Disabled Adult Child Claims Being Missed

Individuals who become disabled before age 22 may qualify for Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits based upon the Social Security earnings record of their mother or father, once the mother or father goes on Social Security benefits or dies. Social Security's Office of Inspector General (OIG) has posted a study done recently which shows that a large number of people drawing Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits may be eligible for DAC benefits, but do not know to apply. Some excerpts from the study:

We examined information from electronic data extracts from the Agency's Supplemental Security (SSR) and Master Beneficiary Records (MBR). As of August 10, 2006, our examination had identified 278,794 SSI recipients who had (1) attained age 18 on or after August 22, 1996; (2) established their dates of disability before age 22; (3) received OASDI benefits as children; and (4) received SSI payments. For these recipients, we applied additional screening requirements and found 5,908 individuals who appeared to be eligible for additional OASDI benefits. These individuals were receiving only SSI payments as of August 2006. ...

Of the 5,908 SSI recipients, we selected a random sample of 200 for review. We independently reviewed information, recorded as of September 2006, in these recipients' respective SSRs and MBRs.

RESULTS OF REVIEW

Our analysis of information in SSA's SSR and MBR found there were SSI recipients who received OASDI benefits as child beneficiaries who appeared to be eligible for additional OASDI benefits. Of the 200 SSI recipients we reviewed, 137 appeared to be DAC cases and eligible for additional OASDI benefits. As such, we estimate about 4,047 of the 5,908 SSI recipients we identified may be eligible for additional OASDI benefits. Of the 137 DAC cases, we selected 10 SSI recipients to assess their respective OASDI and SSI payments. We determined these 10 recipients were due OASDI underpayments of approximately $114,000.