Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz shared during his Democratic National Convention speech how Social Security survivor benefits had helped his family after his father passed away when he was 19. More than 3.7 million children in the U.S. receive Social Security benefits, but data suggests that many eligible children are not claiming these benefits, potentially missing out on funds that could lift them out of poverty.
The Social Security Administration is making efforts to identify these families and create more targeted approaches to raise awareness about survivor benefits. Children can qualify for these benefits even if they do not live with a parent or receive financial support from them. In some cases, surviving parents who care for children under 16 may also be eligible for benefits.
More than half of children who receive Social Security checks have had a parent who passed away after working and paying taxes into the program. These children may receive up to 75% of the deceased parent’s basic benefit. The amount of benefits children receive can be adjusted based on a maximum family benefit, which limits how much a family can receive per month based on the worker’s earnings record.
It is important for families to understand their eligibility for these benefits and to ensure that they apply for them to avoid missing out on critical financial assistance. The Social Security Administration is working to improve access to information and applications for children’s benefits to help more families access the support they are entitled to.
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