BASIC (03-11)

Some Title II entitlements require a disability allowance before paying a non-disability benefit to a Retirement and Survivors Insurance (RSI) beneficiary. We discuss three situations in this section.

A. Disabled minor child determination needed to continue entitlement to a parent

While a child’s benefits can continue to age 18, the parent’s benefit normally ends when the youngest child attains age 16. If a child is disabled and in the parent’s care, then the parent’s benefit can continue after the child attains age 16. SSA must obtain a disability determination to establish that the child under age 18 is disabled.

B. Disability determination needed to establish entitlement to Lump Sum Death Payment (LSDP)

The policy of requiring a disability decision for a LSDP claim can apply to:

• a disabled widow(er) age 50-60 who was not living with the deceased wage earner at the time of death; or

• a disabled child over age 18.

If they are not filing for monthly benefits, they must prove they would have been eligible for benefits as a Disabled Widow(er)’s Beneficiary (DWB) or Childhood Disability Beneficiary (CDB). SSA must obtain a disability determination for the DWB or CDB before they can receive the LSDP.

C. Disability determination needed to entitle a dependent grandchild

If both parents are deceased or disabled, a dependent grandchild can be entitled on a grandparent’s record. SSA must obtain a disability determination for the disabled parent(s).