Social Security Survivors' Benefits for Children

If you are the unmarried child under 18 (up to age 19 if attending elementary or secondary school full time) of a worker who dies, you also can be eligible to receive Social Security survivor benefits.

Your survivor benefit amount would be based on the earnings of the person who died. The more he or she paid into Social Security, the higher your benefits would be. The amount you would get is a percentage of the deceased's basic Social Security benefit and depends on your age and the type of benefit you would be eligible to receive.

A child under age 18 (19 if still in elementary or secondary school) or disabled is entitled to receive 75 percent of the deceased monthly social security benefit.

There is a maximum benefit per month that can be paid to all the survivors on the record. There may also be a special lump-sum death benefit. The limit varies, but it is generally equal to about 150 to 180 percent of the basic benefit rate.

For more information about Survivor Benefits for Children, click on the email link above.