Will my disabled daughter get half of my husband's FRA or reduced Social Security benefit amount?

You're right to question this. A Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefit should be based on 50% of the parent's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is their benefit at full retirement age, regardless of when the parent actually starts collecting. The fact that your husband took his benefits early shouldn't reduce what your daughter can receive. The rep you spoke with was likely confused about the rules for DACs versus other dependents. Regarding Medicaid - this is tricky. When she moves from SSI to SSDI as a DAC, she will likely lose her SSI-based Medicaid. However, most states have what's called a "DAC protected Medicare status" that allows former SSI recipients who lose eligibility due to receiving DAC benefits to keep their Medicaid. You'll need to check with your state's Medicaid office about this specific protection.

I went through this exact situation with my disabled son last year. The Disabled Adult Child benefit is definitely 50% of the parent's PIA (full retirement age amount), NOT the reduced amount. When my husband took early retirement at 63, our son still got half of what my husband would have received at 66 and 4 months. As for Medicaid, you need to immediately contact your state Medicaid office about something called the "1634(c) COBRA continuation." This federal protection is specifically for people who lose SSI due to receiving DAC benefits. My son kept his Medicaid this way. Don't wait for SSA to handle this - they often don't communicate well with state Medicaid offices.

i dont think thats right. my nephew got less when my brother took early retirement. something about family maximum benefit being affected by early filing. the SSA is always changing rules n stuff so maybe its different for different situations??

After dealing with the SSA for my disabled daughter for 15+ years, I've learned you can NEVER trust what a single rep tells you. Half the time they give incorrect information. Your daughter should receive 50% of your husband's PIA (his FRA amount), not his reduced benefit. For getting through to someone who actually knows the DAC rules, I highly recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com). They got me connected to an SSA agent in less than 15 minutes after I spent DAYS trying to get through on my own. You can see how it works in their video: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU As for Medicaid, each state handles the transition differently. You need to specifically ask about the "Pickle Amendment" and "Section 1634(c)" protections for former SSI recipients who transfer to DAC benefits.

the rules r different for SSI vs SSDI. ur daughter is on SSI which is welfare. when she switches to ur husbands record its SSDI which is disability insurance. different programs different rules. the medicaid will probably get cancelled but she'll get medicare after 2 years on SSDI but theres a gap there u need to plan for

Make sure you get everything in writing from SSA! We went through something similar and were told THREE different things by three different representatives. The DAC benefit SHOULD be based on the worker's full retirement age amount regardless of when they filed. Also, you should know that when your husband passes away someday (hopefully far in the future), your daughter's benefit will convert to a survivor benefit which is 75% of his FULL benefit amount. This is an important planning consideration. For the Medicaid issue - don't rely on SSA to handle this correctly. Contact your state Medicaid office directly and mention "SSDI-DAC Medicaid continuation" specifically. Print out the policy if you can find it online and bring it with you.

My daughter gets SSDI on my record and her benefits are based on my full amount!!!! The person you talked to is WRONG!!! Talk to a different person!!! The SSA people dont know there own rules half the time!!!!!

To clarify what everyone has said: 1) Your daughter's DAC benefit will be 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is his benefit at full retirement age, regardless of when he actually started collecting. 2) When applying, bring documentation showing disability before age 22 and continuous disability. Medical records from childhood will be very helpful. 3) For Medicaid protection, specifically ask about "Section 1634(c) protected Medicaid status" - this is the provision that allows former SSI recipients who switch to DAC benefits to maintain Medicaid eligibility even if their new income would otherwise make them ineligible. 4) She will need to wait 24 months after DAC eligibility begins before Medicare coverage starts, which is why maintaining Medicaid during this period is crucial. 5) The application for DAC benefits is separate from your husband's retirement application - you need to specifically apply for it.

I work for a disability advocacy organization and want to emphasize a few critical points that haven't been fully addressed: 1) **File the DAC application IMMEDIATELY** - DAC benefits can be retroactive up to 12 months, but only from the date of application. Every month you delay is money lost. 2) **The "disabled before age 22" requirement** - Make sure you have solid medical documentation showing her disability existed before her 22nd birthday. Birth records, early childhood medical records, school IEP documents, etc. are all valuable evidence. 3) **Medicaid continuation timing** - Don't wait for SSA to process the DAC claim before contacting Medicaid. Start the Section 1634(c) application process now. Some states require you to apply within 30 days of the SSI termination. 4) **Work incentive programs** - Even though your daughter may not be working now, if she ever has any work capacity in the future, SSDI comes with better work incentive programs than SSI (like the Ticket to Work program). The bottom line: Your daughter should get 50% of your husband's $3400 FRA amount (so about $1700/month), not 50% of his reduced $2500 benefit. That's a $450/month difference - significant money over time. Don't let SSA shortchange her!

I'm new to navigating disability benefits and just wanted to say how helpful this thread has been! My brother has a developmental disability and is turning 21 next year, so we're starting to think about transitioning from our parents' insurance to SSI or other options. Reading about the DAC benefits has me wondering if he might be eligible for benefits on my dad's record instead of SSI when the time comes. Does anyone know if there are advantages to applying for DAC benefits right when someone turns eligible, or is it okay to wait until a parent actually retires? My dad is only 58 so he won't be retiring for several years. Also, is the "disabled before age 22" documentation requirement the same whether you apply now or later? We have all his early intervention and school records, but I'm wondering if we should be doing anything proactive to preserve that documentation. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to figure this out from government websites alone!

As someone who works with families navigating disability benefits, I want to emphasize that you should also document everything in writing. When you speak with SSA representatives, ask for their name and employee ID, and follow up any phone conversations with a written summary sent to your local SSA office. This creates a paper trail that can be crucial if there are disputes later. One additional point about the Medicaid transition: some states have a "spend-down" provision where even if your daughter's DAC benefit is higher than the SSI limit, she might still qualify for some Medicaid coverage by meeting certain medical expense thresholds. This could be important given her substantial medical costs. Also, consider reaching out to your state's Protection and Advocacy (P&A) organization. They provide free legal advocacy services for people with disabilities and are often very knowledgeable about the SSI-to-DAC transition process. They can sometimes intervene directly with SSA if you're getting incorrect information from representatives. The key takeaway: your daughter should absolutely receive 50% of your husband's $3400 PIA amount, and there are multiple layers of protection to help maintain her healthcare coverage during the transition. Don't let one misinformed representative cost your family thousands of dollars in benefits!

I'm a former SSA claims specialist and can confirm that everyone here giving you the correct information - your daughter's DAC benefit should absolutely be 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount ($3400), NOT his reduced early retirement benefit. That representative was completely wrong. A few additional tips from my experience: 1) When you file the DAC application, request a "Technical Expert" or ask to speak with a "Disability Examiner" who specializes in adult child cases. Regular customer service reps often don't understand the nuances of DAC benefits. 2) The application process can take 3-6 months, but don't let that discourage you. The benefits will be retroactive to your application date (up to 12 months back if your husband was already receiving benefits). 3) Print out Social Security Program Operations Manual System (POMS) sections RS 00203.001 through RS 00203.035 which cover DAC benefits. Bring these with you to any SSA appointments - sometimes showing representatives their own manual helps clarify the rules. 4) For the Medicaid issue, many states have what's called "Section 1634(c) Medicaid" specifically for this situation. It's designed to prevent people from losing healthcare when transitioning from SSI to DAC benefits. Don't let SSA shortchange your daughter. She's entitled to that full $1700/month, and the healthcare protections exist to prevent coverage gaps. Stay persistent!

I'm going through a very similar situation with my disabled son right now, so this thread has been incredibly valuable! Just wanted to add one more piece of information that might help - when you do file the DAC application, make sure to bring a complete list of all your daughter's medical providers from birth to present. SSA will need to request records from each one to establish the disability timeline. Also, if your daughter has ever been evaluated by a state developmental disabilities agency or received services through early intervention programs, those records can be particularly helpful since they often contain comprehensive developmental assessments. Sometimes these agencies keep better long-term records than individual doctors' offices. One last tip - if you have trouble getting through to SSA by phone (which seems to be a common problem), you can also schedule an appointment at your local SSA field office. Sometimes it's easier to get accurate information when you're sitting face-to-face with someone, and you can bring all your documentation with you. Good luck with everything!

I'm a disability attorney and want to emphasize something crucial that hasn't been mentioned yet - make sure to file for the DAC benefits even if you think your daughter might not be approved initially. The SSA has a tendency to deny DAC claims on the first application, especially when there's any question about the disability onset date or severity. If you do get an initial denial, don't panic - this is unfortunately normal. You have 60 days to file a Request for Reconsideration, and the approval rates are often much higher at the reconsideration level for DAC cases when you have proper documentation. Also, I want to stress that the benefit amount calculation everyone has explained is correct, but there's one more important detail: if your husband's record has other beneficiaries (like if you later claim spousal benefits), the Family Maximum Benefit could potentially reduce individual payments. However, for most families with one DAC beneficiary, this isn't an issue. Finally, don't let anyone at SSA tell you that your daughter "makes too much money" from her current SSI to qualify for DAC. SSI and SSDI operate under completely different income rules, and DAC benefits often result in higher monthly payments than SSI anyway. The key is that she was disabled before age 22 and remains disabled - the current SSI amount is irrelevant to DAC eligibility. Document everything, be persistent, and don't hesitate to get legal help if SSA continues to give you incorrect information. Your daughter is entitled to these benefits!