Children under 18 can get Social Security survivors benefits, and so can a child who is under 19, but still in high school . . . or a child who is 18 or older but who becomes disabled before age 22. Today, Social Security pays monthly survivor s benefits to 7.4 million Americans, almost 2 million of whom are children. For information on how you earn survivors benefits for your family, see Earning Credits and Qualifying for Benefits . Disability Benefits SSA also protects a worker who becomes severely disabled. It is important protection.
Few workers have private, long-term disability insurance.
Under Social Security, workers are considered disabled if they have a severe physical or mental condition that prevents them from working. The condition must be expected to last for at least 12 months or to result in death. Once benefits begin, they continue for as long as the worker is disabled and cannot work. The disabled worker and his or her eligible family members receive checks each month. Social Security disability insurance is a program that workers, employers, and the self-employed pay for with their Social Security taxes.