Social Security benefits for disabled adult child - will switching from SSI to SSDI reduce her benefits when I claim at 70?

My son was in similar situation last year. When i retired he HAD to move to SSDI from the SSI. They dont give you a choice its automatic when parent claims SS. His payment went down about $200 a month to but then the state added more of there supplement to make up some of it. you should check with your state disability office!!

I work with families in this exact situation. Here's what you need to understand: 1. When you claim retirement benefits, your daughter will be required to file for Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits on your record. 2. If the DAC amount is less than her current SSI, she may qualify for continuing SSI payments to make up the difference. This is called "concurrent benefits" - receiving both a reduced SSI amount plus the DAC benefits. 3. The Medicaid coverage she likely has through SSI can continue under special protected status even if her SSI payment reduces to $0, through what's called "1619(b)" status. 4. The exact financial impact depends on your state's rules for supplemental payments and group home regulations. I suggest requesting a Benefits Planning Query (BPQY) from SSA, which will show all benefits she's eligible for, then consulting with a benefits planner at your local WIPA (Work Incentives Planning and Assistance) program. They provide free counseling for situations exactly like this.

when my brother went from SSI to SSDI his group home took MORE of his money!! check the contract with your daughters home because they might just raise her "contribution" if her income source changes. we were so mad but nothing we could do.

I HATE how SSA makes these rules so confusing!!!! My daughter has been on SSI for 20 years and nobody ever explained all these complicated rules about what happens when I retire. They just expect us to figure it all out ourselves while they keep changing the rules. And every time I call I get a different answer from those people. Its NOT FAIR to our disabled kids!!!!!

After struggling with similar issues for my brother last year, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com). It helped me actually get through to a knowledgeable SSA representative who understood the DAC/SSI transition rules. You might want to check out their video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - it basically helps you skip the phone wait times so you can talk to someone who can actually help with complex situations like yours. It made a huge difference for us in getting correct information about concurrent benefits.

To directly address your question: Your daughter won't necessarily lose money in this transition. When a person transitions from SSI to DAC benefits, they can receive what's called "SSI continuance" if the DAC benefit amount is lower than their prior SSI. Additionally, most states provide supplemental payments to individuals in group homes. Critically, this transition provides a significant advantage: DAC benefits aren't subject to the same strict income and resource limits as SSI. This means your daughter may be able to have more savings or receive additional support without jeopardizing benefits. While the transition happens automatically, you should proactively submit an SSI continuance request when you file for your retirement benefits. Document everything carefully, as this transition can sometimes create administrative confusion.

wait do u mean SSDI or DAC? my cousins disabled and gets SSDI not DAC? is that the same thing or diffrent?

one other thing no one mentioned is your daughter might qualify for the ABLE account? my son has one and it lets him save money without effecting his benefits. you can put up to $18,000 a year in it i think. look it up :-) helped us alot

Thank you everyone for the helpful advice! I've learned so much - I'm going to: 1. Request the BPQY report from SSA 2. Check with our state about supplemental payments 3. Review her group home contract for payment structure 4. Submit an SSI continuance request when I file for retirement 5. Look into setting up an ABLE account for her I'm so relieved to hear she can potentially keep her current benefit level with concurrent benefits, and that her Medicaid should be protected. This community has been incredibly helpful!

You're so welcome! It sounds like you have a solid plan now. One small addition - when you contact your state disability office about supplemental payments, ask specifically about "Special Needs Assistance" or "State Supplementary Payment" programs for group home residents. Some states have different programs with different names, and you want to make sure you're getting the maximum available support. Also, definitely get everything in writing when you speak with SSA - it helps avoid confusion later. Wishing you and your daughter the best with this transition!

Just wanted to add one more resource that might help - the National Disability Rights Network has state-by-state guides for benefit transitions like this. They often have specific information about how DAC/SSI transitions work in each state, including which supplemental programs are available. You can find your state's Protection & Advocacy organization through their website, and they provide free legal assistance for disability benefit issues. They helped my family navigate a similar transition and made sure we didn't miss any available programs. Given how complex these rules are and how much money is at stake, it might be worth reaching out to them too, especially since you're dealing with group home payments as well.

I went through this exact situation with my disabled son two years ago when I filed for retirement at 70. Here's what actually happened in our case: When I claimed my retirement benefits, SSA automatically filed for DAC benefits on my son's behalf. His DAC amount was lower than his SSI ($680 vs $914), but he was able to keep receiving SSI to make up the difference through concurrent benefits. His total monthly income actually stayed almost the same. The big surprise was that his Medicaid continued without interruption, which was our biggest concern. And like others mentioned, not having the strict SSI asset limits has been really helpful - he can now have a small emergency fund without worrying about losing benefits. One thing I'd strongly recommend: when you file for your retirement benefits, specifically ask the SSA representative to note in your file that your daughter should be evaluated for concurrent SSI/DAC benefits. Don't assume they'll automatically do this - be proactive about it. Also, keep copies of everything and follow up if you don't hear back within 30 days. The transition took about 3 months to fully process, but there was no gap in her benefits during that time. Hope this helps ease your concerns!

I'm a caseworker at a disability advocacy center and see these transitions regularly. One crucial detail that hasn't been mentioned yet: make sure to request a "protective filing date" when you first contact SSA about your retirement benefits. This ensures your daughter's DAC application is backdated to when you first inquired, which can prevent any potential benefit gaps or overpayment issues. Also, since she's in a group home, verify with the facility administrator whether they participate in any "representative payee" arrangements for residents receiving different benefit types. Some group homes have specific procedures for handling the SSI-to-DAC transition that can smooth the process. The good news is that in most states, the total benefit package (including state supplements and concurrent SSI) for group home residents actually provides better long-term stability than SSI alone. The reduced restrictions on assets and income can be particularly beneficial if your daughter ever needs additional support services or equipment. Document everything and don't hesitate to escalate to a supervisor if you encounter confusion from SSA staff - this is a well-established process even though individual representatives may not be familiar with it.

I went through something similar with my nephew who's been on SSI since age 18 and is now 32. When my sister filed for retirement last year, we were terrified about the transition but it ended up working out better than expected. The key thing that helped us was getting connected with a SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) specialist through our local community mental health center. They knew exactly how to navigate the DAC/SSI concurrent benefits process and helped us submit all the right paperwork at the right time. One thing I'd add to all the great advice here - if your daughter receives any employment services or day programs through your state's developmental disabilities agency, make sure they're aware of the upcoming benefit change. Sometimes these programs have waiting lists or eligibility requirements that can be affected by benefit type changes, and you want to get ahead of any potential issues. Also, the transition actually opened up some opportunities we didn't expect - he was able to start a small part-time job without the strict SSI earnings penalties, and we set up an ABLE account like others mentioned. The whole process took about 4 months from start to finish, but his benefits never stopped during the transition. Sounds like you're getting excellent advice here and have a solid plan. These transitions are scary but the system does have protections in place for situations exactly like yours!

I'm just starting to learn about all this - my mom is 67 and thinking about when to claim her Social Security, and I'm her disabled adult child (been on SSI since I was 22, now 35). Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening! I had no idea there were so many programs and protections I might be eligible for. A few questions if anyone has experience: Does the timing of when your parent claims make a difference for the DAC benefits? Like if my mom waits until 70 vs claiming at full retirement age? Also, I work very part-time (about 10 hours a week) under the SSI limits - would transitioning to DAC benefits change how much I can work? This thread has given me so much hope that this transition might actually be beneficial rather than scary. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - it's making me feel like I should encourage my mom to start planning for this instead of worrying about it!

As someone who transitioned from SSI to DAC benefits last year when my parent claimed at 70, I wanted to share my personal experience to add to all this helpful information. The transition was actually much smoother than I expected, and I'm now in a better position financially and personally. My DAC benefit amount was initially lower than my SSI ($812 vs $943), but with concurrent benefits, my total monthly income ended up being almost identical. The real game-changer has been the relaxed asset limits - I was finally able to start saving money without constantly worrying about hitting the $2,000 SSI limit. I opened an ABLE account like others mentioned and now have a small emergency fund for the first time in my adult life. The work opportunity changes have been incredible too. I went from being terrified to work more than a few hours because of SSI's earnings limits to now working 20+ hours a week under the much more generous DAC substantial gainful activity thresholds. Having that financial stability and purpose has been life-changing. My advice: don't let fear of the unknown keep you from pursuing this transition. Yes, it's complex and the paperwork takes time, but the long-term benefits are so worth it. Get that BPQY report, work with a benefits counselor, and document everything, but don't be afraid to move forward. This community's advice has been spot-on - there are real protections in place and the outcome is often much better than people expect!

What an incredibly informative and supportive thread! As someone new to this community, I'm amazed by how much practical knowledge and real-world experience has been shared here. Dylan, your original question really struck a chord - it's clear this is a situation many families face but don't fully understand until they're in the middle of it. I'm particularly grateful for all the specific resources mentioned: BPQY reports, WIPA counselors, SOAR specialists, the National Disability Rights Network, and ABLE accounts. Having this roadmap of exactly where to go for help makes what seemed like an impossible maze much more manageable. The personal stories from those who've actually been through the SSI to DAC transition are invaluable. It's reassuring to see that while the process can be complex, the protections really do work and many people end up in better situations with more opportunities for work and savings. For anyone else reading this who might be in a similar situation - bookmark this thread! The collective wisdom here about protective filing dates, concurrent benefits, state supplements, and advocating with SSA representatives could save families months of confusion and potentially thousands of dollars. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes navigating these complex systems possible.