Will grandchildren's SSI claims affect my own SSI benefits as their custodial grandparent?

The good news is your grandchildren can qualify for SSI based on their own disabilities, and this won't directly reduce your personal SSI payment. However, there are some important household considerations: 1. SSI has household income and resource limits that apply to everyone living together 2. When multiple household members receive SSI, the benefit calculation includes something called the "multiple recipient household" rule 3. Each child could potentially receive up to about $687/month (2025 rate for child SSI recipients) if they qualify The SSA will look at your entire household situation, including any other income sources. They'll also consider that you're the children's legal guardian when determining their benefits.

SSI for ur grandkids wont make ur own ssi go down exactly, but all ur benefits together might b a bit less than if u added them separately... its called the multiple recipient thing. My sister has 3 kids on SSI and they don't get the full amount for each kid, its a bit less. But overall u'll definitely get more help with them approved than just ur payment alone!!

I've been through this exact situation with my grandchildren! The way SSI works for multiple people in one household is that the first person (you) gets the full individual FBR (Federal Benefit Rate) which is $943 in 2025. But additional eligible people in the same household receive a reduced amount - typically around 75% of the individual rate. This is because SSA assumes you're sharing household expenses like rent and utilities. It's frustrating but that's how they calculate it. Even with the reduction though, you'll be financially better off having the kids approved. The application process for them will be detailed - make sure you have all their medical records, IEPs from school, and therapy notes ready. They'll want to see substantial documentation of how their autism affects daily functioning.

Be prepared for a NIGHTMARE dealing with SSA on this!!! I tried getting my disabled nephew on SSI while I was receiving it, and they messed up MY benefits for 6 MONTHS!! They kept saying we had "unreported income" which was ACTUALLY just his benefits!!! The left hand doesn't know what the right is doing there. I had to call 47 TIMES before getting someone who fixed it!!!

If you're planning to apply for your grandkids, I'd recommend using Claimyr to reach an actual SSA agent quickly. I was in a similar situation last month trying to sort out my family's SSI issues, and kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Found this service at claimyr.com and they got me through to a live agent in about 20 minutes instead of the usual 3-hour wait. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU With complex household situations like yours, you really need to talk to a knowledgeable SSA representative who can look at your specific case details. Saved me a ton of frustration when applying for my son.

One important thing to know is that for SSI child applicants, SSA will do something called "deeming" where they look at part of your income and resources as available to the children. However, since your only income is SSI, this shouldn't be an issue. Here's what to expect: 1. Your personal SSI will remain $943/month 2. Each child may receive approximately $515-590/month (reduced from the full child rate due to the multiple recipient household rules) 3. You'll have three separate payment dates each month 4. Each person will have their own $2,000 resource limit Make sure to specify that you have legal custody when you apply for them. This affects how they calculate the benefits.

my cousin has autism and gets ssi but it took like 8 months to get approved. they deny almost everyone the first time so dont give up if that happens!! also they did all these tests and evaluations before they approved him

I HATE how Social Security makes everything SO COMPLICATED!!! Why can't they just give each person what they deserve without all these crazy calculations!?? I've been on SSI for years and STILL don't understand half the rules they throw at me. Every time I call I get a different answer too!!! OP - definitely apply for your grandkids because they deserve the help, but be ready for months of confusion and paperwork. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING and get names of who you talk to!!!

Another consideration is that once your grandchildren are approved for SSI, they'll automatically qualify for Medicaid which can be extremely valuable for covering therapy services, medications, and medical equipment that private insurance might not fully cover. This alone can be worth thousands in healthcare savings annually. If you haven't already, you should also check if they qualify for any state disability programs, special education services, or ABLE accounts (tax-advantaged savings accounts for disabled individuals that don't count against SSI resource limits).

my friend just went thru this with her autistic twins!! she said the SSI application took forever but the interviewer was super nice and walked her thru everything. dont forget to bring proof that you have legal custody of them and all their diagnosis paperwork!! and when you get to the SSA office bring snacks cuz youll be there ALL DAY lol