The pain of losing a parent is hard to express. A child’s sorrow and grief after losing their parent will always be a heavy burden on them.
Other than grief, children may experience significant stress due to the financial impact that the death may cause on their family. Finding monetary resources to stabilize a child’s life in this era may be challenging, but it is essential. Fortunately, your Social Security benefits could be able to provide some relief.
Although Social Security is primarily thought of as a retirement program, some of the taxes go toward survivor benefits.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers financial assistance to workers and their families. As workers earn money, pay taxes, and accrue work credits, they become eligible for retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.
Survivor benefits are monthly stipends issued to family members of the deceased provider. Spouses, children, stepchildren, and other relatives who depend on the person’s income are all eligible family members.
So, can a child get Social Security benefits if their father died? The simple answer is yes. Here is everything you need to know.
Can a Child Get Social Security Benefits If Their Father Died?
Yes, they can. A child under 18 (or 19 years but still in high school) may be eligible for survivor benefits if their biological parent or guardian dies. Furthermore, a child with a disability that began prior to the age of 22 is eligible for benefits.
These benefits often end once the youngster reaches adulthood. In some cases, adopted children, stepchildren, grandkids, and step-grandchildren may also be eligible for survivor benefits.
Moreover, adult children who meet the requirements for survivor benefits can get them for the rest of their lives or until they get married.
How Does a Child Qualify for Their Parent’s Social Security Benefits?
A parent must be eligible for Social Security benefits for the child to collect once the parent dies.
To qualify for full benefits, the parent should have accumulated at least 40 work credits, or roughly ten years of employment.
Individuals may still be entitled to some benefits if they have worked less than ten years, but not all of them.
A child must be less than 18 years old to be eligible for a deceased parent’s benefits. But one can also receive benefits at 19 if one enrolled full-time in elementary or secondary school.
Lastly, a child over the age of 18 may be eligible for benefits if they have a disability that set in before they turned 22.
How Much Does a Child Get for Survivor Benefits?
Now that you got the answer to “can a child get Social Security benefits if their father died,” let’s look at how much they can get.
Any kid who meets the requirements for survivor benefits is entitled to up to 75% of their deceased parent’s “basic” Social Security payment.
The amount of the parent’s benefit is determined by their salary and the number of years worked. The longer they worked, the more the benefit.
Other factors relevant to child survival payments can also influence the amount paid out. These factors include the number of kids the deceased parent had and if the kids qualify for a lump sum death benefit.
What Happens If the Deceased Has Multiple Children?
The amount each child of a deceased parent receives is determined by the total amount that has been disbursed to all eligible family members. Survivor benefits and other Social Security benefits are usually divided among beneficiaries.
Since each beneficiary is entitled to a predetermined portion of the deceased parent’s benefits, a family payment can—and usually does—exceed what the parent would have earned at their usual retirement age. You may consider this as an additional perk of the program.
There is a cap on how much a family may get, however. The limit is often between 150% and 180% of the whole retirement amount.
The SSA reduces payments for each beneficiary proportionally once the family hits the maximum threshold. So the more the number of beneficiaries, the higher the chances of the family reaching the limit.
If this applies to you, consider getting a more accurate idea of the possible monthly payment for each child by consulting with your local SSA agent.
Is a Child Eligible for the Lump Sum Death Payment?
The child can be eligible for a lump sum death payout on top of a monthly payout. The death benefit is a one-time payment of $255, usually made to the surviving spouse.
When there is no qualifying spouse, the deceased person’s child or children may be eligible for the benefit if they apply within two years after the parent’s passing.
How to Apply for Social Security Survivor Benefits for a Child
You can call or visit your nearest Social Security office to apply for child benefits. The SSA does not accept online applications for survivor benefits.
To verify names and other information, the agency may demand various documents, including:
- Death certificate
- Social Security numbers for the parents and children
- Birth certificate for the child or evidence of adoption
- Proof of the parent’s relationship with the child’s biological or adoptive parent in the case of a stepchild.
You may also qualify for survivor benefits if you are the surviving partner or primary caregiver. The SSA may request your birth certificate, evidence of U.S. citizenship, or other documentation attesting to your circumstances.
The SSA provides a comprehensive list of things you must provide to file for child survivor benefits.
You could also call and make an appointment if you have problems locating the required paperwork. You can get the information you want by speaking with an SSA agent in your area.
When Can a Child Expect to Receive Survivor Benefits?
Generally, you should submit your application for survivor benefits as soon as possible. The procedure may take several weeks as the organization determines eligibility.
The child may have to wait several months for their first payment if the SSA is overwhelmed with applications.
Once approved, the SSA maintains a monthly payment plan based on the deceased person’s birthdate:
- Payments are issued every second Wednesday for birthdays between the first and tenth of the month.
- Payments are issued on the third Wednesday of the month for birthdays between the 11th and the 20th.
- Payments are issued on the fourth Wednesday of the month for birthdays between the 21st and the 31st.
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So, can a child get Social Security benefits if their father died? The bottom line is yes.
Losing a loved one is tough, especially as their child or if they were the family’s sole breadwinner. However, the child can still make plans for their future, giving them more time to grieve.
The proper support can help you maintain your family’s crucial financial objectives.
It might be challenging to concentrate on achieving this degree of financial clarity when mourning. Having a plan makes leading others and yourself through this time simpler.
A disability attorney might be helpful as you investigate Social Security benefits and eligibility. Let Legal Giant connect you with an experienced disability attorney in your locality.
Contact us at (833) 641-1650 for assistance today.
