Childhood Disability Beneficiaries with an Incorrect Waiting Period

Disabled children age 18 or older may be entitled to childhood disability benefits on a parent’s earnings record if they have a disability that began before they reached age 22 and has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 consecutive months or result in death. Disabled workers must wait 5 full calendar months to be awarded disability benefits. However, disabled children do not have to wait 5 months.

The objective of this audit was to determine whether the SSA awarded childhood disability benefits based on an incorrect waiting period.