Social Security: How Do Children Qualify for Benefits?
March 30, 2022
Social Security: How Do Children Qualify for Benefits?
Social Security is a federal work-related program designed
receives one-half (50%) of the worker’s basic monthly
to protect insured workers and their eligible family
benefit (Primary Insurance Amount or PIA). The child of a
members from the loss of earnings due to the worker’s
deceased worker receives three-fourths (75%) of the
retirement, disability, or death. A worker gains insured
worker’s PIA. Under the family maximum provision, there
status by having a sufficient connection to Social Security–
is a limit on the total amount of benefits payable on a
covered employment. Requirements vary depending on the
worker’s earnings record for a given month. Benefits
circumstances and the type of Social Security benefit.
payable to a child, as well as other beneficiaries, may be
Insured status allows the worker to qualify for benefits as a
reduced under the family maximum. In addition, a child’s
retired or disabled worker (assuming all eligibility
benefit may be subject to deductions based on work activity
requirements are met). In addition, eligible family members
by (1) the child, (2) the worker on whose earnings record
(such as a spouse or dependent child) may qualify for
the child’s benefit is paid, or (3) the spouse of a Disabled
benefits payable on the insured worker’s earnings record
Adult Child beneficiary. A Disabled Adult Child’s own
(assuming all eligibility requirements are met).
work activity may also affect benefits.
When a worker becomes entitled to (begins receiving)
In February 2022, child beneficiaries collectively received
Social Security retired- or disabled-worker benefits or dies,
$3.0 billion in benefits for the month. That month, 2.0
his or her eligible children may qualify for Social Security
million children of deceased workers received benefits.
child’s benefits. A child must meet various eligibility
This group received an average monthly benefit of $981 for
requirements to qualify for benefits. With respect to age,
a total of $2.0 billion in benefits for the month.
the child must be (1) under the age of 18, or (2) ages 18-19
Additionally, 1.2 million children of disabled workers
and a full-time elementary or high school student, or (3) age
received benefits. This group received an average monthly
18 or older and under a disability that began before age 22
benefit of $429 for a total of $532 million in benefits for the
(referred to as a Disabled Adult Child).
month. Finally, 692,000 children of retired workers
received benefits. This group received an average monthly
This In Focus explains how children qualify for Social
benefit of $785 for a total of $543 million in benefits for the
Security benefits under current law. It provides context for
month. (SSA, Monthly Statistical Snapshot, February
understanding current legislative proposals that would
2022.)
expand eligibility for child’s benefits. Children may also
qualify for benefits under a different program administered
3.9 million children of retired, disabled, or deceased
by the Social Security Administration (SSA) called
workers receive Social Security benefits, making up 6%
Supplemental Security Income (SSI). SSI is a need-based
of the beneficiary population. Collectively, they
program and is not addressed in this In Focus.
receive $3 billion in benefits each month.
How Many Children Receive Benefits?
1.1 million child beneficiaries (29%) are adults age 18
In February 2022, nearly 4 million children of retired,
or older who are under a childhood disability (known
disabled, or deceased workers received Social Security
as Disabled Adult Children).
child’s benefits. That month, there were 65.4 million Social
Security beneficiaries. The largest components of the
What Are the Eligibility Ages?
beneficiary population were 47.6 million retired workers
There are three categories of child beneficiaries. A minor
(73% of the total) and 7.8 million disabled workers (12%).
child is a child under the age of 18. A student child is a
The remainder of the beneficiary population was made up
child ages 18-19 who is a full-time elementary or high
of 3.9 million surviving spouses of deceased workers (6%;
school student. A disabled child is a child age 18 or older
includes a thousand parents of deceased workers); 3.9
who is under a disability that began before age 22 (i.e., a
million children of retired, disabled, or deceased workers
childhood disability). A disabled child beneficiary is
(6%); and 2.2 million spouses of retired or disabled workers
referred to as a Disabled Adult Child because he or she
(3%). (SSA, Monthly Statistical Snapshot, February 2022.)
receives benefits payable on a parent’s earnings record.
Subtotals may not sum to totals due to rounding.
How Much Does a Child Receive?
Stated another way, a dependent child can receive benefits
(1) up to the age of 18, or (2) up to age 19 if he or she is a
Monthly benefit amounts vary by individual. The worker’s
full-time elementary or high school student, or (3) at age 18
benefit is based on his or her career-average earnings in
or older if he or she is under a disability that began before
covered employment, and the dependent child’s benefit is
age 22. In some cases, a disabled child may already be
equal to a specified percentage of the worker’s benefit.
receiving benefits when he or she attains age 18 and
Specifically, the child of a retired or disabled worker
continues receiving benefits at age 18 and older. In other
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Social Security: How Do Children Qualify for Benefits?
cases, depending on when the worker becomes entitled to
the child’s support at one of the specified points in time
benefits or dies, a disabled child may begin receiving
(such as at the time of the worker’s death).
benefits after he or she attains age 18 (for example, at age
25) if the qualifying disability began before age 22. In
In addition to the relationship and dependency requirements
February 2022, 2.7 million minor children (with an average
for child’s benefits, in some cases, other conditions must be
monthly benefit of $710), 125,000 students (with an
met. For example, a grandchild or step-grandchild may
average monthly benefit of $910), and 1.1 million Disabled
qualify for child’s benefits under limited circumstances.
Adult Children (with an average monthly benefit of $906)
Specifically, both of the child’s biological or adoptive
received child’s benefits. (SSA, Office of the Chief
parents must be deceased or disabled when (1) the worker
Actuary, Benefits Paid by Type of Beneficiary.)
(the grandparent) became entitled to retired- or disabled-
worker benefits or died, or (2) the worker’s period of
How Is Child Defined?
disability began, if that period continued until entitlement to
Generally, Social Security child’s benefits are payable to
benefits or death. Under an alternative scenario, the child
the dependent, unmarried child of a retired, disabled, or
must have been legally adopted by the worker’s (the
deceased worker. Under certain circumstances, child’s
grandparent’s) surviving spouse after the worker’s death
benefits are also payable to a worker’s stepchild,
and (1) the adoption must be decreed by a court of
grandchild, step-grandchild, or adopted child. In some
competent jurisdiction within the United States, and (2) the
cases, state law has a bearing on who can qualify for child’s
child’s biological or adopting parent or stepparent must not
benefits. For example, certain types of adoption are
have been living in the worker’s household and making
recognized in some but not all states. A Disabled Adult
regular contributions to the child’s support at the time the
Child beneficiary may be married to another Social Security
worker died. (SSA, Program Operations Manual System
beneficiary (with the exception of a minor or student
[POMS], Section GN 00306.235 Entitlement
beneficiary) without losing entitlement to child’s benefits.
Requirements—Benefits Based on [Earnings Record] of
Grandparent, https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/
For purposes of child’s benefits, a relationship requirement
0200306235.)
and a dependency requirement must be met. In general, to
meet the relationship requirement for child’s benefits, the
Rules pertaining to relationship and dependency
child must be one of the following:
requirements, as well as other conditions that must be met,
are extensive. See SSA, POMS, Section GN 00306.000
Able to inherit as the worker’s child under state
Child Relationship and Dependency, https://secure.ssa.gov/
intestacy law (i.e., state laws that govern who is eligible
apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0200306000. In particular, see Section
to inherit an individual’s personal property when he or
GN 00306.002 Parent-Child Relationship Categories for
she dies without a legal will);
Title II Benefits—Overview, https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/
poms.nsf/lnx/0200306002.
The worker’s biological child born during an invalid
ceremonial marriage;
What Is the Origin of Child’s Benefits?
The worker’s biological child who meets the criteria in
Social Security benefits for dependent children date back to
Section 216(h)(3) of the Social Security Act;
1939, though the law has changed over time. At various
times, child’s benefits have been expanded or scaled back.
The worker’s legally adopted child or child adopted by
In 1939, for example, Congress provided benefits for the
the worker’s surviving spouse;
worker’s dependent child under the age of 16, or under the
The worker’s equitably adopted child (i.e., a child who
age of 18 if the child was attending school regularly (Social
has been the subject of a contract to adopt but the
Security Act Amendments of 1939, P.L. 76-379). In 1946,
adoption was never completed);
Congress repealed the school requirement for children age
16 or 17 (Social Security Act Amendments of 1946, P.L.
The worker’s child adopted by estoppel (i.e., cases
79-719). In 1956, Congress provided benefits for a
where adoption proceedings were invalid under state
dependent child age 18 or older if the child became disabled
law or when there is no valid contract to adopt);
before age 18 (Social Security Amendments of 1956, P.L.
The worker’s stepchild; or
84-880). In 1965, Congress provided benefits for a
dependent child from age 18 up to age 22 if the child was a
The worker’s grandchild or step-grandchild, or the
full-time student (Social Security Amendments of 1965,
worker’s grandchild or step-grandchild adopted by the
P.L. 89-97). In 1972, Congress increased the disability
worker’s surviving spouse.
onset age limit for children to 22 (Social Security
Amendments of 1972, P.L. 92-603). In 1981, Congress
The dependency requirement differs for each of the parent-
scaled back benefits for students, making benefits payable
child relationship categories listed above. In general, the
to a dependent child up to age 19 if the child is a full-time
child must be dependent on the worker for support at one of
elementary or high school student. Benefits for students
the specified points in time, which vary depending on the
beyond grade 12 were eliminated (Omnibus Budget
circumstances. In some cases, the child is deemed to be
Reconciliation Act of 1981, P.L. 97-35). These examples
dependent on the worker (i.e., presumed to be dependent).
highlight some of the changes to child’s benefits over time.
In other cases, the child must prove dependency. For
example, in the case of an equitably adopted child, it must
Dawn Nuschler, Specialist in Income Security
be shown that the worker was living with or contributing to
IF12069
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Social Security: How Do Children Qualify for Benefits?
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