29 Jan Can a child whose parent dies get Social Security?

Q. My nephew’s dad died. My nephew is 18 and still in high school. Is he eligible to receive Social Security?
— Trying to help

A. We’re sorry to hear about your nephew’s father.

Surviving children are eligible for certain benefits from Social Security.

The benefit would be equal to 75 percent of the deceased parent’s primary insurance amount (PIA), said Gene McGovern, a certified financial planner with McGovern Financial Advisors in Westfield. The PIA is the retirement benefit that the deceased parent would receive at full retirement age, he said.

For example, if your nephew’s father was eligible for $2,000 a month at full retirement age, your nephew is eligible to receive $1,500 per month ($2,000 X 75%), he said.

A family maximum applies that may reduce this amount if other family members are also receiving benefits on the father’s earnings record, McGovern said.

“To be eligible for benefits, a surviving child must be under age 18, or under age 19 and in high school,” he said. “A disabled child of any age is eligible if the disability began before age 22. The child must also be unmarried and a dependent of the deceased parent.”

So given that your nephew is under age 19 and in high school, he should be eligible for benefits, provided his father was fully or currently insured under Social Security by working and paying Social Security taxes, McGovern said.

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This story was originally published on Jan. 29, 2020.

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