Opinion ID: 3064784
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Social Security Acquiescence Ruling

Text: [2] In the SSAR, the SSA reaffirmed its interpretation of § 416(e)—that to meet the Act’s definition of “child” for purposes of § 416(e) a child must also demonstrate a sufficient connection to the insured through compliance with § 416(h)(2), (3)—but acquiesced to Gillett-Netting’s interpretation of § 416(e) for the Ninth Circuit only. 70 Fed. Reg. 55,657. The SSAR also reaffirmed that, in the usual circumstances, this means a “child” can only be deemed a legitimate child for dependency purposes, under § 402(d)(3), if she has already first complied with § 416(h)(2) and shown that she is [of death] unless, at such time, such individual was not living with or contributing to the support of such child and — (A) such child is neither the legitimate nor adopted child of such individual, or (B) such child has been adopted by some other individual. For purposes of this paragraph, a child deemed to be a child of a fully or currently insured individual pursuant to section 416(h)(2)(B) or section 416(h)(3) of this title shall be deemed to be the legitimate child of such individual. 2 This court also specifically noted that even Arizona law would not treat every sperm donor as a “natural parent,” and thus legitimate, solely by demonstrating a biological relationship to the insured. See Gillett-Netting, 371 F.3d at 599 n.7. In Gillett-Netting, the “natural parent” requirement was satisfied because the insured was the spouse of the biological mother at the time he agreed to the posthumous conception. See Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-501(B). VERNOFF v. ASTRUE 7185 able to inherit through the intestacy laws of the state of the insured’s residence.3 Id. The SSAR noted that in the Ninth Circuit, however, due to Gillett-Netting, the child must only be biologically related to the insured, and must only “be the insured’s ‘legitimate’ child” under applicable state law to be deemed dependent for purposes of § 402(d)(3). Id. The SSAR further explained, however, that the legitimacy distinction has been replaced in jurisdictions within the Ninth Circuit by a system of “rights which flow between parents and their children, regardless of the parents’ marital status.” Id. In conclusion, the SSAR stated that “[a] child acquires these rights [and thus is deemed both legitimate and dependent] if he establishes that an individual is his parent under State family law provisions.” Id. (emphasis added).