Benefits of grandchildren
Almost 3 million children in the United States are raised by a grandparent or grandparents, as a recent study published in the September 2020 issue of “Pediatrics” shows. Most of them may even be eligible for Social Security benefits on the basis of such a relationship.
As a general rule, if you’re providing a minimum of half of a minor grandchild’s financial support and the natural parents are deceased, disabled, or simply unable to constantly contribute to that support, the child could collect survivor benefits when you retire, become disabled, or even pass away.
If you are already on Social Security when a grandchild comes into your care, you need to legally adopt the child for him and receive the benefits on your record.
