One common misconception is that any adult child can request a share of a parent’s Social Security check simply because they’re related. In reality, eligibility on a parent’s record is narrow and depends on the child’s age, school enrollment or disability, and whether the parent is living, retired, disabled or deceased.
Who Can Receive Benefits on a Parent’s Record?
An unmarried child under 18 may qualify for benefits, while coverage can extend to unmarried children ages 18 or 19 attending elementary or secondary school full time. An adult child may qualify at any age if a disability began before age 22 and other Social Security requirements are met. 1
A child may receive payments while a parent collects Social Security retirement or disability benefits. After a parent dies, an eligible child may instead qualify for survivor benefits, provided the parent worked long enough under Social Security. These survivor payments are calculated from the parent’s Social Security earnings record, which is separate from the retirement amount the parent received.
Outside these circumstances, the family relationship on its own creates no claim to any portion of a parent’s benefit. A financial advisor can help you assess whether you may qualify for Social Security benefits on a parent’s record.
What Can an Adult Child Actually Claim?
Most adult children cannot claim anything on a parent’s Social Security record. Once you are outside the age, student and disability requirements, a parent’s retirement or disability benefit does not create a separate payment for you. Your own Social Security retirement benefit would generally be based on your earnings record.
An adult child with a qualifying disability that began before age 22 may be an exception. Benefits can be based on the parent’s record, and the maximum percentage depends in part on whether the parent is receiving retirement, disability benefits or is deceased.
To see how much an adult child could claim, let’s assume a parent qualifies for a $2,000 monthly Social Security benefit. The table breaks down the potential amount based on eligibility.
| Adult Child’s Situation | Maximum Percentage | Maximum Monthly Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Does not meet the eligibility requirements | 0% | $0 |
| Qualifying disability began before age 22 and parent receives retirement or disability benefits | Up to 50% | Up to $1,000 |
| Qualifying disability began before age 22 and parent is deceased | Up to 75% | Up to $1,500 |
The $1,000 and $1,500 figures are maximums based on the $2,000 example, not guaranteed payments. Social Security’s family maximum can reduce benefits when multiple family members receive payments on the same worker’s record. 2
What Can You Inherit Instead of a Parent’s Social Security?
A parent’s Social Security benefit generally cannot be inherited, but other assets may pass to you after their death. What you receive depends on the type of property, how it is owned and whether you are named as a beneficiary or heir.
| Type of Inheritance | Common Ways It May Transfer |
|---|---|
| Bank account | A beneficiary designation or the estate |
| Brokerage account | A transfer-on-death designation, trust or estate |
| Traditional or Roth IRA | A beneficiary designation |
| Life insurance | A beneficiary designation |
| Real estate | A deed, trust or estate |
The tax treatment can vary considerably by asset. Taxable distributions from an inherited traditional IRA are typically included in income, while the basis of many inherited investments and real estate is generally adjusted to their fair market value at the owner’s death. Roth IRA distributions can receive different tax treatment depending on the circumstances.
For certain accounts and policies, a valid beneficiary designation may control who gets the asset rather than instructions in a will. Reviewing account beneficiaries, property ownership and estate documents with your parent can help you understand which assets may eventually pass to you.
A financial advisor can work with you to create a plan that manages and invests assets you inherit from a parent.
Photo credit: ©iStock.com/EmirMemedovski, ©iStock.com/Miljan Živković.
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