Children can qualify for Social Security benefits under certain circumstances.
In 2011, nearly 4 million U.S. children receive Social Security benefits. The benefits total approximately $1.6 billion each month. The children qualify because their parents are disabled, retired or deceased. The funds help to provide for the children's necessities and to support their schooling. The parents may qualify for supplemental security income if they have very little resources.
Basic Eligibility
For a child to qualify for Social Security benefits, there must be a parent who is disabled or retired and entitled to Social Security benefits. If the parent is deceased, he must have paid Social Security taxes at his job. The child cannot be married and must be under 18 years. The child still qualifies if she is 18 and 19 and is in high school fulltime. The child will also qualify if he is 18 or older and becomes disabled before reaching age 22.
Extending Benefits Past 18
Benefits will automatically stop when the child reaches age 18 unless the child is disabled. The Social Security Administration will send a notice three months before the child's 18th birthday saying that benefits are about to end. If the child is expected to be in school, a statement of attendance must be certified by a school official and forwarded to the agency. Under such an extension, the benefits will end either upon graduation or two months after the child becomes 19.
Children With Disabilities
A child can qualify for supplemental security income (SSI) if he is disabled. The disabling condition must be expected to last at least 12 months, or must otherwise be expected to result in death. The family's income must meet the Social Security Administration's eligibility guidelines. The total amount of SSI payments will vary depending on the child's state of residence because some states contribute to SSI. If the child is in a facility where health insurance pays for his care, the payment is $30 per month.
Benefit Amounts
A child can receive up to 50 percent of the of the parent's retirement or disability benefit. A child is also entitled to 75 percent of a deceased parent's basic Social Security benefit. The total benefit for all children in a family can be in the range of 150 to 180 percent of the parents' full benefits. Each child's benefits may be reduced proportionately so that the total amount does not exceed the cap. The parent's benefits are never reduced to meet the cap.
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