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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Catherine
I’ve called 4 times & have gotten hung up on 3 out of the 4. I’m on hold again with my fingers crossed this time.
V.V.
Hi Catherine, thanks for using our blog. We are so sorry to hear about your experience. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can call your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Larry
I hav a son born in the Philippines 15 yrs ago and is still there w His family. I never married the mom nor applied for SS that He was due. I was Disabled/retired since b4 then… Can I apply for SS for him even now 15 yrs later? I do have His Birth certificate w my name as His Dad. HELP !
V.V.
Hi Larry, thanks for using our blog. When a parent gets Social Security retirement benefits or disability benefits, his or her child also may get benefits. Children also can get benefits when a parent dies. The child can be a biological child, adopted child or stepchild.
To get benefits, the child must be unmarried and:
• Younger than age 18;
• A full-time student (no higher than grade 12) 18 to 19 years old; or
• Have a disability that started before age 22 and is 18 years or older.
See our factsheet on Benefits for Children for more information.
Please call your local Social Security office to apply. Look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Patrick S.
I currently receive SSDI payments monthly and my child was just added to also receive a monthly benefit due to my disability. Does her payment need to be deposited into a dedicated account that lists her as the owner of the account? If so, can my wife also perform transactions from that account on behalf of our child. I have only seen answers for this based on SSI payments, not SSDI.
V.V.
Hi Patrick, thanks for using our blog. You can have the child’s Social Security benefits directly deposited into a common checking account for all family members living in the same household. The account can show a parent or spouse as the owner of the account. Children’s savings, however, must be in separate savings accounts for each child, showing the child as the account owner. Check out our publication “A Guide For Representative Payees” and our Representative Payee web page for more details.
maria
Hi, I’m divorce received retirement insurance (ex husband retirement) for both of my daughters, but I only claim one daughter on the taxes. Do I need to claim the amount (retirement- SSA-1099) of one daughter or both daughters on the taxes? Do I need to claim both of my daughters on the taxes if I have to claim the full amount?
V.V.
Hi Maria, thanks for using our blog. Social Security benefits for children are considered taxable income only for the children who are entitled to receive them, even if the checks are made out to a representative payee.
Deena N.
How can I get a new SS card for my child?
V.V.
Thank you for using our blog, Deena. That is not something that you can do online. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for information on how to replace a Social Security card for a child. To learn more on the process and what documents you and your child will need to get a card, please visit our Learn what documents you will need to get a Social Security Card web page. Use our Social Security Office Locator to find your local office address. We hope this helps.
Elaine
If a disabled parent goes back to work, will the amount of benefits a minor child get thru the parent change?
V.V.
Hi Elaine, thanks for using our blog. Each year we review the records for all Social Security recipients who work. If your latest year of earnings turns out to be one of your highest years, we refigure your benefit and pay you any increase due. This is an automatic process, and benefits are paid in December of the following year. For example, in December 2021, you should get an increase for your 2020 earnings if those earnings raised your benefit. The increase would be retroactive to January 2021. If the parent’s benefit amount increases, so would the child’s benefit.
Brenda N.
How do you apply to get benefits for your child when you have just gotten disability!? Is there a way on line?
Thank you
Brenda
S.D.
Happy new year, Brenda, and thank you for your question. When you receive Social Security retirement or disability benefits, your child also may receive benefits as your dependent. The child can be a biological child, adopted child, or stepchild. To get benefits, the child must be unmarried and:
• Younger than age 18;
• A full-time student (no higher than grade 12) 18 to 19 years old; or
• Have a disability that started before age 22 and is 18 years or older.
For more information, read our Benefits for Children fact sheet. You cannot file for dependent child benefits online, so please call your local office to schedule an appointment. You’ll find the phone number using our Office Locator. Our call volume and wait times are longer than normal, so please be patient. We hope this information helps.
Learn N.
Leann faircloth 09/27/85 XXXXXXXXX
478 331 2691 need to get replacement ss cards for my son and daughter
V.V.
Thank you for using our blog, Learn. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for information on how to replace a Social Security card for a child. To learn more on the process and what documents you and your child will need to get a card, please visit our Learn what documents you will need to get a Social Security Card web page. If you do not want to mail in documents, which will be returned, you may need to wait for the offices to reopen. Use our Social Security Office Locator to find your local office address. We hope this helps.
Just a reminder – We do not have access to personal information in this venue. Please be cautious about posting personal information on social media channels. Thanks.
Konte H.
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Stephanie S.
If a child gets an auxiliary benefit based on a parent’s disability, should the award date be retroactive to the parent’s original disability award date?
V.V.
For your security, Stephanie, 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 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
cherica s.
my children already receive benefits i just need to change payee
V.V.
Hi Cherica, thanks for using our blog. To change representative payees, you can call your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.