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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Lauren S.
Why was my child denied benefits if her father receives a disability check?
A.C.
Hi, Lauren. 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.
Ruby H.
I am raising 3 grandsons and wanted to know if since I’m disabled if I can get assistance towards things they need until they can work or graduate from school? I was disabled in 1995 through a life altering car wreck ..so are they able to get assistance?
A.C.
Hi, Ruby. Under current law, Social Security can only pay benefits to grandchildren if certain conditions are met. In addition to providing for more than 50% of their support, the biological parents of the children must be deceased or disabled, or you must have legally adopted them. See Benefits For Children for more information. We hope this helps.
Noreen R.
How can I find out if my daughter is still supposed to be receiving payments from her father’s SSI ??
A.C.
Hi, Noreen. 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.
Barbara
If a childs parent is in prison, is there any way they can claim s.s benifits from the inprisoned parents account? A women with 3 children, recently divorced from this parent for sexual abuse of the children.
Thank you
A.C.
Hi, Barbara. We are sorry to hear about this family’s situation. A parent has to be receiving Social Security benefits for a child to be potentially eligible. For more information, check out our publication, Benefits for Children. We hope this helps.
Cathy W.
Hi my name is cathy whitfield. I just wont to know by me been on ssi can my daughter get a check she 14. Year old just some one in my family were telling me about this just asking
sherry h.
Hi I need to get information regarding a child that is austistic the child was born in the us but the parents are not legal residents in the us .Can that child qualify for SSI?
karen l.
i need to know who to call for information. applied in person for benifits owed to the estate of my father in October . was sent a form to check a box .sent it back .have not heard or recieved anything please inform me what to do.
Rhonda P.
I have a friend she signed gardenship over to me of her boys cause she is sick and the boys live with me but dont want me to collect there cks she said she needs then what do i do
judy m.
If you have legal custody of a grandchild can they get benefits if you and husband are both disabled? We have had our gd since she was 6 mos. old and don’t receive a penny for her from either parent nor food stamps. Very hard to live without her haing health insurance.
A.C.
Hi, Judy. Thanks for your question. Generally, the biological parents of the child must be deceased or disabled or the grandchild must be legally adopted by the grandparent. For more information, visit here. We hope this helps.
Franklin F.
I am a child of a deceased parent and my Surviving parent has Dementia and I only have $964.00 Va disability benefits coming In and I need to know if there is any way I am eligible for My mothers Retirement, Survivors and Disability insurance benefits my Father may have received the benefits but has not taken care of any responsibilities.Can someone contact me #843-287-1956 email franklinfoster67@gmail.com..thanks…
A.C.
Hi, Franklin. To qualify as disabled adult child, you must be 18 or older and have a disability that started before age 22. For more information about benefits for a disabled child, visit our Benefits Planner: Disability|How to Qualify. For specific questions, please 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. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps.