Social Security provides financial assistance not only to retirees but also to the families of deceased workers. If a parent dies, their children may be eligible for survivor benefits, which can provide crucial financial support.
Here’s what every family should know about Social Security benefits for the child of a deceased parent, including eligibility, benefit amounts, and the process for applying.
How Do Social Security Benefits Work?
The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. These programs are funded through payroll taxes, and in exchange, workers and their families receive financial support during times of need.
Social Security survivor benefits are intended to help the children of workers who passed away before they could fully benefit from their contributions to the program.
Key Stats:
- In 2021, Social Security paid out $2.8 billion in monthly benefits to over 4 million children who qualified for survivor benefits from deceased, retired, or disabled parents.
Survivor Benefits for a Child of a Deceased Parent
Children of a deceased parent may be eligible for survivor benefits if their parent worked long enough to qualify for Social Security. The amount of the benefit a child receives is based on the deceased parent’s work record.
How Much Can a Child Receive?
A child typically receives 75% of the deceased parent’s Social Security benefit. For example, if a parent was receiving or would have received $2,400 per month, the child would receive $1,800 per month in survivor benefits. These benefits can last for many years and are adjusted annually for inflation.
- Example: If the child is 4 years old when the parent passes away, the benefits could amount to over $300,000 by the time the child reaches adulthood, assuming inflation adjustments.
Survivor Benefits for Other Family Members
Surviving Spouses
- Full Retirement Age: A surviving spouse who reaches Full Retirement Age (FRA) can receive 100% of the deceased spouse’s benefit.
- Age 60 to FRA: A surviving spouse between 60 and full retirement age can receive between 71.5% and 99% of the deceased spouse’s benefit.
- Caring for a Child: A widow or widower of any age caring for a child under 16 or a child with a disability can receive 75% of the deceased spouse’s benefits.
Maximum Family Benefit
There is a maximum family benefit, which generally limits the total survivor benefits a family can receive to between 150% and 180% of the deceased parent’s benefit amount.
Who Qualifies for Survivor Benefits?
To qualify for survivor benefits, the deceased parent must have worked long enough in a job that required them to pay Social Security taxes. The required work duration depends on the parent’s age at death:
- Younger workers need fewer years of work to qualify their family for benefits.
- No one needs more than 10 years of work to qualify their family for survivor benefits.
Child Eligibility
A child can qualify for survivor benefits if they meet the following conditions:
- Under 18 years old, or
- Under 19 and a full-time student in elementary or secondary school, or
- Any age if the child has a disability that began before age 22.
Limitations
- Children over 19 who are not students or disabled are not eligible for survivor benefits.
- A surviving spouse’s benefits will end when their child turns 16, unless they qualify based on age or disability.
When Do Survivor Benefits End?
- Children: Benefits typically end when the child turns 18 unless they are a full-time student (benefits continue until age 19) or they have a disability (benefits continue indefinitely as long as the disability began before age 22).
- Surviving Spouses: A surviving spouse can receive benefits until the child turns 16. After that, they can switch to their own retirement benefits or continue receiving survivor benefits once they reach Full Retirement Age.
How to Qualify for a Parent’s Social Security Benefits
To qualify for a deceased parent’s Social Security survivor benefits:
- The parent must have paid Social Security taxes for a sufficient period.
- The child must provide proof of their eligibility, which includes the child’s birth certificate, Social Security numbers of both the deceased parent and the child, and additional documents if applicable (such as proof of a disability for disabled children).
Special Cases: Jobs That Don’t Pay Into Social Security
Some employers, such as certain school districts, fire departments, and police departments, do not pay into Social Security on behalf of their employees.
In these cases, the children of those workers may not qualify for Social Security survivor benefits unless the parent worked in a different job that did pay into Social Security.
How to Apply for Survivor Benefits
To apply for Social Security survivor benefits for a child, the surviving parent or guardian must submit the following:
- Birth certificate or proof of adoption,
- Social Security numbers of the deceased parent and the child,
- Proof of the parent’s death (such as a death certificate),
- Additional documents if the child is disabled.
Applications for survivor benefits cannot be submitted online. To apply, you must call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to schedule an appointment or request assistance.
Managing Survivor Benefits for a Child
Once survivor benefits are approved, the surviving parent or guardian will receive the payments on behalf of the child and act as the representative payee.
The funds must be used to support the child’s living expenses, including food, clothing, shelter, and other essential needs.
Representative Payee Responsibilities
The representative payee is responsible for ensuring that the money is spent exclusively on the child’s needs. This is important because Social Security may review how the funds are used.
Social Security survivor benefits provide financial support to children and families when a parent passes away. These benefits help replace lost income, covering everyday expenses and ensuring a child’s financial well-being.
By understanding the eligibility requirements, benefit amounts, and application process, families can secure the financial assistance they need during challenging times.
FAQs
How much does a child receive in Social Security survivor benefits?
A child typically receives 75% of their deceased parent’s benefit amount.
How long can a child receive survivor benefits?
Benefits typically continue until age 18, or 19 if the child is a full-time student. For disabled children, benefits may continue indefinitely.
What documents are needed to apply for survivor benefits?
You’ll need the child’s birth certificate, Social Security numbers of the deceased parent and the child, and proof of death.
Can a surviving spouse receive survivor benefits?
Yes, a surviving spouse can receive up to 100% of the deceased spouse’s benefit, depending on their age.
How do you apply for Social Security survivor benefits?
You must apply by calling 1-800-772-1213 as Social Security does not accept online applications for survivor benefits.
