When a parent passes away, Social Security survivor benefits can provide crucial financial support for their surviving family, including children. In fact, Social Security isn’t just for retirees — it also serves as a safety net for families when a worker dies.
In 2021, more than 4 million children received survivor benefits, totaling $2.8 billion in monthly payments. Here’s a detailed guide on how Social Security benefits work for the children of deceased parents.
How Do Social Security Benefits Work?
Social Security is a government program designed to provide income during retirement or in case of death or disability. Workers pay into the program via payroll taxes, which fund the benefits for current retirees and survivors.
The amount someone receives in retirement is based on their 35 highest-earning years of work.
However, if a worker dies before they can collect Social Security retirement benefits, their family, including children, may still be eligible to receive survivor benefits, depending on the worker’s contributions and work history.
What Are the Survivor Benefits for a Child?
Survivor benefits for a child are based on the deceased parent’s work record. A child who qualifies can receive up to 75% of their deceased parent’s benefit amount.
For instance, if a parent’s benefit was $2,400 per month, the child would receive $1,800 per month. Over time, this could amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars, as benefits are adjusted for inflation.
Survivor benefits are meant to provide financial support for children until they reach adulthood or in some cases, beyond, if they have a qualifying disability.
Who is Eligible for Survivor Benefits?
To qualify for Social Security benefits based on a deceased parent’s work record, a child must meet specific conditions:
- Under 18 years old: Most children can receive benefits until age 18.
- Up to age 19: If the child is still in full-time elementary or secondary school, they can receive benefits until 19.
- Disabled: A child can receive benefits indefinitely if they have a disability that began before age 22.
Additionally, the deceased parent must have worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes to qualify.
The required number of years a parent needs to have worked depends on their age at death — younger workers need fewer years of work to qualify. However, no one needs more than 10 years of work to ensure their children can receive survivor benefits.
Survivor Benefits for the Surviving Parent
A surviving spouse may also qualify for survivor benefits, including those who care for a child under age 16. The benefits they receive are typically 75% of the deceased spouse’s benefit.
Widows and widowers who reach full retirement age (usually 66 or 67) can collect 100% of their deceased spouse’s benefits.
Additionally, if a surviving spouse is between 60 and full retirement age, they can receive between 71.5% and 99% of their deceased spouse’s benefit, depending on when they claim.
Maximum Family Benefit
There is a limit to how much a family can receive in Social Security survivor benefits, known as the maximum family benefit. This amount is usually between 150% and 180% of the deceased worker’s benefit.
The limit ensures that multiple survivors, such as a spouse and children, do not exceed a certain percentage of the deceased’s benefit.
Survivor Benefits for Ex-Spouses
Surviving ex-spouses can also collect benefits under certain conditions:
- The marriage must have lasted at least 10 years.
- The ex-spouse must be 62 or older.
- They must be unmarried.
- The ex-spouse’s benefits based on their own work history must be lower than what they would receive from the deceased spouse’s record.
Importantly, benefits paid to an ex-spouse do not reduce the benefits available to the surviving family.
When Do Survivor Benefits End?
Survivor benefits for children typically end when they turn 18, unless they are still in school, in which case the benefits can continue until age 19.
For disabled children, benefits can last indefinitely, provided the disability started before age 22.
A surviving spouse who cares for a child under 16 can collect benefits until the child reaches 16. Once the surviving spouse reaches retirement age, they can transition to receiving their own Social Security retirement benefits or continue receiving survivor benefits.
How to Apply for Social Security Survivor Benefits
Applying for survivor benefits requires certain documentation, including:
- The child’s birth certificate.
- Social Security numbers for both the deceased parent and the child.
- In the case of a disabled child, proof of the disability.
To apply, the surviving parent can contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213. Currently, applications for survivor benefits cannot be completed online.
Use of Survivor Benefits
Once approved, survivor benefits must be used exclusively for the child’s support. The surviving parent acts as a representative payee, ensuring that the child’s Social Security income covers their living expenses, including food, housing, and education.
Social Security survivor benefits provide crucial financial assistance for children and surviving spouses after the loss of a parent or partner.
Whether a child is under 18 or disabled, these benefits offer ongoing support to help ease the financial burden of losing a family member. Understanding how these benefits work, who qualifies, and how to apply ensures that the family receives the maximum support available.
FAQs
Who qualifies for Social Security survivor benefits?
Children under 18, full-time students under 19, or disabled children who became disabled before 22.
How much will a child receive in survivor benefits?
A child can receive up to 75% of their deceased parent’s Social Security benefit.
Can a child receive benefits after 18?
Yes, if the child is a full-time student or has a disability that began before age 22.
What is the maximum family benefit?
It’s usually 150% to 180% of the deceased parent’s benefit.
How do you apply for survivor benefits?
Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 with the necessary documentation.
