All articles 6 min read

A Family Death and Social Security Benefits for Children

This guide presents selected U.S. government consumer education from Social Security Administration. References to “we” or “us” in the source material refer to the issuing agency. Source dates and links appear below.

Page references and publication numbers refer to the linked government publication. Figures identified by year apply to that edition, and illustrative examples are not estimates of your own benefit or costs.

How Social Security Can Help You When A Family Member Dies

Social Security is here to support you when you lose a family member. Contacting us when you lose a loved one is very important. This ensures that we are able to provide information about benefits you may be entitled to.

You may be eligible to receive Social Security benefits if your loved one worked long enough in jobs protected by provisions in the Social Security Act for benefits eligibility.

What to do

There are a few things you need to do:

  • Give the deceased’s Social Security number to the funeral director because they usually report the person’s death to us.
  • Contact us as soon as you can to make sure your family gets all the benefits they’re entitled to.

Who can get Social Security survivors benefits

We can pay a one-time lump sum death payment (LSDP) of $255 to the surviving spouse if they were living with the deceased.

  • They were living apart from the deceased and eligible for certain Social Security benefits on the deceased’s record.
  • If there’s no surviving spouse, a child who’s eligible for benefits on the deceased’s record in the month of death can receive this payment.
  • Certain family members may be eligible to receive monthly benefits, including: — A surviving spouse who is: ◦ Age 60 or older (age 50 or older if they have a disability). ◦ Any age and caring for the deceased’s child who is younger than age 16, or who has a disability and is receiving Social Security benefits. — An unmarried child of the deceased who is either: ◦ Younger than age 18 (or up to age 19 if they’re a full-time student in an elementary or secondary school).

◦ Age 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22. — A stepchild, grandchild, step-grandchild, or adopted child under certain circumstances. — Parents, age 62 or older, who were dependent on the deceased for at least one-half of their support. — A surviving divorced spouse, under certain circumstances.

More Information

If the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, you must return the benefits received for the month of death and any later months. If the payment was received by direct deposit, contact the bank or other financial institution. Ask them to return any funds received for the month of death or later. If the benefit was paid by check, please do not cash. Instead, return the checks to us as soon as possible. Keep in mind that eligible family members may be able to receive survivors’ benefits for the month the beneficiary died. Visit our Survivors Benefits webpage at www.ssa.gov/survivor for more information.

Benefits For Children

Each month Social Security pays benefits to millions of children whose parents (one or both) are retired, deceased, or have a disability. These benefits provide necessities for eligible family members and help make it possible for those children to complete school. When a parent develops a disability or dies, Social Security benefits help stabilize the family’s financial future.

NOTE: Children with disabilities whose parents have little income or resources may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income payments. Read our publication, Benefits for Children With Disabilities (Publication No. 05-10026).

Who can get child’s benefits?

To get benefits, a child must have either:

  • A parent who is retired or has a disability and is entitled to Social Security benefits.
  • A parent who died after having worked long enough in a job where they paid Social Security taxes.

Your unmarried child can get benefits if they are:

  • Younger than age 18.
  • Between ages 18 and 19 and a full-time student at an elementary or secondary school (grade 12 or below).
  • Age 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22.

Under certain circumstances, we can also pay benefits to a stepchild, grandchild, step-grandchild, or adopted child.

What you will need when you apply for child’s benefits

When you apply for benefits for your child, you’ll need the child’s birth certificate or other proof of birth or adoption. You’ll also need the parent’s and child’s Social Security numbers. Depending on the type of benefit involved, other documents may be required. For example, if you’re applying for survivors benefits for the child, you’ll need to provide proof of the parent’s death. If you’re applying for benefits for a child with a disability, you’ll need to provide medical evidence to prove the child’s disability. The Social Security representative helping with your application will tell you what other documents you may need.

Benefits can continue at age 18

Benefits stop when your child reaches age 18 unless that child is a student or has a disability.

If your child is a student

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). If your child is younger than age 19 and still attending an elementary or secondary school, it is important to follow the instructions in the notice so benefits continue. They must complete a statement of attendance certified by a school official. The benefits will usually continue until your child graduates or until 2 months after they reach age 19, whichever comes first.

If your child has a disability

Childhood disability benefits are payable beyond age 18 if the disability began before age 22.

If you take care of a child

If you are receiving benefits because you have a child in your care, the date your benefits stop may be different than your child’s.

If the child does not have a disability, your benefits will stop when they turn 16.

If the child has a qualifying disability, your benefits can continue if you exercise parental control and responsibility for your child. Your benefits can also continue if you perform personal services for a child who has a physical disability. Before the child reaches age 16, we will send you a notice describing the conditions under which your benefits can continue.

How much can a family get?

Within a family, a child can receive up to half of the parent’s full retirement or disability benefits. If a child receives survivors benefits, they can get up to 75% of the deceased parent’s basic Social Security benefit. There is a limit, however, to the amount of money we can pay to a family. The maximum family payment is determined as part of every Social Security benefit computation. It can be from 150% to 180% of the parent’s full benefit amount. If the total amount payable to all family members exceeds this limit, we reduce each person’s benefit proportionately until the total equals the maximum allowable amount. We do not reduce the parent’s benefit amount because it’s not part of the maximum allowable amount.

Sources and publication details

The federal agency source text is U.S. government work in the public domain. Fynoptic selected, adapted, and formatted it for this guide. No agency endorsement is implied. Follow the linked sources for current program details and the rules applicable to your circumstances.

Back to all articles