If an individual is disabled and receives Title 2 Social Security Disability Insurance benefits (SSDI aka DIB), their spouse (husband or wife) and minor children can also receive benefits because of the spouse’s / parent’s disability. These are called auxiliary benefits.
I previously coved how Social Security benefits stop if a disabled person is goes to jail / prison.
So, what happens to the children’s or spouse’s benefits if the disabled individual is incarcerated: goes to jail or prison?
Do the wife or husband’s auxiliary benefits stop?
Do the children’s auxiliary benefits stop?
The best answer I have been able to find to this question is in the Social Security Online Handbook. Part 501. Entitlement to Disabled Worker’s Benefits says,
“Auxiliary benefits” are additional monthly benefits (see Chapter 3). These benefits may be payable to other family members on your earnings record if you are entitled to disabled worker’s benefits. They are payable to your family members even when you are not receiving benefits because of imprisonment.
So, it looks like, yes, auxiliary benefits to spouses or children are payable even thought the disabled individual is incarcerated and cannot receive Social Security benefits him/herself.
However, keep in mind that the Social Security Handbook is a guide explaining to how Social Security is supposed to work. The Social Security Handbook has no binding legal authority. So take this answer with a bit of caution.
