Social Security SSDI benefits for adopted child - backdated to petition filing or finalization date?

Congratulations on your adoption! Based on my experience working with several families in similar situations, SSA typically recognizes the child's eligibility from the date of the legal relationship - which in your case sounds like the petition date since your decree specifically states that. Make sure to bring: 1. The original adoption decree (especially since it mentions the petition date as when she legally became your child) 2. The petition filing documentation showing that June 2024 date 3. Birth certificate 4. Your SSDI award letter Be prepared to explain/point out the specific language in the decree about when she legally became your child. Some SSA agents are more familiar with this situation than others.

my sister adopted her nephew and ss gave her backpay from when she first got custody not the final adoption date but she had to fight for it tbh. bring ALL ur paperwork

The key issue here is when the legal parent-child relationship was established according to state law, which is what SSA follows. If your adoption decree explicitly states the legal relationship began on the petition date, that's significant. SSA's POMS section GN 00306.135 addresses this specifically. They recognize the parent-child relationship from the date specified in the adoption decree under state law. Most states consider the relationship established at finalization, but if your decree specifically says otherwise, that's what controls. Bring multiple copies of everything and be prepared to reference the specific parts of the decree that establish the earlier date. You might also want to bring any state statutes that support this interpretation if available.

I went through this EXACT situation last year when I adopted my granddaughter! The SSA office kept giving me the runaround about the date. I ended up spending 3 HOURS on hold trying to reach someone at the SSA who could give me a straight answer!!! Eventually I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA agent in about 20 minutes. The agent I spoke with confirmed that benefits should start from the date that the court order says the legal relationship began. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Saved me days of frustration. The SSA eventually approved my granddaughter's benefits from the earlier date, but I had to be VERY specific about pointing out the language in the court documents.

The date question depends on STATE LAW not what the SSA worker thinks!!! I fought this battle when I adopted my nieces after my sister passed. SSA denied the earlier date TWICE before I finally got someone who knew what they were doing. DON'T GIVE UP if the first person says no!!! Ask to speak to a Technical Expert who specializes in adoptions. They have them but you have to specifically ASK! Make COPIES of everything because they lost my paperwork the first time and I had to start all over again. The system is BROKEN!

congrats on ur adoption! i think it depends on the state tbh. my cousin got benefits for her adopted kiddo from the day the judge signed off on everything not before. but maybe thats bc her paperwork was different than yours?

Something else to consider: when you file, make sure to specify that you're requesting dependent benefits retroactive to the petition date. If you don't specifically request this, they'll often default to the finalization date. If you receive any pushback, ask them to document in your file that you're requesting benefits based on the specific language in your adoption decree that establishes the earlier legal relationship date. This creates a paper trail if you need to appeal. Also, be aware that there's a 6-month limit on retroactive SSDI dependent benefits, but since both dates are within the last 3 months, that shouldn't be an issue for you.

Just wondering is the kid getting any other benefits? My friend's adopted daughter was getting survivor benefits from her bio dad and she had to choose between those and the SSDI from the adoptive dad cause they said she couldn't get both.

i'm dealing with ssi not ssdi but when i got custody of my grandson they backpaid from when i applied not when i got custody so maybe its different for every situation?? the whole system is so confusing!!!!