A child and the child's mother may have rights to additional financial benefits only after the child's father is legally established. This is called paternity establishment . Some benefits to the child are immediate, and other benefits may occur much later in the child's lifetime. Even if the child or mother never lives with the father, these benefits are still available. Social Security - The child may be eligible for benefits if the father becomes disabled or dies.
Benefits usually continue until the child is eighteen.
The child also may be eligible for commissary and post exchange privileges. If the father incurs a service-connected disability, the child may be eligible for educational benefits. Child Support - Before a court order for child support can be entered, the child's paternity must be established. Support payment amounts will probably grow as the father's future earnings increase. Inheritance - A child may gain the right to share in the property of the father's estate.