Social Security Benefits for Children
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by: albert.tobega
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More Social Security benefits are given to children than to any other social group. Children are eligible for social security benefits under the account of a parent, step parent, or foster parent that is either disabled or retired (and therefore eligible for Social Security benefits). 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 can receive benefits if they are:
• Not married, • Less than 18 years old, • 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?
If your children do not live with you, their ability to obtain benefits will depend on the specific relationship you share 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. A child is automatically considered financially dependent on you, regardless of where he or she resides, in the following cases:
• The child is your legitimate, natural child • The child is your legally 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 • 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
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. As a guideline, your husband or wifes legitimate child, adopted child, or illegitimate child will be considered your 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. If you do this, you child will not be entitled to social security benefits under your account.
See these also Florida social security lawyer
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