Impact on Spouses

Spouses may qualify for benefits if:

• They are age 62 or older and the disabled worker is entitled to benefits.
• They care for a child under 16 or disabled who is receiving SSDI benefits.
• Benefits for spouses help provide financial stability during hardship.

Benefits for Dependent Children

Children may receive SSDI benefits if they are:

• Under age 18, or up to 19 if still in high school full-time.
• Disabled before age 22 and unable to work.
• The benefits are intended to support essential needs like food, clothing, and education.

Eligibility Criteria

The family members must meet strict SSA requirements, which include:

• Relationship qualifying as spouse or dependent child.
• The disabled worker must have sufficient work credits to qualify for SSDI.
• Dependents must not be married (for children) to maintain eligibility.

Amount of Benefits

Payments are generally:

• A percentage of the disabled worker’s SSDI benefit, often up to 50% for spouses or 50% for children.
• Capped based on SSA limits to ensure fair distribution among dependents.
• Determined on individual cases factoring in the disabled individual's earnings.

How Benefits Affect Families Financially

Families receive critical financial support that can help cover:

• Daily living expenses and healthcare costs for dependents.
• Reducing economic stress after the loss of income due to disability.
• Enabling dependents to maintain education and general well-being.

Coordination with Other New Jersey Assistance

SSDI benefits may interact with:

• State programs for disabled persons or low-income families.
• Medicaid and Medicare eligibility for both disabled individuals and their families.
• Other local support resources benefiting the whole household.