Find Out If Your Child Qualifies 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. Children can also be eligible for benefits under the account of their guardian if he or she has died after working and paying enough social security taxes to earn benefits.
Children are eligible for Social security benefits when they are:
• Unmarried, • Under 18, • Or are between 18 and 19 years of age, but still a full time student in elementary or secondary school, • 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?
Whether or not your children can receive benefits will depend on your specific relationship with them. In order to be eligible for social security benefits, your child must depend on you financially. 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 • He or she is your adopted child • He or she is your natural but illegitimate child for whom a judge has issued a determination of support, or for whom you make regular financial contributions.
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:
• Paperwork showing that your child is qualifies as your dependant in other state and federal programs • Old W2s and other tax forms showing that you claimed your child as a dependent • Records that you made periodic payments for the child • Other proofs
In the case of a stepchild, however, the child is considered financially dependent on you (and therefore eligible for benefits) only if he or she lives with you in a parent child relationship. Generally, your spouses legitimate natural child, legally adopted child, or illegitimate natural child will be considered a step child. Even after divorcing your step childs natural parent (that is, your husband or wife) or after his or her death, the child will be considered financially dependent upon you and therefore eligible for benefits as long as he or she resides in your home and shares with you a child parent relationship.
In any of the above cases, you can provide proof of your relationship to 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. This will make the child ineligible for benefits.
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