resource limit. The second vehicle might count toward resources depending on its use and value.

I went through something similar with my daughter. The SSA will count YOUR income and resources when determining your child's SSI eligibility - it's called "deeming." With the life insurance and VA benefits, plus two cars, you're absolutely going to be denied for SSI right now. But here's the thing - once your child turns 18, they're considered an independent household for SSI purposes. So even if you're denied now, DEFINITELY apply again when he turns 18 because then only HIS income and resources count (not yours). And yes, apply now anyway. The disability determination is separate from the financial determination, and having that established will help later. The system is RIDICULOUS and designed to make people give up!!! They denied my daughter THREE TIMES before we finally got approved with a lawyer's help.

One thing no one's mentioned yet - if your son is approved for SSI disability, he would automatically qualify for Medicaid in most states. This is actually the biggest benefit for many families, especially if your child has significant medical needs. The cash payment from SSI might be reduced or eliminated because of the survivor benefits, but the Medicaid eligibility could be extremely valuable. Also, I'd recommend keeping detailed records of all your son's medical appointments, treatments, medications, and how his disabilities affect daily activities. This documentation will be crucial for the disability determination part of the SSI application.

your definitely going to get denied for SSI with those assets/income but you should apply anyway because otherwise your just delaying the inevitable process. it usually takes like 3 applications and appeals before they approve anyone these days lol. my sister has a disabled daughter and it took FOREVER! start the process now so when your finances change you'll be further along in the system.

I went through the EXACT same situation with my son when my husband died. He had muscular dystrophy and was getting survivor benefits. The trick is to apply for SSI now, get the medical approval, then when your finances change, you just update SSA. BTW - you mentioned multiple vehicles. If the second vehicle is used to transport your disabled child to medical appointments, you might be able to exclude it from the resource calculation! Not many people know about this exception. Ask specifically about this when you apply. SSA makes it so complicated on purpose. I spent HOURS on the phone trying to get straight answers. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a real person at SSA without waiting on hold forever. They have this service where they get you through the phone system and to an agent in minutes. Check out their demo video at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - saved me so much frustration!

my cousin gets both survivor benefits and SSI for her kid but the SSI is only like $95 a month because the survivor benefit reduces it. but she says even that small amount is worth it because it automatically qualified her daughter for medicaid and a bunch of other services in our state. definitely worth applying!

Important to understand: SSI and Social Security survivor benefits are administered by the same agency (SSA) but are completely different programs with different eligibility rules. Considering your assets and income currently exceed SSI limits, here's what you should do: 1. Apply for SSI now - this creates a protective filing date 2. When denied for financial reasons, appeal and request just a medical determination 3. If approved medically but denied financially, you'll be in position to quickly activate benefits when your financial situation changes Also, be aware that when your child turns 18, survivor benefits typically end unless they're still in high school (then they continue until graduation or age 19, whichever comes first). However, if your child is determined disabled before age 22, they may qualify for Disabled Adult Child benefits on your husband's record, which can continue indefinitely. This is DIFFERENT from SSI. The complexity of coordinating these benefits is why consulting with a benefits specialist is often worth the time.

Thank you all so much for the helpful advice! I'm going to apply for SSI right away to get the disability determination process started, even though I know we'll be denied based on our current finances. I'll make sure to specifically ask about the vehicle exception and the Disabled Adult Child benefits too. I've started gathering all his medical records going back several years. His main conditions are autism (level 2), epilepsy, and a rare genetic disorder that affects his mobility. I'm hoping that with good documentation, the medical determination part will go smoothly. I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences. It makes me feel less alone in navigating this complicated system.

Just to add some information that may be helpful - make sure when you apply that you also ask about CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program) or your state's equivalent if you don't already have this coverage. Even if you're denied SSI due to financial reasons, your child might still qualify for some health coverage programs based on his disabilities. Also, don't forget to look into state-specific disability programs. Many states have supplemental programs beyond what SSA offers. Your local Developmental Disabilities Administration or Community Services Board might have resources regardless of SSI eligibility. Lastly, document EVERYTHING about how his disabilities impact daily living - not just medical appointments, but things like: needs help with dressing, cannot be left unsupervised, requires assistance with meals, has difficulty following multi-step instructions, etc. These functional limitations are just as important as the medical diagnoses for SSA's disability determination.