Benefits for Children, as Survivors or Dependents

Topics on this page

• What are Benefits for Children, as Survivors or Dependents?
• Eligibility
• Income Eligibility
• Asset Eligibility
• Applying 
• Appeals
• Sources of Law

What are Social Security Benefits for Children, as Survivors or Dependents?

Children who are survivors or dependents may be eligible for Social Security benefits based on the wage earner's work history.  The benefit amount for the surviving child is three-quarters of the full benefit of the deceased wage earner.  The benefit amount for a dependent child is one-half the full benefit of the wage earner who is living.

Many figures used to calculate Social Security benefits for children are revised annually by the Social Security Administration (SSA), the federal agency that administers the program. These figures are usually updated in October and can be found in the November issue of the Federal Register, the official government source for administrative changes.

The Social Security Administration issues annual updates on the Social Security cost-of-living increases. The figures are reliable and are updated each year after October 1st, based on an examination of changes in the Consumer Price Index since the previous year. You can find the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) information for the current year and prior years at the Social Security page on COLA.

You can also call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213, or TTY at 1-800-325-0778 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Eastern time.

If you are a surviving child or dependent, the amount of your benefits depends upon the work record of your parent or guardian. You will receive a percentage of your parent or guardian's benefit amount. If others also receive a benefit on your parent or guardians work record, your benefits may be reduced if the total amount of benefits paid on a single work record exceeds a family maximum.

Eligibility

You must be an unmarried dependent child of the wage earner and you must be either:

• under age 18 or
• up to age 19 if attending elementary or secondary school full time or
• over age 18 with a disability that began before age 22

Under some circumstances, benefits can be paid to the wage earner's stepchildren, grandchildren, stepgrandchildren, or adopted children. 

The wage earner must either be eligible for Social Security retirement or disability benefits or deceased.

Learn more about Benefits for Children (SSA Publication No. 05-10085).

Income Eligibility

None - income is not considered when determining eligibility.

Asset Eligibility

None - assets are not considered when determining eligibility.

Applying

Apply at your local Social Security office, which can be found by going to the SSA Local Office Search page.

Appeals

You can appeal any denial, termination, or reduction of benefits.

• You must file an appeal within 60 days of the date of the written notice with which you disagree.
• You have a 5 day "grace period" to allow for mailing the notice to you, making the total amount of time you have to file an appeal 60+5 days.

Sources of Law

Federal Law: U.S. Code, Title 42 § 402(d)

Federal Regulations: Code of Federal Regulations, Title 20 § 404.348 to § 404.368