Thank goodness for survivor benefits

Every month, 2.7 million children receive Social Security benefits payable when their parents (one or both) either retired, died or became disabled. The average surviving child benefit is more than $1,000 per month. These benefits provide necessities for eligible family members and help make it possible for those children to complete school. After all, Social Security is a form of insurance, the acronym FICA stands for Federal Insurance Contributions Act.  

Last week during the Democratic National Convention, the vice presidential nominee, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, credited Social Security for helping his family to get where they are today. Walz shared in an Instagram reel that his father died of lung cancer when he  was 19, leaving a “mountain of medical debt.” He said that Social Security benefits allowed his family, including his mother and younger brother, to “live with dignity.”  

Did you know that your unmarried children can get benefits if you have retired and are collecting Social Security retirement or if you have become disabled? If a parent dies and leaves behind young children, they, like Walz’s family, can get benefits to help them avoid poverty. Children are eligible for these benefits if they are: 

• Younger than age 18 

• Between ages 18 and 19 and a full-time student at an elementary or secondary school (grade 12 or below).  

• Age 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22 

Under certain circumstances, Social Security can also pay benefits to a stepchild, grandchild, stepgrandchild, or adopted child. 

Children are eligible to receive Social Security benefits based on their parent’s work record if the parent is retired, disabled, or has passed away. Each child is entitled to receive a percentage of the parent’s benefit that would be payable if the parent lived, retired or became disabled at their Full Retirement Age, which is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. The amount payable at FRA is called the Primary Insurance Amount or PIA. The maximum family payment can be between 150% to 180% of the parent’s PIA. If the total amount payable to all family members exceeds this limit, each person’s benefit is reduced proportionately until the total equals the maximum allowable amount. The parent’s benefit amount is not reduced because it’s not part of the maximum allowable amount. 

• Deceased workers, up to 75%

• Disabled workers, up to 50%  

• Retired workers, up to 50% 

Even if you have never had a job where you paid into Social Security, you may still be eligible to receive benefits. The first way happens when one parent passes away and leaves behind young children who are eligible for benefits. Regardless of your age, if you are a parent and take care of your child who receives Social Security benefits and is under age 18, you can get benefits (in addition to benefits payable to your child) until your child reaches age 16 (unless your child is disabled and remains in your care). Your child's benefit will continue until he or she reaches age 18, or 19 if he or she is still in school full time.  

The second way happens when a parent is supported financially by their child. In this case, the benefits are based on their child’s work record. A parent who receives most of their support from their adult child may receive benefits in the event of the death of the child. The parent must meet the following conditions: 

• Must be at least 62 years old and must not have remarried since the worker (your child)'s death. 

• Cannot be entitled to their own, higher Social Security benefit; and 

• Must be able to show that they received one-half of their financial support from the worker at the time of their death.  

The history of paying Social Security benefits to children dates back to 1940, when payments were provided to around 55,000 children whose fathers had retired or died before the children were 18. This number grew to 700,000 by 1950. Providing for a child whose mother died didn’t begin until 1951. In 1965, cash benefits were extended to children 18 or older if they were full-time students and not yet 22 years old.  After 1972, children could receive benefits on the wage record of a grandparent under certain circumstances. By 1982, the benefits for full-time students in post-secondary education began to be phased out.   

When you apply for Social Security retirement or disability benefits, you will be asked about your unmarried children. Social Security wants everyone to know that if a child in your life has lost a parent, it’s important for the child’s family to reach out to Social Security as soon as possible. Appointments for Social Security are generally scheduled within 30 to 60 days of when you contact Social Security. Call 1-800-772-1213 between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday to schedule an appointment. Visit Social Security’s website to learn more about Survivors Benefits and information for Parents and Guardians.