Aug
18
2010
By Grandparent
Is a child able to draw SS death benifits from one parent and draw disability benifits under the other parent at the same time? The father is dead and the mother is collecting disability. Child is under 18 and in school.
Potential for double benefits for a child
Please check directly with Social Security regarding this as I was unable to find a clear answer to this.
I have not seen a case where one is able to receive double benefits. However, it is common to receive the HIGHER benefit when one qualifies under two cases.
For example, for retirement benefits, if you qualify on your own record, SSA will pay you that amount first. But if you also qualify for a higher amount as a spouse, widow or widower on another record, you'll get a combination of benefits that equals that higher amount.
So, it is likely the child will qualify for the higher of the survivor or disability benefits.
Note also there is a "family maximum" benefit amount. The family maximum payment is determined as part of every Social Security benefit computation and can be from 150 to 180 percent of the parent's full benefit amount.
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10085.html#howmuch