Raising children while on Social Security benefits can be challenging.
With the advent of medical progress on all fronts, there has been a sharp rise in the median age for women who bear children. The Centers for Disease Control reports that the median age for mothers at their first live birth rose from as low as 20.3 years in 1970 up to 27.8 years in the year 2000. As today’s parents mature, there is a higher likelihood of those who are retired and/or disabled may actually be raising minor children in their home.
For those retired or disabled persons who are raising minor children as dependents, it is important to remember that, chances are, those children are also eligible to receive Social Security benefits. This is the case for parents who are receiving either retirement or Social Security disability benefits.
In order to be eligible to receive such benefit payments, a minor child must have a parent that is disabled or retired, and otherwise entitled to receive Social Security benefits. Additionally a minor child may also receive benefits if his or her parent has died after sufficient contributions to the Social Security program have been made through payroll withholding.
The child must not be married and younger than the age of eighteen, unless the child is also disabled, wherein benefits may be payable if the child was less than 22 years old when the disability began.
Ultimately, a child may be eligible to receive one half of his or her parent’s retirement or disability benefit payment. If the parent is deceased, the child may receive up to 75% of the parent’s basic benefit amount. If more than one child is eligible within a single family, then each child may recieve benefits at that rate (until a maximum amount of 180% of the benefit amount is paid).
In short, it is important to maximize you or your child’s potential Social Security benefit eligibility. Research, find out, and get help. Call a qualified Social Security attorney and ask questions. A great source for additional information can be found at the Social Security website. -> Benefits For Children
