Social Security is with you through life’s journey — from birth, to death, and even beyond, by helping to care for surviving dependents. Every year, about 4.4 million children receive monthly benefits because one or both of their parents are disabled, retired, or deceased. When a parent becomes disabled or dies, Social Security benefits help to stabilize the family’s financial situation in an otherwise turbulent time.
Earlier this year, National Birth Defects Prevention Month in January and National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in March both raised awareness about medical conditions in children. Many families with children who have birth defects or developmental disabilities need medical and financial help. This is where Social Security’s commitment to helping children and families is most evident.
Social Security pays benefits through our disability insurance and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. Our disability program provides vital income for disabled children, including people disabled since childhood. To qualify for children’s benefits under our disability program, the applicant must be the child of a parent entitled to benefits and meet Social Security’s strict definition of disability. A person is disabled under the Social Security Act if he or she can’t work due to a severe medical condition that has lasted, or is expected to last, at least one year or result in death.
The SSI program provides payments to blind or disabled children who live in households with low income and limited resources if they meet our strict definition of disability. You can find more information on eligibility requirements by visiting our website.
Our publication, Benefits for Children explains all we do to care for children. Our website is also an excellent source of information. If you think a child you know is eligible for benefits, don’t wait. Share this information and help improve the child’s quality of life today.
I’ll believe it when I see some real action done by Congress to sure up SS in order that it will be there for everyone.
I’m on disability and I got 4 kids that doesn’t get any of my benefits but I got two kids that get disability on the own how do I go about getting them benefits to
Go to your local Social security in apply for them. They may even be owed back payments. They should have been getting benefits when you started getting them. Good Luck
The person above is very angry. Still this us the best country to live in. I have a son living in central América trying to get bavk here and that government and the American easy do nothing to make it easy.
In my opinion you need to go to college at night and maybe need learn English better and how to write articles or get your message to the right people. You need first to control your anger. There are more ways to skin a cat…
These are kids that did not ask to be brought into this world. Say what you want about bad parenting. The kids are the victims of that. Rich or poor !!
Kids deserve an education, food and shelter, I cannot begrudge them that.
when are we going to get a descent raise it’s reaching a point when you go to the store to buy food the prices are up and getting higher my check doesn’t stretch far entungh into the month to make it especally the months with 5 weeks in them
When will social security decide to cover children living with their grandparents when the grandparents have legal guardianship given by the state?
Right now the parents have to be dead or the grandparents have to adopt the children. For grandparents on a fixed income and raising the grandchildren it’s hard. The parents are nevery getting back together nor can they get the kids back without a court fight.
This is a very common issue today but another way the government refuses to keep up with the times and we have carry the burden.
The Government can not cure all that ails us. But, I am glad that the safety net of Social Security is there for those who might need it.
We need to think properly about benefits and entitlements.
It is upon the Citizen to try to work and provide for our families during our lifetime. It is the Citizen’s work history that creates the level of benefits to which you are entitled. Calculations and formulas go into the charts that determine your benefits. Many believe that something is better than nothing. Fact is, most of the supplemental food programs are based on $1.40 per meal per person and families will run out of grocery dollars by week 3 of each month.
Our Nation’s children are our future, they deserve our protection, and basic needs to grow into the adult Citizens of our future. It matters not their origins. What matters is our sense of empathy, understanding and actions solving their needs. Not all Parents do a great job. Not all Parents are given the time to complete their job raising these Children. I want to help, to feed, to house, to clothe, to educate, to help them become our future leaders.
I do not feel like you are taking something away from me when you help a child.
This is not the place for ranting selfishly. If you are distressed, then do go to your local State HHS, Community Based Services or the nearest Social Security Office to see what is available to you personally. Then get off your arm chair and start going to local City and County, counsels and commissions, attend political meetings and become a force for the future directions of this Country.
Please use this SSA blog to learn what is available to everyone. Spread the word among family and friends to help them through hard times.
Again, I am glad Social Security is there to help all people during unexpected hard times.
Great comment! Social Security doesn’t have to exist. Financial security is each of our own responsibility. The “safety net” that Social Security offers is a great benefit and so much better than nothing…
To whom it may concern,
I have tried to register multiple times and the system never recognize the information I’m providing. The information is correct.
I need assistance on this matter.
Thanks.
Hello Wanda. If you are having difficulties with your personal my Social Security account, please call 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. After you hear “Briefly tell me why you are calling,” say “Help Desk” for help with a my Social Security account. Sometimes, it might be best to visit your local Social Security office for further assistance.
It makes sense to me that if I, an income earning and tax paying member of society, become disabled, that SS has a program that would provide assistance to me if I become disabled. It seems strange, however, that SS provides disability payments in the name of children, who presumably earn no income nor pay any taxes. It would seem to me that any payments to the household in the name of the unfortunate child should be provide through insurance, and that most preferably, that insurance would be optional, private, and paid for by the parent. I see no interest here in the state providing payments to households in the name of disabled children.
The payments to disabled children (SSI) are minimal and there are strict guidelines in receiving them. These same benefits are an alternative to self employed persons who never paid in to social security or those whose disability benefit time limit has run out. You may have worked all your life but if you wait over 5 years from the time you stop working to apply for benefits you’re out of luck and will only get SSI. Likewise if you are a working parent of a child who becomes disabled you may not be able to work any longer, may not be entitled to insurance payments on a disability, may have out of pocket medical expenses that are so high you have to choose between housing and food or taking care of your child. Please don’t judge others until you’ve walked in their shoes.
I repeat: I see no interest here in the state providing payments to households in the name of disabled children.
Insure your children yourself, like me, or don’t have any.
Social Security is not a retirement plan. It is however a great safety net for persons no longer able to work. It has been the sole source of income for millions of elderly Americans who have worked all their lives, many of whom served their country in one manner or another. The USA is one of the richest countries in the world and can afford to take care of its citizens in need. The bulk of complaints about the program are from people who are single minded, arrogant, and greedy.
I’ve struggled with an injury since 2004, and I am currently going to a Hearing for pensions with the SSA. I loved to hear that my daughter could get help as well. Only because its hard for a single parent with a disability. And it would make her feel more reluctant and approachable to my situation.
Mr. Jim Borland: The rude, vulgar, nasty, demeaning & offensive post put on by “tony seput on May 26, 2016 at 5:39 pm” (second comment above) should be removed please.
I was denied on my disability…last year. I am currently receiving my pension that I have worked for over 40 years.
I have met countless veterans that have been denied on their disability. Yet!!! The immigrants that just stepped in the used to be good old USA are receiving and enjoying my contribution and millions of veterans. I say this is absolutely BS!
To whom it may concern.
My question is if a child living with grand parents and collecting social security from grand father, because the parents a banded child and grand father passed away. The grand mother Adolph child and raised child on her own. Will child lose social security when she turns 18? or if she continu to collect, if she stays in collage to get her education can she stay on social security?
Thank you Betty
Thank you for your question Betty. Normally, benefits stop when children reach age 18 unless they are disabled. However, if the child is still a full-time student at a secondary (or elementary) school at age 18, benefits will continue until the child graduates or until two months after the child becomes age 19, whichever is first. At one time, SSA did pay benefits to college students, but the law changed in 1981. We now pay benefits only to students taking courses at grade 12 or below. We hope this information helps.
Father gets ssi and ssdi, but they said the kids can’t get dependent check? Why?
Hi Nicole, benefits issued through our Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, are based on the needs of the individual and are only paid to the qualifying person. There are no spouse’s, children’s or survivors benefits payable. In the other hand, benefits issued through our Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, in certain circumstances- are also payable to other family members, including children. Visit our “Disability Planner: Benefits for your children” page for more information. For further assistance call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks.
Father gets a check so the child support place say but my child cant get a check and they cant makw him pay child support amd shes foir and je has never done nothing for her …im gwtting Tanf and I have been filed for child support but the father is just now getting a check and they told me they couldnt help me anymore … what can I do so my child can get a check … I was once getting ssi and they cut it off wjwn I graduated and I appealed it and had a lawyer but she gave up on me so what do I do next
When the child turns 18 and no longer gets benefits, does the amount the child was receiving go back to the disabled parent?
Thank you for your question Denise. No, the disabled beneficary’s benefit amount does not change. Workers receive Social Security retirement and disability benefits based on their covered earnings. We first establish the worker’s benefit amount and then pay benefits to certain members of the worker’s family.
The major cpa firms that have had to chase after
a senator that took military homes has not even
been prosecuted and our employers won’t give us ourown credit cards and they give to persons of their
community who are taking our cash and the
money of out working colleagues and the companies
are not paying their liabilties and the SSA is not
paying professional people and continue to use the
poor to hurt professional people-left ambulance driver
on the street and refused to fund another one.