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Under the Social Security Act, monthly benefits can be paid to children of insured workers who have either died, become disabled, or retired. These benefits are called auxiliary benefits. To be eligible, a child must be the biological or adopted child of an insured worker. However, in general, an adopted child may receive benefits if the adoption occurred before the worker became entitled to benefits. If the adoption occurred after the worker became eligible for benefits, additional dependency requirements must be met. Dependent stepchildren or grandchildren may also be eligible for benefits if the child meets Social Security’s requirements for proof that she or he was dependent on the worker at the time the worker became disabled.
A child of a deceased, retired, or disabled worker can receive monthly benefits until turning 18. If the child is a full-time secondary school student, he or she can receive benefits until turning 19. However, if a child married before turning 18, the benefits will stop. Children who became disabled prior to the age of 22 are eligible to continue to draw Social Security disability benefits based on their parent’s earning record after attaining the age of 18.
You can file for benefits for your child at the same time that you file for disability benefits for yourself, or you can do so separately. Auxiliary benefits are additional to the payments disabled or retired workers receive for themselves.
