Social Security can help children who lose a parent

Losing a parent is both emotionally painful and, oftentimes, devastating to a family’s finances. In the same way that Social Security helps to lift up the disabled and seniors when they need it, it supports families when an income-earning parent dies.

Usually, the funeral director will report the person’s death to Social Security.

Some of the deceased’s family members may be able to receive Social Security benefits if the deceased person worked long enough in jobs covered by Social Security to qualify for benefits. Contact Social Security as soon as possible to make sure the family gets all the benefits they’re entitled to.

Your unmarried child can get benefits if they’re: Younger than age 18; 18-19 years old and a fulltime student (no higher than grade 12); or …

18 or older with a disability that began before age 22.

To get benefits, a child must have:

A parent who’s disabled or retired and entitled to Social Security benefits; or …

A parent who died after having worked long enough in a job where they paid Social Security taxes.

Benefits stop when your child reaches age 18 unless your child is a student in secondary school or disabled.

Within a family, a child can receive up to half of the parent’s full retirement or disability benefit. If a child receives survivor’s benefits, he or she can get up to 75% of the deceased parent’s basic Social Security benefit.

There is a limit to the amount of money that can be paid to a family. This family maximum is determined as part of every Social Security benefit computation.