When people think of cash benefits from the government for their disabled child, they usually think of SSI (Supplemental Security Income).

    However, there is another government cash benefit which may now be or later become available to your disabled child. It's called "Social Security Disability Income."  Among other recipients, SSDI provides cash benefits to a "disabled adult child" (DAC).

    For more information about this benefit, see the explanation on the "Steps to Economic Security" page under the heading "The Adult Disabled Child Social Security Benefit."

    The problem is that many people, including parents of disabled children, haven't heard of the DAC benefit, which has several financial advantages for the disabled person over SSI payments. Even if a person is receiving SSI, the Social Security Administration doesn't provide specific, written notice of the recipient's possible future eligibility for the DAC benefit.

 

 

    UDES wants the SSA (Social Security Administration) to provide potential DAC benefit recipients with specific written notification. This notification could, for example, be included with written notifications which the SSA already provides to recipients of SSI.

    Such notification can help ensure that disabled adult children receive the DAC benefits to which they're entitled and to help families with financial planning for their disabled children.

 

 

    Right now, UDES is identifying and approaching potential partners in California to help enlist the political support that will be needed.

 

 

    The SSA can likely make the needed changes on its own.

 

 

    There is no set timeline on this issue.