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The Social Security Administration provides more benefits to children than to any other group. Children can receive social security benefits under the account of a guardian (that is, a parent, step parent, or foster parent), that is either disabled or eligible for Social Security due to retirement. Children can also be eligible for benefits under the account of their guardian if he or she has died after working and paying enough social security taxes to earn benefits.
Children are eligible for Social Security benefits when they are:
"¢ Single, "¢ Less than 18 years old, "¢ Or, 18 to 19 years old and still attending elementary or secondary school full time, "¢ Or, over the age of 18 and disabled before the age of 22.
Q: Can my children obtain SS benefits under my account if they do not live at home with me?
Whether or not your children can receive benefits will depend on your specific relationship with them. For a child to be able to obtain benefits under your social security account, he or she must be financially dependent upon you. Whether they live with you or not, your child will automatically be considered your financial dependent if you share any of the following relationships with them:
"¢ The child is your legitimate, natural child "¢ The child is your legally adopted child "¢ The child is your natural, recognized, but unlegitimized child, and either a court has made a determination of support, or you regularly contribute financially to support the child.
If you have a recognized, illegitimate child who does not reside in your home, and for whom a judge has not made an official determination of support, you can give evidence of that childs financial dependence upon you by providing:
"¢ Evidence that the child is eligible as your dependent under other programs (state and federal) "¢ Old W2s and other tax forms showing that you claimed your child as a dependent "¢ Records that you made periodic payments for the child "¢ Additional related proofs
Financial dependability (and eligibility for social security benefits) of a stepchild, on the other hand, will only determined when that child lives with you and shares with you a parent and child relationship. Generally, your spouses legitimate natural child, legally adopted child, or illegitimate natural child will be considered a step child. Even after divorcing your step childs natural parent (that is, your husband or wife) or after his or her death, the child will be considered financially dependent upon you and therefore eligible for benefits as long as he or she resides in your home and shares with you a child parent relationship.
In any of the above cases, you can provide proof of your relationship to your child. In addition, you can also decide to give evidence that you do not live in a parent child relationship with the child; that is, you neither live with the child nor support him or her financially. If you do this, you child will not be entitled to social security benefits under your account.
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