·Federal program
Social Security Child's / Disabled Adult Child (DAC) and Survivor Benefits
Monthly Social Security benefits paid under Title II to dependent children and surviving family members on a retired, disabled, or deceased worker's earnings record. Covers: (1) Disabled Adult Child (DAC/CDB) benefits — for an adult disabled before age 22 who can receive lifetime benefits and Medicare on a parent's record; (2) Child's benefits — for minor children under 18 (or 19 if in school full-time) of retired, disabled, or deceased workers; (3) Survivor mother's/father's benefits — for a surviving spouse caring for a child under 16 or a disabled child of the deceased worker. A core income line for aging caregiver households with disabled adult children, and for kinship/grandfamily caregivers who are surviving spouses.
What it offers
Monthly Social Security Title II benefits paid on a retired, disabled, or deceased worker earnings record. A child or DAC can receive up to 50% of the parent full retirement or disability benefit; a child receiving survivors benefits can receive up to 75% of the deceased parent basic Social Security benefit. Example before the family maximum: if the worker PIA/full benefit is $2,000, the child/DAC amount can be up to $1,000 on a living retired or disabled parent record, or up to $1,500 on a deceased parent record. The family maximum limits total payable benefits on one worker record; SSA says it is generally 150% to 180% of the parent full benefit amount, with a 2026 retirement/survivor formula using PIA bend points $1,643, $2,371, and $3,093. DAC eligibility requires disability beginning before age 22; DAC beneficiaries may get Medicare after 24 months. A surviving spouse caring for the worker child can also qualify under survivor rules, including child-in-care benefits.
Questions that decide eligibility
GiveCare prepares the questions; the program makes the decision. Bring these to the call or the application:
- 01
Does the VA disability rating meet the program’s minimum (our record lists null%)?
- 02
Do the work hours meet the minimum (our record lists null hours)?
- 03
Is there a caregiver-specific department, coordinator, or support line? Ask for it by name.
Many agencies have one that isn’t advertised on the website.
- 04
What documents do you need from us to start an application?
- 05
Is there a waitlist right now, and how long is it?