Benefits That End and Benefits That Start

Some programs help children, while others help adults. When your child becomes an adult, they will no longer qualify for some benefits and may qualify for others instead.

Your Child Will Not Qualify You for Work First

If your family gets benefits from Work First (WF), when your child turns 18 (or 19 if still in school), they will no longer count as a child for Work First. This means your family’s Work First benefits may go down or stop.

Social Security Child’s Benefits Are Only for Children

If your child gets Social Security Child’s Benefits based on your or your spouse’s Social Security work record, these benefits will end when your child turns 18 (or 19 if they are attending high school or other secondary education).

If your child stops getting Child’s Benefits, he or she may be able to start getting Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB) benefits instead.

Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB) Benefits Might Start

Social Security Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB) benefits help adults with disabilities who are 18 or older with money each month.

Your child may qualify for CDB if they:

• Have a disability that began before they turned 22 and meets Social Security’s definition of disability for adults
• Are not married, unless their spouse also gets CDB or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, and
• Have a parent who gets Social Security retirement benefits or SSDI. If your child’s other parent is deceased, your child could also qualify.

Your child does not automatically get CDB when they turn 18. They can apply for it at a local Social Security office or by telephone at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY).

If your child gets CDB, they can also get health coverage through Medicare after a two-year waiting period.