Social Security retirement benefits at 64 - how to transition my disabled son from SSI to DAC benefits?

You need to take action - this isn't automatic. Call SSA and specifically request to file for Disabled Adult Child benefits (also called Childhood Disability Benefits) for your son based on your work record. Bring documentation of his disability determination, his SSI award letter, and proof of your relationship. Since he's already been determined disabled for SSI, the disability determination should transfer, but they'll still need to establish his relationship to you and determine benefit amounts.

Thank you! I had no idea I needed to make a separate application. I thought checking the box on my retirement application would trigger something. Do you know if his SSI will automatically stop when the DAC starts, or is that another thing I need to handle?

Hi there! I went through this EXACT situation last year with my daughter. SSA does NOT automatically transition your son from SSI to DAC benefits. You MUST file a separate application for him as a disabled adult child on your record. They don't tell you this clearly anywhere!!! I wasted 4 months waiting for them to contact me before I figured this out. Call your local office ASAP and tell them you want to file for DAC benefits for your son.

Oh no, that's exactly what I was doing - just waiting! I'll call tomorrow. Did your daughter end up getting more on DAC than she did on SSI?

Just a heads up that when your son transitions from SSI to DAC benefits based on your record, he might also become eligible for Medicare after 24 months on DAC (even if he's much younger than 65). This is a huge benefit many people don't realize! Also, if his DAC benefit is higher than his current SSI, he may lose Medicaid unless your state has a program that allows him to keep it. Something to research for your specific state.

I hadn't even thought about the Medicare/Medicaid implications. He really depends on Medicaid for his support services. I'll definitely look into what options our state has. Thank you for this critical information!

my daughter got DAC last year and its a mess tbh. took forever and they kept wanting more paperwork even tho shes been on SSI since she was 12!! make sure you have all his disability records updated. they will review EVERYTHING again.

That's not typically how it works if someone is already receiving SSI with an established disability. The disability determination should transfer, but they do need to verify the relationship to the parent and calculate the benefit amount. The process should be more straightforward than the original disability determination.

When I tried calling SSA about this same thing for my brother, I couldn't get through for WEEKS. Seriously, I'd be on hold for hours then get disconnected. So frustrating! I finally used Claimyr.com to get through - they reserve your place in line and call you when an agent is ready. Saved me hours of hold time. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU

Thanks for the tip! I've been dreading the call because of the wait times. I'll check out that service if I can't get through tomorrow.

Important point: Once your son starts receiving DAC benefits, if he ever gets married, he will LOSE those benefits permanently (unless he marries another DAC beneficiary, which is a rare exception). This is different from SSI, which can continue in some marriage situations. Make sure he and any potential future partners understand this critical difference.

I had no idea about that marriage rule! My son isn't in a relationship now, but that's definitely something to be aware of for the future. Is there any way around that restriction?

Unfortunately, the marriage penalty for DAC benefits is written into the law with very limited exceptions. Some families in this situation choose to explore legal alternatives to marriage or other financial planning strategies, but the basic rule stands - marriage to anyone other than another DAC beneficiary terminates benefits permanently.

dont forget about the 5 month waiting period for SSDI/DAC! they dont tell u that part lol. at least he still has SSI during that time but its annoying they make u wait for no reason. government red tape as usual!!

There's actually no 5-month waiting period for DAC benefits when the parent is filing for retirement (as opposed to disability). The 5-month waiting period only applies to disability benefits. However, there is a 24-month waiting period for Medicare to begin after DAC entitlement starts.

Update: I called my local office this morning and you were all right - I needed to file a separate application for my son's DAC benefits! The representative was very helpful and scheduled an appointment for next week. They said to bring his birth certificate, his disability documentation, and his current SSI award letter. Thank you all for saving me from just waiting around indefinitely!

So glad you got it sorted! Make sure you ask them specifically about what happens to his Medicaid when he transitions to DAC. In my state, my daughter was able to keep her Medicaid through a special program called the

Something else to know: Your son's DAC benefit will be 50% of your full retirement benefit while you're alive. If you're taking retirement early at 64, your own benefit is reduced, but his DAC benefit is still based on your FULL retirement age amount, not your reduced amount. After your passing (hopefully many years from now), his benefit would increase to 75% of your full benefit amount as a survivor benefit.

That's really helpful information. I was worried that me taking benefits early would permanently reduce what he might receive. It's a relief to know his benefit is based on my full retirement amount instead of my reduced benefit.

One more thing to keep in mind - when you go to your appointment next week, ask about the effective date for his DAC benefits. Since you've already filed for your retirement, his DAC benefits can potentially be backdated to the month after you became entitled to retirement benefits. This could mean he gets some retroactive payments! Also, don't be surprised if they need to do a redetermination of his disability status even though he's already on SSI - it's standard procedure, but since he's already been found disabled, it should go smoothly.

Just want to add that you should also ask about what happens if your son receives any back pay from the DAC benefits. Sometimes there can be SSI overpayment issues if he gets a lump sum retroactive payment that puts him over the $2,000 resource limit temporarily. The SSA representative should be able to explain how they handle this transition to avoid any complications. Also, if his DAC benefit ends up being significantly higher than his current SSI, make sure you understand exactly when the SSI will stop so there's no gap in his monthly income. Good luck with your appointment!