Social Security Stimulus: are children eligible?

By Tomasz Stasiuk, March 20th, 2009 | SSA News | 4 Comments

I was recently asked if children who receive Social Security benefits are eligible for the one time $250 economic recovery stimulus payment.

Originally, it looked like the answer was “no.”  When this article was written in March 2009, the SSA FAQ said the following.

Question: Are children who receive Social Security benefits eligible for the one-time economic recovery payment?

Answer: No, children under the age of 18 (19 if still in high school) who receive Social Security benefits are NOT eligible for the one-time payment. However, disabled adult children will receive a payment. 

However, it was pointed out to me that children on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are eligible for the economic recovery stimulus payment.

Question: Are children who receive SSI benefits eligible for the one-time economic recovery payment?

Answer: Yes, disabled children receiving SSI are eligible for the one-time payment.

Social Security Economic Recovery Payments page including FAQ.

Updated April 21, 2009.  Thanks for the tip Jen!

Tomasz Stasiuk is the founding attorney of the Stasiuk Firm - a law firm devoted to exclusively handling Social Security disability cases in Colorado. Contingent fees available.