What happens to Social Security survivor benefits when child turns 18?

Asked by: Kylee Murphy  |  Last update: January 28, 2025
Score: 4.6/5 (3 votes)

Benefits stop when your child reaches age 18 unless that child is a student or has a disability. Three months before your child's 18th birthday, we'll send a notice to you letting you know that benefits will end when your child turns 18.

At what age do Social Security survivor benefits end for children?

Your benefits will end with the payment for the month before the month in which you become age 18. You become age 18 on the day before your 18th birthday. This is important when your birthday is on the first day of the month. For example, if your 18th birthday is June 1, you become age 18 on May 31.

What happens when a child turns 18 on Social Security?

If your child gets Social Security Child's Benefits based on your or your spouse's Social Security work record, these benefits will end when your child turns 18, unless he or she is still in high school or doing another form of secondary education. In that case, they end at 19.

Do you still get survivor benefits after you turn 18?

When a survivor benefits recipient turns 18, their benefits typically stop unless they're still a full-time high school student, in which case benefits may continue until age 19 or until they graduate, whichever comes first.

How long can a grown child collect parents' Social Security?

An adult child is unmarried and has a qualifying disability

If the child has a qualifying disability that began before age 22, they can start collecting a deceased parent's Social Security benefits when they turn 18. The benefit can last the rest of their life if their disability prevents them from working.

Social Security Survivor Benefits for Minor Children

29 related questions found

Can a child receive survivor benefits while in college?

Your children who are under 22 years of age and pursuing a full time course of study or training in a high school, trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or comparable recognized educational institute are eligible to receive SBP benefits.

How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus?

Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.

Can you lose Social Security survivor benefits?

If you work while getting Social Security survivors benefits and are younger than full retirement age, we may reduce your benefits if your earnings exceed certain limits. The full retirement age for survivors is 66 for people born between 1945 and 1956.

Can I spend my child's survivor benefits?

You should get approval from us before spending money on any items other than medical treatment, education, jobs training, or personal needs related to the child's disability. You must keep a record of all money taken from this account.

When someone dies, what happens to their Social Security benefits?

If the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, a relative must return the benefit received for the month of death or any later months. For example, if the person dies in July, it must return the benefit paid in August. If benefits were paid by direct deposit, contact the bank or other financial institution.

Are survivor benefits considered income?

Social Security Survivor benefits may be taxable depending on the recipient's overall income and filing status. To determine tax liability, the IRS advises adding half of the Social Security benefit amount to other income sources, such as wages, pensions, or interest.

What to do when your special needs child turns 18?

Under California law, all individuals, regardless of capacity, will be treated as adults on their 18th birthday. That means they can sign a contract (whether or not they understand it) and be legally bound to its terms. This includes education contracts, such as Individualized Education Plans.

What happens if I retire at 62 and have a child under 18?

Your dependent child may get benefits on your earnings record when you start your Social Security retirement benefits. Your child may get up to half of your full benefit. To receive benefits, your child must be unmarried and meet one of the following requirements: Be younger than age 18.

How long does a widow receive survivor benefits?

How long does a widow receive survivor benefits? Social Security benefits are payable to you for life unless you collect a retirement benefit that is greater than the survivor benefit.

What disqualifies you from survivor benefits?

Impact of remarrying: If you remarry before age 60 (or 50 if disabled), you typically won't be eligible to collect survivor benefits from your former spouse. However, if the subsequent marriage ends, you may become eligible again.

What is the maximum Social Security survivor benefit?

It depends on your age when you apply for the survivor benefit. The minimum you can receive is 71.5% of the deceased's FRA benefit if you are age 60 (50 if you are disabled) when you claim the survivor benefit. The maximum you can receive as a surviving spouse is up to 100% of the deceased's benefit.

What happens when a child turns 18 on survivor benefits?

Three months before your child's 18th birthday, we'll send a notice to you letting you know that benefits will end when your child turns 18. Benefits don't end if your child is a full-time student at an elementary or secondary school (grade 12 or below).

What is considered misuse of survivor benefits?

A representative payee (payee) is required to use the benefits only for the use and benefit of the beneficiary. Misuse occurs when the payee uses the benefit for any other purpose. In the same POMS document, misuse is again characterized: Misuse of benefits refers to the misappropriation of benefits by the payee.

Can a parent take a child's Social Security money?

Even if you have never worked in a job covered by Social Security, as a parent, there are two ways that you may still be eligible for benefits. If you are a parent and take care of your child who receives Social Security benefits and is under age 18, you can get benefits until your child reaches age 16.

What age do Social Security survivor benefits stop?

How Do Survivor Benefits Work? If a child has a parent who works enough to earn Social Security in retirement and passes away, the child is eligible for survivor benefits. The child can receive payments until they turn 18, with two exceptions.

Can a grown child collect parents' Social Security?

When a parent dies, their Social Security benefits cease. An adult child can't inherit the benefits. Only adult children with disabilities can receive Social Security benefits after their parents die. The amount of the monthly benefit payment is based on the parent's contributions in the form of SSA taxes (OASDI).

What is the difference between survivor benefits and widow benefits?

The short version: Spousal benefits are available to retired workers' spouses or ex-spouses. They pay up to 50% of a worker's monthly retirement or disability benefit. Survivor benefits are paid to a surviving spouse or surviving ex-spouse when a Social Security beneficiary dies.

How to get $3000 a month in Social Security?

Exactly how much in earnings do you need to get a $3,000 benefit? Well, you just need to have averaged about 70% of the taxable maximum. In our example case, that means that your earnings in 1983 were about $22,000 and increased every year to where they ended at about $100,000 at age 62.

Can two wives collect Social Security from one husband?

Each survivor benefit can be up to 100% of your benefit. The amount may be reduced if the women start benefits before their own full retirement age, but they don't have to share — the amount isn't reduced because you've had more than one spouse.

Who qualifies for an extra $144 added to their Social Security?

To qualify to get $144 added back to your Social Security check, you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that offers a Part B premium reduction or giveback benefit.