Social Security’s Benefits for Children
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: March 17, 2021
Social Security is with you through life’s journey — from birth, to death, and even beyond, by helping to care for surviving dependents. Every year, about 4.4 million children receive monthly benefits because one or both of their parents are disabled, retired, or deceased. When a parent becomes disabled or dies, Social Security benefits help to stabilize the family’s financial situation in an otherwise turbulent time.
Earlier this year, National Birth Defects Prevention Month in January and National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in March both raised awareness about medical conditions in children. Many families with children who have birth defects or developmental disabilities need medical and financial help. This is where Social Security’s commitment to helping children and families is most evident.
Social Security pays benefits through our disability insurance and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. Our disability program provides vital income for disabled children, including people disabled since childhood. To qualify for children’s benefits under our disability program, the applicant must be the child of a parent entitled to benefits and meet Social Security’s strict definition of disability. A person is disabled under the Social Security Act if he or she can’t work due to a severe medical condition that has lasted, or is expected to last, at least one year or result in death.
The SSI program provides payments to blind or disabled children who live in households with low income and limited resources if they meet our strict definition of disability. You can find more information on eligibility requirements by visiting our website.
Our publication, Benefits for Children explains all we do to care for children. Our website is also an excellent source of information. If you think a child you know is eligible for benefits, don’t wait. Share this information and help improve the child’s quality of life today.
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Tags: retirement, Social Security benefits, SSI, supplemental security income
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Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Jim Borland, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
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ROSEANN A.
status of check
Justin M.
I did not received my grandson’s social security check for March 2019. It was for $1,270.00.
My bank shows social security did a check to validate the account, but nothing was deposited.
A.C.
Hi. If you did not receive your electronic payment on the scheduled pay date, please contact your bank or financial institution first. They may be experiencing a delay in posting your payment. If you still need assistance, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Susan H.
If my son dies being his mother can I have his minor child all though he lives with his mother ssi put in a bank account until he is 21
V.V.
Hi Susan. If a minor child is entitled to Social Security benefits, someone is required to be their representative payee. A representative payee’s main duties are to use the benefits to pay for the current and future needs of the child, and properly save any benefits not needed to meet current needs.
Mary
My daughter turns 18 on July 7. Will she receive benefits for the month of July or will June be the last month
Thx
Lara
I have permanent 3rd party legal custody of a child since her birth. Birth mother gave me legal giardianship then abandoned child. I was granted third party legal custody through court. Biological parent never returned to finalize adoption. I am her permanent legal custodial parent since birth she is now 12yrs old. I am not natural, step or adoptive parent but I am her only parent. I was in a brain injury accident in 2013 . My first disability application denied then second application in 2018 disability bennefits granted. The appointment for my child to receive bennefits the administrator told me she does not qualify for my bennefits. I went to adoption lawyer but now that I’m a disabled single parent he said I would not qualify to for traditional adoption and it would cost over 8K just for home study. Lawyer said I am her legal parent and guardian but disability requires more than County court documents I was told at my appointment
Allen R.
I’m an adult that is on disability, from the above information I’d like to know why my child isn’t being allowed this assistance. If you could please help me to understand this it would be greatly appreciated.
A.C.
Hi, Allen. Thanks for your question. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Christine L.
I had a ssdi hearing NOV 2018, MY CHECKS CAME IN Jan 2018. I fist called Soc Sec in Dec 2018 too check on my dependents checks since nothing as said then or on the award letter I got in Jan. Multiple people have told me that they will be getting Soc Sec checks along with backpay. Two men said that it would be one half of the amount and they both double checked to see if the children were input right in your computes. They told me it should only be a month or two before I got something but it is now the end of March and I have nothing, not even an award letter for them. We really need this . Please could you check on this and let me know soon.
DIANA B.
TRYING TO GET A LETTER FOR MY SON BEFENTS
K.O.
Hi Diana. If you need proof that your child receives Social Security benefits or Supplemental Security (SSI) Income, you need to request a benefit verification letter. Often times this letter is referred to as a “budget letter,” a “benefits letter,” a “proof of income letter,” or a “proof of award letter.” Unfortunately, you cannot request a benefit verification letter online for another person, such as a spouse or child. To request a benefit verification letter for your child, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
cecil l.
This website did not help me in anyway. It did not answer my question. so i feel like this was not helpful to me at all.
A.C.
Hi, Cecil. Thanks for your feedback. Through our Blog we respond to questions and provide general information on our Retirement, Survivors, Disability, Medicare and SSI programs. If you have a general question, we encourage you to ask it here. But remember; never post personal information on social media. We hope this helps.
Jill a.
My son turned 18 in January but is still a full-time student, graduating in June. I turned in all the paperwork, having had the school fill out their portion, and his checks stopped coming. What do we do now?
A.C.
Hi. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community to work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.