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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Coc.
If my father is deceased, and I don’t live with my mother, can I still get the social security benefits without her? I live with my aunt, but she doesn’t have any legal guardianship over me.
R.F.
You may still be eligible to continue receiving your benefits even if you’re living with your aunt. Remember, if you receive benefits from Social Security, you have a legal obligation to report changes. If a representative payee is involved, we may have to change that as well. Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for further assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks.
Coc.
I haven’t received any benefits in the past.
R.F.
See Survivors Benefits, or call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 ( TTY 1-800-325-0778). You can speak to a Social Security representative Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Micheal B.
I have a question. So I’m moving out of my moms house, and was wondering how I get my ssi check. Since I’m not going to be living with her anymore.
R.F.
Hi Micheal. If you receive benefits from Social Security, you have a legal obligation to report changes, such as a change of address and change of your living arrangements. Please report the new address to your local Social Security office.
Teri
My grandchildren’s father passed February 2017 and my daughter applied for Social Security. All she had gotten from them is a bunch of grief and denials. She gave them everything they asked for . birth certs, social security cards, tax returns, and even a notorized letter from his sister stating they are his babies and they still deny that he is their father. They were together for 10 years and never were apart. Now my grandchildren can not get the benefits that are rightfully theirs. Any help out there will be greatly appreciated. We live in Nevada
Mary
I have had legal custody of grandchild since birth she is 13. I am retired and receive social security . Both parents are non visible. I receive medical insurance for her , Can she be on my account for benefits
R.F.
Hi Mary, thank you for your question. 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 as you are doing now, the biological parents of the children must be deceased or disabled, or you must have legally adopted them. See “Benefits For Grandchildren” for more information.
Monica
This ssi kills me… the father of my last two kids one by chance the other by sexual assault…. gets over $700 in ssi every month has not once lived in his own and owes no more than a $50 phone bill each month works under the table to keep his ssi mostly in construction but brags how he doesn’t have to pay child support and can make as many babies as he wants and not be held accountable… yet I struggle daily working my butt off for my 3 kids to have and I am able to get the bare minimum while he spends his “hard earned crazy check” on everything he can and lands himself in jail it’s just a shame!!! My mother is disabled physically can’t walk some days and can’t get help because she isn’t 60 and my dad wasn’t 60 when he passed but my children’s sperm donor can take grate advantage of the system and my kids have to do without
jade
I,m 16 my daddy died my mom is drawing my social security how old do i have to be to draw it on my on.
jade
please reply
R.F.
Hi Jade. The law requires most minor children and all legally incompetent adults to have payees. If benefits continue, the child automatically becomes his/her own payee at age 18.
Amy G.
If a spouse lived and worked in the USA, with a proper Social Security Number but his children never lived in the USA and are not USA citizens, can the children receive Social Security Survivor Benefits after the death of the parent who lived and worked in the USA. (This question assumes that the deceased parent did pay Social Security during his employment in the USA.)
R.F.
Thank you for your question Amy. Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions web page to learn more about Social Security benefits and non-citizens. We recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact their local U.S. embassy or consulate for any assistance related to Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this information helps.
Ed T.
My ex and I have 2 children together. I have had custody since they were little. She provided support by paying child care and buying groceries, school clothes, etc. But they haven’t resided with her for about 3 years. Does the fact that they did not reside with her change the amount of survivor benefits they will receive? We were never married and had no formal custody arangement.
cheryl d.
I have full custody of my granddaughter….she gets Social Security for disabilities. ( she was born 15weeks early)….her father just passed last week….is she entitled to SSI for his death also since he iant here anyway
R.F.
To see if your granddaughter can qualify for survivor’s benefits, please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 as soon as possible. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Also, read our publication “Benefits for Children” for more information. Thanks.
Ber
I was wondering what is a child. Death benifits from a parent supose to be used for? Can you use the money for your rent and things needed for the kids
R.F.
Hi, Ber. Generally, when we pay benefits to a children under the age of 18, we pay those benefits to their designated representative payee. A representative payee must apply the payments for the use and benefit of the entitled individual. Social Security and/or SSI funds are properly used if they are:
A. Spent for the beneficiary’s current and reasonably foreseeable needs; or
B. Saved or invested for the beneficiary, after current needs have been met.
We hope this helps.