Taperman articles

More Social Security benefits are given to children than to any other social 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:

• Single, • Under 18 years of age, • 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: Can my children obtain SS benefits under my account if they do not live at home with me?

Whether or not your children can receive benefits will depend on your specific relationship with them. For a child to be able to obtain benefits under your social security account, he or she must be financially dependent upon you. Whether they live with you or not, your child will automatically be considered your financial dependent if you share any of the following relationships with them:

• 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 a court has not officially made a determination of support for a recognized natural child that does not live with you, you can show that childs financial dependency upon you by providing:

• Paperwork showing that your child is qualifies as your dependant in other state and federal programs • Previous tax returns in which you claimed the child as a dependent • Bank records, cancelled checks, etc., showing that you made regular payments on behalf of or in support of your child • Other evidence of the childs dependence

Financial dependability (and eligibility for social security benefits) of a stepchild, on the other hand, will only determined when that child lives with you and shares with you a parent and 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 child parent relationships, you can give evidence of the status of your relationship with 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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