Social Security Pays Benefits to Children After the Death of a Parent
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: June 20, 2024
When many people think of Social Security, retirement springs to mind. But did you know that about 2.7 million children receive Social Security? More than half of these children get benefits after the death of a parent who worked and paid Social Security taxes.
In fact, 98 out of 100 children in this country could get Social Security if a working parent dies. In some cases, the child’s surviving parent is eligible for benefits as well.
The death of a parent can have negative financial, health, and educational effects on children, according to research by David Weaver of the University of South Carolina published in Population Review in 2019. When tragedy happens, we can help.
Social Security benefits are very valuable for surviving children and their families. They come from all walks of life and all races and ethnicities, income levels, geographic locations, and more.
We estimate that Social Security Survivors Insurance is equivalent to a life insurance policy with a face value of $930,000 for a young worker with average earnings who leaves behind a spouse and two children.
We base the monthly benefit amount on the earnings of the deceased parent. The average surviving child benefit is more than $1,000 per month. We pay benefits until the child turns 18 or 19, if the child is in high school, and is not married. A stepchild, grandchild, step-grandchild, or adopted child may be eligible for monthly benefits under certain circumstances.
Survivors benefits may be payable to an adult child of a deceased worker, if they have a disability that began before age 22, they are not able to work, and meet all eligibility requirements.
If a child in your life has lost a parent, it’s important for the child’s family to reach out to us as soon as possible. The date you contact us to file an application can affect when the child’s benefits begin.
You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. We can usually schedule an appointment in 30-60 days. We will let you know what information you need to apply. We provide free interpreter services by phone or in person in your local Social Security office.
To learn more, visit our Survivors Benefits and Parents and Guardians webpages.
Please share this information with your friends and family who may need it – and post it on social media.
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Tags: Children, equity, Social Security benefits, survivors benefits
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Agnes A.
my grandson is getting survivor benefits because of his fathers death will he get these until hes 18 n still n school He will be 18 soon and wants to know if he gets a job will his benefits be cut out
S.S.
Hello Agnes. Thanks for reading our blog and thanks for your question. If your grandson works while getting Social Security survivors benefits, we may reduce his benefits if his earnings exceed certain limits. You can find more information on our Survivors benefits page, or by visiting our How Work Affects Your Benefits.We hope this information helps.
Frank S.
My mother passed before the age of 60. She was my dependent for 13 years prior to her death. Would I be eligible for any of the money she contributed to social security?
S.S.
Hello Frank. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. Under certain circumstances, unmarried children may be eligible for benefits. You can find more information on our Survivors Benefits here. We hope this information helps.
Stevie L.
Hi
I recently applied for survivor benefits for 3 of my children and the person I spoke to said I would not start receiving any benefits until their father whom passed had all 4 kids filed for benefits. So they are aware that there is another child that can apply for benefits. But I understand why my kids have to wait for their benefits When I’ve already applied just because the other child has not been applied for?? And what is the guardian of that child never applies??
Siobhan
My ex husband died, leaving me with our 13 year old daughter. In the last years of his life he only worked part time under the table. We received a letter saying she got the lump sum benefit, but nothing about monthly payments. Will she get nothing else because he didn’t work on the books consistently?
Jennifer C.
Hello, I’m specifically looking for survivors benefits if the single parent commits suicide?
Arlene C.
My son passed away his sons get surviors benefits they go to boys mother my youngest grandson doesn’t live with mother anymore but mother is still getting the money how do we get money to go to where son is now living?
S.S.
Hi, Arlene, thanks for reading our blog and for your question. The person taking care of your grandson can apply to become his representative payee. To learn more, we recommend you review our Frequently Asked Questions. To make an appointment or to speak to a representative, they can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., or contact the local Social Security office. The person taking care of your grandson may also want to check out A Guide for Representative Payees. We hope this helps.
Arlene C.
Will a notarized guardianship work for documentation?
Marcis
What is to be done with SSI money that my 10 year old grandson gets bc his dad died 2 months ago. Does it need to be spent every month or can it be put into savings for collage years.
Jody
My son had his own ssi for his disability and his father just died and his is only 11 dose he get survivor ssi also??
S.D.
We are sorry for your loss, Jody. You should contact us right away to determine whether your son may be eligible for survivors benefits. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. If his father had as little as 1½ years of work in the 3 years right before his death, his surviving spouse and children may be able to get benefits. For more information, read our Benefits For Children factsheet and visit our Survivors Planner. We hope this helps.
William H.
We received custody of our grandson when he was 4yo. After I applied for SSDI but before it was approved. His father died a few years later and my grandson was approved for Survivor Benefits. Four years later his mother died. Now both parents are deceased. Not exactly sure of the dates at this moment but is there a situation now that both parents are deceased wherein my grandson can draw benefits off of my SS record instead of his fathers?
T.Y.
Hi, William. Thank you for your question and for reading our blog. Generally, Social Security can only pay benefits to grandchildren if certain conditions are met. The biological parents of the children must be deceased or have a disability. or the grandchild must be legally adopted. For more information, please visit our Parents and Guardians | SSA webpage. We hope this information helps!
Donna L.
I was curious if I’m eligible for more benefits . I’m 60 now my mom died in 2012 she had a pension with Boeing I am the only Chilean beneficiary she said I was taken care of if anything happened to her . Well I called Boeing and they said that there was nothing for me. Yet her SSI got the pension so she got 271 more a month. I’m on disability since 2017 . don’t I get some of her pension
S.D.
Hi, Donna. Thank you for reading our blog and for your question. However, we do not have information about private pensions. You may want to contact the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), another federal government agency. To learn more, visit our website. We hope this helps.