Minor children may be eligible for Social Security benefits if a parent files a claim, passes away, or becomes disabled. The amount a child receives depends on several factors, including the parent’s earnings history and the family’s maximum benefit limit.

Eligibility Criteria:

• The child must be unmarried.
• The child must be under 18, or between 18 and 19 and a full-time student.
• The child must be 18 or older with a disability that began before age 22.
• In some cases, stepchildren, adopted children, or dependent grandchildren/step-grandchildren may also qualify.

Benefits Based on Parent’s Status:

Parent Files a Claim:
Each child can receive 50% of the parent’s benefit at Full Retirement Age (FRA), up to the family maximum benefit.

Parent Passes Away:
Each child may receive 75% of the deceased parent’s benefit at FRA, up to the family maximum benefit.

Parent Becomes Disabled:
Each child can receive 50% of the disabled parent’s benefit at FRA, up to the family maximum benefit.

Note: The family maximum benefit is a cap on the total amount a family can receive from a parent’s earnings record, which may limit the benefits for multiple children.