Eligibility of children to receive benefits when a parent retires.

Updated 03/10/2010 01:08 PM | ID #505

I am 62 years old and ready to start getting my benefits. I have two children aged 16 and 17 who are still in high school. Can they also get benefits on my record?

Yes. When you qualify for Social Security retirement benefits, your unmarried children also may qualify to receive benefits on your record. Eligible children can be your biological child, adopted child or stepchild. A dependent grandchild also may qualify.

To receive benefits, your unmarried child must be:

Younger than age 18;
Between 18-19 years old, but in elementary or secondary school full time;
A full-time student (no higher than grade 12); or
Age 18 or older and severely disabled (the disability must have started before age 22).

Each child may receive a monthly payment up to one-half of your full retirement benefit amount. However, there is a limit to the amount that can be paid to you and your family. The limit varies, but is generally equal to about 150 to 180 percent of your retirement benefit.

Children receiving benefits from a grandparent.

Updated 04/23/2010 02:54 PM | ID #352

Can a child receive benefits on the record of a grandparent?

A dependent grandchild or step-grandchild may receive benefits on the record of a grandparent if the following requirements are met:

The grandchild's natural or adoptive parents are deceased or disabled:
- At the time the grandparent became entitled to retirement or disability insurance benefits or died; or
- At the beginning of the grandparent's period of disability which continued until he or she became entitled to disability or retirement insurance benefits or died.
The grandchild was legally adopted by the grandparent's surviving spouse in an adoption decreed by a court of competent jurisdiction within the U.S.
The grandchild's natural or adopting parent or stepparent must not have been living in the same household and making regular contributions to the child's support at the time the grandparent died.
The grandchild must have lived with the grandparent in the United States before reaching age 18 and received at least one-half support from the grandparent for the year before the month the grandparent began receiving retirement or disability benefits or died.