Social Security benefits aren’t just available for eligible retirees or disabled individuals. Qualifying children can receive these benefits as well. We’ll fill you in.
While it may seem like there will be more hoops to jump through applying to Social Security for a child, the process isn’t all that different from applying for benefits for yourself as long as the child qualifies. Below we’ll go over eligibility and how to apply for Social Security benefits for children.
For more, don’t miss the four ways that could cause you to lose your Social Security benefits and how to apply for Supplemental Security Income.
Is my child eligible for benefits?
Before jumping into the application process, you’ll want to first find out if the child you’re applying for is eligible for Social Security benefits. Below is an overview of what generally allows a child to qualify for benefits.
A child under the age of 18 may be eligible for benefits if either:
Children 18 years of age and older may qualify for benefits if:
- The child is 18 or 19 years old and is a full-time student at an elementary or secondary school (grade 12 or below)
- 18 or older and have a disability that developed before the age of 22
In some specific instances, the administration may provide benefits to a stepchild, grandchild, step-grandchild or adopted child. You can also use the SSA benefits eligibility checker.
Additionally, qualifying children may also be eligible for Supplemental Security Income if:
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The child is blind or has a disability, and it’s hard for their parent or parents to pay for essentials like food, clothing and a home.
Learn more about Supplemental Security Income for children.
How much can a child receive in Social Security benefits?
Eligible children may receive up to half of a parent’s full retirement or disability benefit. If the child is receiving Survivor benefits, they may receive up to 75% of the deceased parent’s basic Social Security benefit.
There are limitations on how much the SSA can pay to a family. The maximum family payment can be from 150% to 180% of the parent’s full benefit amount. However, if the total amount payable to all family members exceeds this limit, there will be a reduction for each person’s benefit proportionately until the total equals the maximum allowable amount.
How do I apply for Social Security benefits for my child?
If you attempt to apply for child benefits online, you won’t get very far. You’ll be prompted to set up an appointment with an agent at 1-800-772-1213. They’ll be able to go over everything that you’ll need to provide for the application. The documentation that’s needed for the application will depend on the child’s circumstances.
Documents you’ll need to provide:
- The child’s birth certificate, proof of birth or adoption certificate
- The child’s Social Security number
Documents you may need to provide, depending on the situation:
- If applying for survivor’s benefits proof of the parent’s death is required
- If applying for benefits for a child with a disability, adequate medical documentation / proof of disability is required, along with the SSA-3820 form
- Adult children with disabilities will require the SSA-3368 form
- Disclosure of information to Social Security Administration – SSA-827 form
- Proof of marriage to the child’s natural or adoptive parent, if they are your stepchild.
- Proof of the child’s US citizenship or lawful alien status if the child wasn’t born in the US.
- W-2 forms and/or self-employment tax returns if the child had earnings last year.
How to check the status of your child’s application
After you meet with an administration agent about your application, they’ll be able to give you a timeline as to when you can expect to receive a confirmation of benefits — or a denial of one.
You can always check the status of an application on the SSA website or by calling 1-800-772-1213.
For more, check out the Social Security payment schedule and the SSI payment schedule.
