The Social Security Administration distributed an average of $2.6 billion each month nationally to benefit about 4.3 million children because one or both of their parents are disabled, retired, or deceased. Those dollars help to provide the necessities of life for family members and help make it possible for those children to complete high school. When a parent becomes disabled or dies, Social Security benefits help stabilize the family’s financial future.
Often enough, claims workers fail to ask the questions that would lead to benefits for these children.
NOTE: Disabled children whose parents have little income or resources may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income benefits. Read the publication about children’s benefits: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10026.pdf
Who can get child’s benefits?
Your unmarried child can get benefits if they’re:
- Younger than age 18;
- 18-19 years old and a full-time student (no higher than grade 12); or
- 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22.Under certain circumstances, we can also pay benefits to a stepchild, grandchild, step- grandchild, or adopted child.
To get benefits, a child must have:
- A parent who’s disabled or retired and entitled to Social Security benefits; or
- A parent who died after having worked long enough in a job where they paid Social Security taxes.