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Who Can Get Benefits? |
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As a working parent, you are a source of Social Security protection for your family. If either parent retires, dies, or becomes disabled and unable to work, his or her earnings would be partially replaced by monthly Social Security payments. Nine out of 10 children could receive benefits if a working parent retires, dies, or becomes too disabled to work. Disabled Child If a child is disabled before age 22, he or she may receive a disability benefit at any age. More than 630,000 people are currently receiving benefits as adults disabled in childhood. These benefits continue as long as they remain disabled and unable to work. A child may be an adopted child or a natural child. There are special rules for stepchildren. Stepchild A stepchild can receive Social Security benefits on a stepparent's earnings record only if the child depends on the stepparent for at least one-half of his or her financial support. This dependency requirement is the result of a law enacted on March 29, 1996. The law also requires that the stepchild's benefits end if the stepparent becomes divorced from the child's parent after June 30,1996. The child's benefits terminate in the month following the month the divorce becomes final. The divorce must be reported to Social Security as soon as it becomes
final. Each year, the Social Security Administration will notify stepparents
who have a child (or children) receiving benefits on their record to remind
them that benefits will be terminated in case of divorce. |
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What You Will Need
There is never a charge for a Social Security card and number. Keep your baby's Social Security card in a safe place. It's an important document. If you lose the card, we'll replace it at no charge. |
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Social Security has a toll-free number that operates from
7a.m. to 7p.m., Monday to Friday: 1-800-772-1213 If you have a touch-tone
phone, recorded information and services are available 24 hours a day,
including weekends and holidays. People who are deaf or hard of hearing
may call our toll-free "TTY" number, 1-800-325-0778,
between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Monday through Friday. Please have your Social
Security number handy when you call us.
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Last reviewed or modified Wednesday Jul 02, 2008 |