Social Security Supports 3.6 Million Children, Capping Family Benefits at 180% of Earnings Record
Updated
Updated · AOL · Aug 20
Social Security Supports 3.6 Million Children, Capping Family Benefits at 180% of Earnings Record
3 articles · Updated · AOL · Aug 20
Summary
More than 3.6 million children receive Social Security benefits, including 1.98 million tied to deceased workers, 894,000 to disabled workers, and 731,000 to retired workers as of July.
Unmarried children generally qualify if they are under 18, are full-time students ages 18 to 19 through 12th grade, or have a disability that began before age 22.
Adopted children, stepchildren, and some grandchildren can also qualify because Social Security extends dependency rules beyond biological children.
Payments can reach 50% of a retired or disabled parent's Primary Insurance Amount and 75% of a deceased parent's amount—equal to $1,000 or $1,500 if the parent's PIA is $2,000.
A family maximum of roughly 150% to 180% of one worker's PIA can reduce each child's payout when children's and spousal benefits together exceed the cap.