Disabled Adult Child Benefits. Paid on a parent’s work record.

What these benefits are

Social Security calls them child’s insurance benefits. Most people call them Disabled Adult Child or DAC benefits. They are part of Social Security’s Title II program, the same program as SSDI, but they are paid on a parent’s record instead of the claimant’s own.

Who qualifies

All of these must be true:

• The claimant is 18 or older.
• The disability began before age 22.
• The claimant is unmarried, with limited exceptions.
• A parent is receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits, or has died after working long enough to be insured.

The medical standard is the adult standard: a condition that prevents substantial work for at least 12 months or is expected to result in death. In 2026, substantial work means earning more than $1,690 a month. In 2027 the figure is $1,770.

What the hard part usually is

Most disputes are about timing. Social Security must find that the disability began before the 22nd birthday, and the claim is often filed many years later. Records from childhood and early adulthood carry the case:

• School records, including special education plans and evaluations.
• Pediatric and early adult medical and mental health records.
• Records from state developmental disability services.
• Statements from family, teachers, and others who knew the claimant before 22.

Work after age 22 can also be an issue. Earnings above the monthly limit may lead Social Security to find the disability did not continue. Tell us about any work history before you file.

How much it pays

The benefit is a percentage of the parent’s benefit amount: generally up to 50 percent while the parent is living and up to 75 percent after the parent’s death, subject to a limit on what one family can receive on a single record. Medicare begins after 24 months of entitlement.

DAC and SSI

Many adult children already receive SSI. When a parent retires, becomes disabled, or dies, the adult child may become eligible for DAC benefits, which are often higher and do not depend on resources. See SSI in Arizona.

If the claim is denied

You have 60 days to appeal. The appeal levels are the same as for SSDI. See what to do after a denial in Arizona. Our free doctor forms include child and mental functional assessments that help document limits.

How we help

We gather the early records, obtain opinions from treating providers, and represent the claimant at the hearing. Attorney Joseph J. Duerst has represented claimants at more than 3,500 Social Security hearings. There is no fee unless benefits are awarded.

J Disability Law Firm, PLLC · Joseph J. Duerst, Attorney · 18444 N. 25th Ave, Suite 420, Phoenix, AZ 85023 · (602) 607-0000. This page is general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different. Past results do not predict the outcome of your case.