| Jump       to content      Social Security Online | Electronic       Fact Sheet                                                                                                            |
|---------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| www.socialsecurity.gov                            | Home Questions?             How to Contact Us Search                                                                                   |
| Publications       Home                           | Benefits For ChildrenSSA       Publication No. 05-10085, September 2004*,       (Recycle prior editions),*ICN       468550 [View .pdf] |

|   | About 3.8 million children         receive approximately $1.6 billion each month because one or both of their         parents are disabled, retired or deceased. Those dollars help to provide         the necessities of life for family members and help to make it possible         for those children to complete high school. When a parent becomes disabled         or dies, Social Security benefits help to stabilize the family’s         financial future.

***NOTE:** Disabled children whose parents have little         income or resources may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income benefits.         Contact us to get a copy of the publication,*Benefits         For Children With Disabilities*(Publication No. 05-10026).*                                            |   |
|--------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------|
|   | Contents
Who can get child's benefits
What you will need when you               apply for child's benefitsBenefits can continue               at age 18If you take care of a childHow much can a family               get?Contacting Social Security
[Back to top]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |   |
|   | Who can get child's         benefits
 Your child can get benefits if he or she is your biological         child, adopted child or dependent stepchild. (In some cases, your child         also could be eligible for benefits on his or her grandparents’         earnings.) 

To get benefits, a child must have:
- A parent(s) who is disabled or retired and entitled to Social Security           benefits; or
- A parent who died after having worked long enough in a job where he           or she paid Social Security taxes.

The child also must be:
-  Unmarried;
- Younger than 18;
- 18-19 years old and a full-time student (no higher than grade 12);           or18 or older and disabled. (The disability must have started before           age 22.)

[Back to top]       |   |
|   | What you will         need when you apply for child's benefits
 When you apply for benefits for your child, you will need         the child’s birth certificate and the parent’s and child’s         Social Security numbers. Depending on the type of benefit involved, other         documents may be required. For example, if you are applying for survivors         benefits for the child, you will need to furnish proof of the parent’s         death. If you are applying for benefits for a disabled child, you will         need to furnish medical evidence to prove the disability. The Social Security         representative who sees you will tell you what other documents you will         need.

[Back to top]                                         |   |
|   | Benefits         can continue at age 18
 Benefits stop when your child reaches age 18 unless your         child is a student or disabled. 

[Back to top]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |   |
|   | If you take care of a child
If you are receiving benefits because you have a child in your care,         the date your benefits will stop may be different than the child’s.

If the child is not disabled, your benefits will end when he or she turns         16.

If the child is disabled, your benefits may continue if you exercise         parental control and responsibility for a mentally disabled child or perform         personal services for a child who is physically disabled. Before the child         reaches 16, we will send you a notice describing the conditions under         which your benefits may continue. 

[Back to top]                                                                                                                                   |   |
|   | How much         can a family get?
 Within a family, a child may receive up to one-half of         the parent’s full retirement or disability benefit, or 75 percent         of the deceased parent’s basic Social Security benefit. However,         there is a limit to the amount of money that can be paid to a family.         The family maximum payment is determined as part of every Social Security         benefit computation and can be from 150 to 180 percent of the parent’s         full benefit amount. If the total amount payable to all family members         exceeds this limit, each person’s benefit is reduced proportionately         (except the parent’s) until the total equals the maximum allowable         amount.

[Back to top]  |   |
|   | Contacting Social Security
For more information and to find copies of our publications,         visit our website at ***www.socialsecurity.gov***         or call toll-free **1-800-772-1213** (for the deaf or hard         of hearing, call our TTY number, **1-800-325-0778**). We         can answer specific questions and provide information by automated phone         service 24 hours a day. 

[Back to top]                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |   |

|        |                                                                                         |  |
|--------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--|
|   | Privacy Policy       | Accessibility Policy | Linking       Policy | Site Map |  |