If You Are Young and Lose a Parent
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: September 13, 2018
Social Security is here for young people when a parent passes away. We know that the loss of a parent isn’t just emotionally painful; it can be devastating to a family’s finances. In the same way that Social Security helps to lift up the disabled and elderly when they need it, we support families when an income-earning parent dies.
In 2017, we distributed an average of $2.6 billion each month to benefit about 4.2 million children because one or both of their parents are disabled, retired, or deceased. Those dollars help to provide the necessities of life and help make it possible for those children to complete high school.
You might ask, 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.
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.
Benefits stop when your child reaches age 18 unless your child is a student or disabled.
Within a family, a child can receive up to half of the parent’s full retirement or disability benefit. If a child receives Survivors benefits, he or she can get up to 75 percent of the deceased parent’s basic Social Security benefit.
There is a limit to the amount of money that we can pay to a family. This family maximum is determined as part of every Social Security benefit computation. It can be from 150 to 180 percent of the parent’s full benefit amount. If the total amount payable to all family members exceeds this limit, we reduce each person’s benefit proportionately (except the parent’s) until the total equals the maximum allowable amount.
Children with disabilities may also be eligible for benefits. You can read more about Benefits for Children with Disabilities.
Social Security is securing today and tomorrow, protecting our future and the next generation.
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Tags: Social Security benefits, survivors benefits
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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Randy T.
If a parent who is murdered with no known documentation of working and who had six children, can any of the children receive SSI benefits?
L.A.
Hi Randy. For your security, we do not have access to your personal information in this forum. For specific questions about your account, please call our toll free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), from Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. You may also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Brenda
Reading this blog I am confused. If a child is receiving survivor benefits it looks to me that the expenses are to be reported. I have 2 grandchildren that lost their mother a little over 3 years ago. The biological father moved out of the house and lived with his parents for almost 2 years at no cost. He did have to maintain the home making payment, kept the heat on but has no other expenses for these 2 kids such as medical (they have Medicaid). He then obtained a “girlfriend” who moved in to his parents home, they had a child together and my husband and I believe that the father is using the benefits to pay some of her and their new babies expenses. She left her job last summer and we wondered how she was making her car payment, etc. He then sold the previous home and purchases a new home that was approximately $248,000, he makes $14-$16 an hour ?? She has since obtained a part time job. We went to the local Social Security office and were told that the money he receives can be used at his discretion, really there is no review on the benefits that should be used for the 2 surviving children? He can buy a 5th wheel camper, pay her car and her car insurance the new babies daycare, purchase other items not related to the care of the children? I would hope that he would be a little more protective of the 2 children that lost their mother.
J.Rick M.
Is there any help available for my grandson he is nine, his father died a little over two years ago, at the age of 30 my son in law had suffered from drug addiction from his teens, and had just turned his life around was looking for employment, didn’t have much of a work history there seems to be programs for just about everything and everyone, but my grandson. I draw a small disability, and I have had the boy from hospital till right up until his father’s unfortunate passing what little I had is long gone, and now each day is such a struggle, helping my daughter get on her feet has really been tough, but I just wish could fix it, have something to leave them.
My grandson is my life and now I’m kicking my self for not being prepared and policy or something, it shames me I’m looking for “benefits” but in my search you wouldn’t believe the things available but not too him because he’s not disabled and he is a US citizen
A.C.
We are sorry to hear about your family’s situation. You may be eligible to receive social services from the state in which you live. These services include Medicaid, free meals, housekeeping help, transportation or help with other problems. To find out whether you may qualify and if you need to file a separate application call the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at 1-800-633-4227 (TTY, 1-877-486-2048). You also can get information about services in your area from your state or local social services or welfare office. We hope this helps.
Patti
I have guardianship of my 2 grandsons. They receive survivor benefits from their mother, my daughter, that passed away 4 yrs ago. If I adopt them will they stop rreceiving benefits? I have been told no f I adopt after they are receiving benefits. I also know someone who adopted her niece under same circumstances and they stopped her benefits. Thank you
A.C.
Hi, Patti. Benefits for a child who is already entitled to benefits will not stop due to an adoption. For specific questions, please call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Representatives are available Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call later in the day. We hope this helps!
kellie
I turn 18 in May but i’m moving out on my own but I do not graduate high school till 2021 so would I still get that check from my dad or?
L.A.
Hi Kellie. Your benefits normally stop at age 18, unless your are a full-time student in an elementary or high school. Your benefits could continue until age 19, if you are still in high school the month you turn 19 years old. Your benefits could also continue if you are disabled. For additional questions, please call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). We hope this helps.
Anthony M.
Or letting sorry lazy parents sit on there butt and do nothing but spend the money intended for the children
PATRICIA
Aunt from father said getting the kids money. The girls live with a cousin from mother said mother pass away in 2010 girls have not live with Aunt over 6 years
L.A.
Hi Patricia. To report a representative payee who is not managing Social Security benefits properly, please call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. or contact your local Social Security office. You can also submit a report to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). We hope this information helps.
Noah s.
My mother pass away when i was 10 I live with my grandmother im am 20 now going to a tech school out of high school my grandmother just recently passed away with cancer can i receive some benefits from social security to help me
A.C.
We are sorry to hear about your loss, Noah. The Lump-Sum Death benefit of $255 (a one-time payment) may be payable upon the death of a person who has worked long enough to be insured under Social Security. Only eligible family members may be able to receive the one-time payment and monthly survivor benefits. For more information on this, please read our publication, How Social Security Can Help You When a Family Member Dies. We hope this helps.
Lynn K.
if a minor child is receiving survivors benefits where father died and the mother (is not getting benefits) gets married will that child lose the benefits if stepfather adopts said child? children are 4 & 5
L.A.
Hi Lynn. Benefits for a child who is already receiving benefits will not stop due to an adoption. Your children will continue to receive benefits on their father’s record until they turn age 18 or until they finish high school, whichever comes first. For more information about children’s benefits, please visit our webpage “Benefits Planner: Survivors| Planning for Your Survivors.” For specific questions about your case, please call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.
Irina A.
Great article, however it should be added that step-children are eligible as well to receive survivors benefit as long as deceased parent provided 50% or more support for them. After my husband passed away I was not aware of this and only applied for benefits for our mutual child. Social Security office never asked me if I had any other children in the household. 2 years later I found out my other children were eligible as well, however SSA would only go back 6 month. I am thankful I founded out about it, however it should be disclosed to applicants at the time of application.