Social Security Child Caregiver Benefits

As the spouse or family member caring for a loved one who is seriously ill you can apply for social security benefits to help cover costs involved with being his or her caregiver.

Social security child caregiver benefits.

Social security says that the child must have a physical or mental condition that severely limits their activity and is expected to last more than one year and or result in the child s death. Long term care insurance allows family members to be paid as caregivers. Eligibility depends on several factors such as financial need state of residence income and assets. When benefits are payable to your spouse.

Aid and attendance benefits for veterans work in conjunction with a va pension. As the caregiver to a friend or family member with a serious illness you can apply for social security disability benefits on his or her behalf. The social security act at first did not provide benefits for spouses who were caregivers of a worker s children. But some policies won t pay.

These benefits help cover the costs of a caregiver who may be a family member. Benefits might be available through state and local social service agencies. As of december 2009 over 63 000 spouses and surviving spouses were. Social security child caregiver benefits.

At any age if he or she is caring for your child under age 16 or disabled. Contact the va pension management center in your area for rules and conditions. Benefits may be available through one or both of the social security administration s ssa s disability programs. The spouse caregiver s benefit would end when the child reached age 18 19 if a full time student unless the child became disabled before age 22.

When you apply for benefits for your child you ll need the child s birth certificate and the parent s and child s social security numbers. Qualifying for social security as a caregiver. Amendments in 1939 added spouses surviving spouses and children as eligible beneficiaries. Benefits for your spouse.

Age 62 or older unless he or she collects a higher social security benefit based on his or her earnings record the spouse benefit amount will be permanently reduced by a percentage based on the number of months until his or her full retirement age. However if the child is disabled and receiving his own social security benefit the caregiver parent can qualify for benefits at any age based on the working parent s record. For example if you re applying for survivors benefits for the child you ll need to furnish proof. Like regular spousal benefits the amount of a child in care spousal benefit is 50 of your spouse s primary insurance amount pia that is 50 of the monthly retirement benefit that they would get if they claimed their retirement benefit exactly at their full retirement age.