Social Security DAC benefits for my children when I turn 62 - what will they receive?

Thank you so much for this detailed explanation! I'm confused about one thing - if my retirement benefit is reduced because I'm taking it at 62, but my children's DAC benefits are calculated on my full PIA amount, what exactly would that amount be? The SSA calculator estimated my age-62 benefit at $1,850, so is their 50% based on that or on what I would get at my full retirement age (which would be higher)?

5 months?! That's way longer than I was hoping for. Were they at least able to give you back pay from the application date once they finally approved it? And did you have any issues with the disability documentation, or was that part straightforward since she was already determined disabled?

This is SO HELPFUL! my brother is going through the same thing. quick question - does the family maximum also apply if one of the kids gets SSI already? or do they just switch from SSI to DAC?

I went through this with my son last year. MAKE SURE TO TELL SSA that your child is on SSI when you apply for DAC!!! They don't automatically check and my son had a horrible overpayment because he got both for 4 months before they caught it. Such a nightmare to fix!!!

I've been having the same problem with the phone lines! I'll check this out - I definitely need to speak with someone who actually understands DAC benefits. The person I talked to at my local office seemed completely confused when I mentioned adult disabled children.

This is such an important point that often gets overlooked. When someone transitions from SSI to DAC, they can lose Medicaid eligibility in some states. However, there are protections in place called "Pickle Amendment" protections that can allow continued Medicaid in many cases. The key is to specifically ask about this and potentially file for continued Medicaid under the Pickle Amendment protection. It's not automatic - you have to know to ask for it in many states.

Your son can initially receive DAC benefits on your husband's record when he files. Later, when you file for your retirement benefits, SSA will automatically determine which record provides the higher benefit amount for your son. If your record would provide a higher DAC benefit, they'll switch him to your record. This is one of the few cases where dual entitlement can work to maximize benefits. Your son is not permanently "stuck" with the first parent who files. SSA should handle this comparison automatically, but it never hurts to specifically ask them to check both records when you eventually file for your own benefits.

So glad you got specific numbers! One important correction though - the math you described doesn't quite work. If the family max is $4,550 and your benefit is $1,850, then there's $2,700 remaining for your children. Split between two children, that's $1,350 each, not $675. Did the SSA representative mention their actual benefit amounts?

You're absolutely right, Lucy - I made an error in my math! Each child would get $1,350, not $675. I was dividing wrong. The SSA representative did confirm that each of my children would receive approximately $1,350 monthly once the family maximum reduction is applied. That's actually better than I was expecting since it's higher than the normal 50% they'd get without the family max coming into play. Thanks for catching my mistake!

That's a great tip about school records! I hadn't thought of using IEP documentation. My daughter has been on SSI since she was 20, and while we have medical records, the IEP records would definitely provide a clear timeline of her disabilities during her school years. The timing suggestion is also really smart - applying for DAC benefits a few months before retirement filing to avoid gaps. Did your advocacy group mention anything about how to handle the SSI reporting during this transition period? I'm worried about accidentally creating an overpayment situation if both benefits overlap even briefly. Also, for anyone following this thread, I found that vocational rehabilitation records can also be helpful documentation if your adult child worked with VR services during their teens or early twenties. These records often include detailed functional assessments that clearly show the impact of disabilities on work capacity.

Great advice about the IEP records! I went through this process with my son two years ago and used a combination of school records, including his 504 plan documentation and special education evaluations from ages 16-21. These were incredibly helpful because they showed a clear pattern of functional limitations that predated age 22. Regarding the SSI transition timing - definitely notify SSI immediately when you apply for DAC benefits. I learned this the hard way when my son received both for about 6 weeks before SSA caught it, creating a $3,200 overpayment that took months to resolve. The key is being proactive about reporting the DAC application to your local SSI office, not just assuming the systems will talk to each other automatically. One other document that was unexpectedly helpful: his pediatrician's records from routine check-ups during his late teens. Even though they weren't disability-focused visits, the notes often mentioned developmental concerns and functional limitations that helped establish the timeline. Worth requesting if you have a long relationship with the same pediatric practice.

This is excellent advice about using school records! I never thought about IEP documentation as proof of pre-22 disability onset. My 29-year-old son has been on SSI since he was 23, and I'm planning to file for retirement benefits when I turn 62 next year. I'm definitely going to request his high school IEP records and 504 plan documentation. He also participated in a transition program for students with disabilities during his senior year - those records might be helpful too since they documented his need for ongoing support services. The timing tip about applying for DAC benefits 2-3 months early is really smart. I'm terrified of creating an overpayment situation like others have mentioned. Did your advocacy group give you any specific guidance on exactly when to notify SSI about the DAC application, or should I call them the same day I submit the DAC paperwork? Also, has anyone dealt with DAC applications where the adult child lives in a different state than the parent? I'm wondering if that complicates the process at all.

The different state situation shouldn't complicate things too much - I went through this with my daughter who lives in California while I'm in Texas. You can file the DAC application online or at any SSA office, and they'll coordinate with the office in your child's state for any needed interviews or document verification. Regarding the SSI notification timing - I'd recommend calling SSI the same day you submit the DAC application, or at least within a few days. Don't wait for SSA to process anything first. When I called, I specifically asked them to make a note in my daughter's file about the pending DAC application and the expected filing date for my retirement benefits. This created a paper trail that helped prevent overpayment issues later. The transition program records you mentioned could be really valuable! Those programs typically do comprehensive assessments that document exactly the kind of functional limitations SSA looks for when determining disability onset dates. Definitely request those along with the IEP records. One thing to keep in mind - if your son's SSI amount is close to what his potential DAC benefit might be, make sure to ask SSA to calculate both scenarios before making the switch. In rare cases, staying on SSI might actually be better, especially if there are state Medicaid benefits that would be lost in the transition.

This is such valuable advice about bringing work records! I wouldn't have thought about that. My older son (31) did have a brief period where he worked part-time at a grocery store when he was 20, maybe for about 8 months total. I'll definitely need to get those earnings records to bring with us. The benefit verification letter is a great tip too - having exact SSI amounts documented will probably make the whole process clearer for everyone involved. I'm going to request those letters for both of my children this week. It's reassuring to hear that even though your process took 4 months, the retroactive payments made up for the wait. That's one less thing to worry about! Thanks for sharing your experience - this thread has been incredibly helpful for understanding what I'm getting into.

This is really helpful information about therapy records! I hadn't considered those types of developmental assessments, but they would definitely show a clear pattern of disability before age 22. My daughter had physical therapy throughout her teens due to her cerebral palsy, so those records should be easy to obtain and very relevant. The Medicare point is huge too - I've been worried about what happens to her healthcare coverage during the transition from SSI/Medicaid to DAC benefits. Knowing that Medicare kicks in after 24 months gives me a much clearer timeline to plan around. I really appreciate the tip about asking for a technical expert. Based on what others have shared in this thread, it sounds like there's a lot of variation in how knowledgeable different SSA representatives are about DAC benefits specifically. Having that option to escalate to someone who really understands these rules could save a lot of time and frustration. Thanks for sharing your experience with your daughter's case - it's encouraging to hear from someone who successfully navigated this process!

Thank you for this incredibly comprehensive information! As someone who's just starting this process, I really appreciate the professional perspective. The point about representative payees is especially important - I hadn't thought about how that might need to change during the transition from SSI to DAC benefits. The housing consideration is fascinating too - I didn't realize that DAC benefits aren't subject to the same living arrangement reductions as SSI. That could actually result in a bigger benefit increase than I was calculating, since one of my children currently has reduced SSI due to living with family. I'm definitely going to start requesting medical records immediately rather than waiting. Your point about provider response times makes perfect sense - I don't want documentation delays to slow down an already lengthy process. Do you happen to know if there are any specific advocacy organizations that specialize in DAC applications, or should I look for general disability advocacy groups in my area? Having professional guidance through this process sounds like it would be incredibly valuable given all the complexities everyone has mentioned in this thread.

Lauren, thank you for mentioning the Developmental Disabilities Council resource - that's exactly the kind of specialized help I've been looking for! I'm going to reach out to my state's DD Council to see if they have similar benefits specialists available. Regarding expedited processing for financial hardship, I haven't personally gone through that process, but I know SSA does have provisions for expediting certain disability-related claims in cases of dire financial need. You might want to specifically ask about "critical case" or "dire need" processing when you apply. Having documentation of your son's current financial situation and basic living expenses could help support that request. As for Ticket to Work with DAC benefits, from what I understand it can actually be more advantageous than the SSI work incentives because DAC recipients don't have the same asset limits. This means your son could potentially save money from part-time work without jeopardizing his benefits, which isn't always possible with SSI. The benefits counselor that someone mentioned earlier would be a great resource for understanding exactly how work income would affect his specific situation. Good luck with your application - it sounds like you're being very thorough in your preparation!

Welcome to the community! Your situation sounds very similar to what many of us have navigated. Regarding your question about dual-parent scenarios - from what I've learned through this process, SSA should automatically check which parent's record provides the higher DAC benefit when the second parent files for retirement. However, based on everyone's experiences shared here, I wouldn't rely on "automatic" when it comes to SSA! I'd definitely recommend specifically asking them to compare both records when you file for your benefits in a couple of years. The technical experts that others have mentioned would be the best people to handle that comparison properly. You're so smart to start gathering those medical records now, especially with such a long relationship with the same developmental pediatrician. That kind of comprehensive documentation makes the pre-22 onset proof much easier to establish. One thing that might be worth considering - since you have a two-year gap between when your husband files and when you plan to file, you might want to get estimates of what the DAC benefit would be on each of your records ahead of time. That way you'll know whether it's worth requesting the comparison later, and you can plan accordingly for any potential benefit increases. Good luck with your planning - it sounds like you're approaching this much more prepared than many of us were initially!

Welcome! Your question about dual-parent DAC benefits is really important. From my experience working with families in similar situations, SSA is supposed to automatically check which parent's record provides the higher benefit when the second parent files, but in practice this doesn't always happen smoothly. I'd strongly recommend getting benefit estimates for both you and your husband's records before either of you files. You can request these through your my Social Security accounts online. This will help you understand which record would ultimately provide the higher DAC benefit for your daughter, and you can plan the timing accordingly. Also, since your daughter has Down syndrome, make sure to specifically mention this diagnosis in your application - it's one of the conditions that SSA recognizes as clearly meeting their disability criteria, which can help streamline the approval process. The comprehensive medical records from her developmental pediatrician will be invaluable for establishing the timeline. One more tip: consider reaching out to your local Down Syndrome Association or similar advocacy group. Many of these organizations have benefits counselors who are very familiar with DAC applications and can provide guidance specific to your daughter's situation. They've often helped other families navigate this exact transition and know the common pitfalls to avoid. Good luck with your planning - having two years to prepare puts you in a much better position than many families who discover these options at the last minute!