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Parent Focus: Turning 18

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    Parent Focus: Turning 18

    Benefits That End and Benefits That Start

    Some programs help children, while others help adults. When your child becomes an adult, they will no longer qualify for some benefits and may qualify for others instead.

    Your Child Will Not Qualify You for ATAP

    If your family gets benefits from the Alaska Temporary Assistance Program (ATAP), when your child turns 18 (or 19 if still in school), they will no longer count as a child for ATAP. This means your family’s ATAP benefits may go down or stop.

    Social Security Child’s Benefits Are Only for Children

    If your child gets Social Security Child’s Benefits based on your or your spouse’s Social Security work record, these benefits will end when your child turns 18, unless they are still in high school or doing another form of secondary education. In that case, benefits end at 19. If your child stops getting Child’s Benefits, they may be able to start getting Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB) instead.

    Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB) Might Start

    Social Security Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB) help adults with disabilities who are 18 or older with money each month. If your child gets CDB benefits for two years, they will also qualify for Medicare health coverage.

    Your child may qualify for CDB if they:

    • Have a disability that began before turning 22 and meets Social Security’s definition of disability for adults
    • Are not married, unless their spouse also gets CDB or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, and
    • Have a parent who gets Social Security retirement benefits or SSDI. If your child’s other parent is deceased, your child could also qualify.

    Your child can apply for CDB at the local Social Security office.

    Adult Public Assistance (APA) Might Start

    Adult Public Assistance (APA) is an Alaska benefit that is similar to Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Like SSI, it sends money each month to people with disabilities who have low income and low resources. Most people who get SSI also get APA, but some people can get APA, even if they don't get SSI. If your child qualifies for APA, they may get up to $362 in monthly APA benefits and automatically qualify for APA-related Medicaid.

    APA is only for adults 18 or older, and your child needs to apply for it separately from SSI. Your child can apply using the DPA Application for Services and submitting it:

    Your child can also apply by phone at 1-800-478-7778.

    Living alone may impact your child’s benefits

    If your child moves out of the family home, benefits eligibility could change. Many programs, including income-based Medicaid and SNAP (formerly Food Stamps), are based on household income. Other programs, like SSI, give higher or lower benefits depending on a person’s living situation. If your child is moving into a new living situation, talk to a benefits planner and ask about how this change might affect their benefits eligibility.

    Learn more

    Benefits for Young People

    Find out how benefits support young people who work.

    Disability-Based Medicaid

    Medicaid for people who have low income and low resources, and have a disability or are over age 65.

    Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

    SSI and Adult Public Assistance (APA) give cash benefits to people with disabilities and seniors who have low income and low resources.