Question:
I am going to apply for disability and I understand that children can also draw benefits when their parents are on disability. I have a daughter that doesn’t live with me; she’s with my ex-wife and I’m paying child support. She did live with me when I first had to stop working because of the disability I have now. Does she qualify for benefits, even if she’s not living with me?

Answer:
Yes. Social Security will pay benefits to children if you have been supporting them at home or contributing to their support (i.e., via court-ordered child support) at the time their application for benefits is filed. Social Security gives the following definition of “child” in their handbook:

“The term “child” includes the worker’s:
A. Natural (i.e., biological) legitimate child, or any other child who would have the right under applicable State law to inherit intestate personal property from the worker as a child;
B. Stepchild, under certain circumstances;
C. Legally adopted child;
D. Child of invalid ceremonial marriage;
E. Natural child, if the worker:
1. Has acknowledged in writing that the child is his or her son or daughter;
2. Has been decreed by a court to be the father or mother of the child;
3. Has been ordered by a court to contribute to the support of the child because the child is his or her son or daughter; or
4. Has been shown to be the child’s father or mother by other acceptable evidence and was living with the child or contributing to the child’s support when the child’s application is filed (in life cases) or when the worker died (in survivor cases);
F. Grandchild or step-grandchild, under certain circumstances.