Are My Children Eligible for Social Security Benefits?
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by: albert.tobega
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The Social Security Administration provides more benefits to children than to any other group. Children can receive social security benefits under the account of a guardian (that is, a parent, step parent, or foster parent), that is either disabled or eligible for Social Security due to retirement. They are also eligible if said guardian has died after paying social security taxes a long enough period to qualify their survivors for benefits.
Children are eligible for Social Security benefits when they are:
• Single, • Under 18 years of age, • Or, 18 to 19 years old and still attending elementary or secondary school full time, • Or are disabled and over 18 years old, with their disability having begun before age 22.
Q: But, will my children receive social security benefits even if they do not live with me?
If your children do not live with you, their ability to obtain benefits will depend on the specific relationship you share with them. For a child to be able to obtain benefits under your social security account, he or she must be financially dependent upon you. A child is automatically considered financially dependent on you, regardless of where he or she resides, in the following cases:
• He or she is your legitimate child • The child is your legally adopted child • The child is your natural, recognized, but unlegitimized child, and either a court has made a determination of support, or you regularly contribute financially to support the child.
If you have a recognized, illegitimate child who does not reside in your home, and for whom a judge has not made an official determination of support, you can give evidence of that childs financial dependence upon you by providing:
• Evidence that the child is eligible as your dependent under other programs (state and federal) • Old W2s and other tax forms showing that you claimed your child as a dependent • Records that you made periodic payments for the child • Additional related proofs
Financial dependability (and eligibility for social security benefits) of a stepchild, on the other hand, will only determined when that child lives with you and shares with you a parent and child relationship. As a guideline, your husband or wifes legitimate child, adopted child, or illegitimate child will be considered your step child. This step child will remain eligible for benefits after the death of or divorce from their natural parent (your spouse), as long as the child continues to live with you in a regular parent and child relationship.
In any of the above child parent relationships, you can give evidence of the status of your relationship with your child. In addition, you can also decide to give evidence that you do not live in a parent child relationship with the child; that is, you neither live with the child nor support him or her financially. If you do this, you child will not be entitled to social security benefits under your account.
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