Can My Children Collect Social Security Based on My Work Record?

Key Points
If you're retired, become disabled, or die, your children may be eligible to receive Social Security payments without earning them.
How much they will receive is based on your benefit amount.
The Social Security Administration has limits on how much it will pay a single household.
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There may come a time when your child needs a financial boost to reach adulthood. Whether you're retired and receiving Social Security based on your years of work, have become disabled, or have passed away, there's a way your child may qualify for Social Security benefits based on what you've paid into the system.
Here's what you need to know.
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Who qualifies
To receive benefits based on a parent's earning record, a person must:
- Have a parent who is retired and entitled to Social Security benefits,
- Have a parent who has a disability and is entitled to benefits, or
- Have a parent who died after working long enough in a job where they paid Social Security taxes.
If they're unmarried, a person can get benefits on their parent's record if:
- They're younger than 18.
- They're between 18 and 19 and still a full-time elementary or secondary school student.
- They're 18 or older and have a disability that began before age 22
Under specific circumstances, a stepchild, adopted child, dependent grandchild, or dependent step-grandchild may also qualify.
How much are my children eligible to receive?
How much your children can receive depends on whether they're receiving benefits because you're retired, disabled, or have died.
If you're retired or disabled
A child may receive up to half of the benefits you've earned through years of work. If your benefit when claiming at your full retirement age (FRA) would be $2,000 per month, your child is eligible for up to $1,000 per month. Or imagine you're disabled and receive $1,600 monthly. Your child could receive up to $800.
If you pass away
If you die and your children still qualify for survivor benefits, they're generally eligible for Social Security survivor benefits equal to 75% of your benefit. How much that will be depends on a formula that takes your work record into account.
There are limits
If your family is collecting Social Security benefits based on your work record, there's a limit to how much the Social Security Administration will pay the family. The per-family limit falls somewhere between 150% and 180% of your monthly benefit. That means if you receive $2,000 at FRA, the most your family can collect based on that record is between $3,000 and $3,600.
If the amount your family is due to receive is above the limit, the SSA will trim each person's monthly benefits proportionately.
When you have children, retirement planning may take on a bit more urgency. Not only do you have to think about how your family will get by when you retire, but also what would happen if you become disabled or pass away.
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