Isabella Carter
A minor can receive social security benefits from a deceased parent if the parent was entitled to benefits. The child must be unmarried and younger than 18 years old. If the child is a student, they may continue to receive benefits until they are 19 years old. The amount a child receives is based on the parent's contributions to the SSA in the form of taxes. The child must be documented as the parent's child with a birth certificate or adoption papers, and both the child and the deceased parent must have Social Security numbers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Child's age | Under 18 years old or 18-19 years old and a full-time student |
| Child's marital status | Unmarried |
| Parent's work history | Must have worked long enough at a job where they paid Social Security taxes |
| Child's disability status | Disabled children may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income |
| Child's relationship to the deceased | Biological, adopted, or stepchildren may be eligible |
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What You'll Learn
Minor vs adult child
In the United States, children of retired, disabled, or deceased parents may be eligible to receive monthly financial assistance from the Social Security Administration (SSA). This is known as Survivor Benefits, which provides monthly payments to eligible family members of people who worked and paid Social Security taxes before they died.
Minor Children
Minor children can receive survivor benefits until the age of 18 or 19 if they are still in primary or secondary school. They are eligible to receive up to 75% of the parent's full retirement benefit. The maximum family benefit typically ranges from 150% to 180% of the parent's full benefit amount. To apply for benefits, one can call 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment with an SSA representative.
Adult Children
On the other hand, adult children are generally not eligible to inherit their parent's Social Security benefits after they die. However, there are exceptions for adult children with disabilities. Adult children with disabilities can receive survivor benefits if they are aged 18 or older, with the disability occurring before the age of 22. They must also be unmarried and meet the SSA's medical criteria for disability. The benefit amount received by the disabled adult child is also tied to their parents' SSA tax contributions and their age of retirement.
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Eligibility criteria
To receive social security benefits from a deceased parent, a child must be a minor or have a qualifying disability. These benefits are called survivor benefits.
- The child must be unmarried.
- The child must be younger than 18 years old.
- The child must be between 18 and 19 years old and a full-time student at an elementary or secondary school (grade 12 or below).
- The child must be 18 or older with a disability that began before the age of 22.
- The child must be unmarried or married to a disabled spouse.
- The deceased parent must have worked for long enough at a job where they paid Social Security taxes.
- The child's disability must be approved according to SSA medical criteria.
The amount of the payment the child receives is tied to their parents' SSA tax contributions and their parents' age when they took retirement. A child may receive a Social Security benefit equal to 50% of the parent's full retirement benefit or disability benefit. If the parent is deceased, the child is eligible to receive up to 75% of the parent's full retirement benefit. There is a limit to the total amount that a family can receive from Social Security based on one worker's earnings record. The maximum family benefit typically ranges from 150% to 180% of the parent's full benefit amount.
To apply for benefits, one can call 1-800-772-1213 and schedule an appointment to speak or meet with an SSA representative. The family must present the child's birth certificate, the parents' Social Security numbers (SSNs), and the child's Social Security number.
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Benefit amounts
A child may receive a Social Security benefit equal to 50% of the parent's full retirement benefit or disability benefit. If the parent is deceased, the child is eligible to receive up to 75% of the parent's full retirement benefit. The maximum family Social Security benefit ranges from 150% to 180% of the original payee's benefit.
For example, consider a retiree named June, who has a dependent child, Ruth, who is also eligible for benefits. June's full retirement amount is $1,500 per month, and her family maximum is $2,300 per month. June would receive her full $1,500, while her spouse, John, and daughter Ruth would split the remaining $800 payment, each receiving $400.
The amount of the monthly benefit payment is based on the parent's contributions in the form of SSA taxes. If the parent is already on Social Security retirement or disability benefits, they can have their disabled adult child added to their account as an auxiliary while they are still living. This increases their benefit amount and will streamline the process for them to convert to a survivor benefit after the parent's passing.
If the amount due to the entire family surpasses the maximum, some individual payments will be proportionally reduced. The formula for maximum family benefits is based on a retired parent's work record. If the parent is disabled, a different formula applies.
Social Security will also pay benefits to grandchildren when the grandparent retires, begins a period of disability, or dies, if certain conditions are met. Generally, the biological parents of the child must be deceased or have a disability, or the grandparent must legally adopt the grandchild. To receive this benefit, the grandchild must have begun living with the grandparent before the age of 18 and received at least half of their support from them for the year before the grandparent became entitled to retirement or disability insurance benefits, or died.
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Application process
To apply for social security benefits for a minor child from a deceased parent, you can call the Social Security Administration's toll-free service at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to schedule a phone or in-person appointment, or visit your local Social Security office. An appointment is not necessary, but scheduling one can reduce waiting times. Applications for children's benefits cannot be accepted online.
When applying, you will need to provide certain documents to determine eligibility. These include:
- The child's birth certificate or other proof of birth or adoption.
- Proof of the worker's marriage to the child's natural or adoptive parent if the child is the worker's stepchild.
- Proof of the child's U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if the child was not born in the United States.
- W-2 forms and/or self-employment tax returns if the child had earnings in the previous year.
- Proof of the worker's death.
- The child's Social Security number.
- The names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers of the deceased worker's former spouses, as well as the dates and locations of their marriages and how, when, and where they ended.
- The names of the deceased worker's children under age 18, age 18 to 19 and attending elementary or secondary school, or disabled before age 22.
- Whether the deceased worker had earned Social Security credits under another country's Social Security system.
- Whether the deceased worker was a civilian employee of the Federal Government in January 1983.
- Whether you qualified for or expect to receive a pension or annuity based on your employment with the Federal government or one of its subdivisions.
- Whether the worker was employed or self-employed from 1978 through the previous year, and their earnings during the year of death and the previous year.
- Whether the worker ever filed for Social Security benefits, Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income, and if so, whose Social Security record they applied on.
- Whether each child was living with the worker at the time of death.
- Whether anyone has ever filed for Social Security benefits, Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income on behalf of the child.
It is important to note that while original documents are required for most items, photocopies of W-2 forms, self-employment tax returns, or medical documents are accepted. Additionally, if you do not have all the required documents, you can still apply, and the Social Security Administration will assist you in obtaining them.
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Additional support
If you are a minor seeking social security benefits from a deceased parent, there are several steps you can take to access support. Firstly, ensure that you have the necessary documentation, including your birth certificate, your parents' Social Security numbers, and your own Social Security number. You can begin the application process by calling the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment with an SSA representative. During this appointment, you can discuss your specific circumstances and determine your eligibility for benefits.
If your parent was already receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits, they could have added you as their disabled adult child to their account before their passing. This would have streamlined the process of converting to a survivor benefit after their death. However, if this was not done beforehand, you can still apply for survivor benefits as the child of a deceased parent.
It is important to note that the Social Security Administration provides benefits not only to biological children but also to adopted children and stepchildren. Additionally, grandchildren may be eligible for benefits if their biological parents are deceased or have a disability, or if the grandparent has legally adopted them. To qualify for this benefit, the grandchild must have lived with the grandparent before turning 18 and received at least half of their financial support from them.
If you are a minor with a disability, you may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. This benefit is determined by a separate calculation, and the maximum benefit amount may vary from year to year. Some states also provide supplemental SSI benefits, and you may be eligible for Medicaid to help cover medical expenses.
Remember, social security benefits for minors typically continue until the age of 18 or 19 if the minor is still in primary or secondary school. As a minor receiving social security benefits, your eligibility and benefit amount will be based on your deceased parent's work record and the number of Social Security credits they earned.
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Frequently asked questions
Minor children, disabled adult children, and dependent parents of the deceased may be eligible for social security benefits.
Minors under the age of 18 are eligible for social security benefits. If they are still in primary or secondary school, they can continue receiving benefits until the age of 18 or 19.
The disability must have begun before the age of 22, and the adult child must be unmarried or married to a disabled spouse. The deceased parent must have worked and paid Social Security taxes for a sufficient period.
A minor child can receive up to 75% of the parent's full retirement benefit. The maximum family benefit typically ranges from 150% to 180% of the parent's full benefit amount.
