Can minor beneficiaries see their Social Security benefits in their own SSA account or parent's account?

As a representative payee, their benefits won't show up in your personal MySocialSecurity account. The Social Security Administration maintains separate records for beneficiaries and their representative payees. Minor children don't have their own MySocialSecurity accounts. Instead, you should be receiving annual Representative Payee Reports (Form SSA-623) where you account for how their benefits were used throughout the year. To check on their payment status and amounts, you have three options: 1. Call the national SSA number (though wait times can be extremely long) 2. Check the mailed statements that should come annually 3. Visit your local field office (with an appointment as you mentioned) The SSA really needs to improve this system since representative payees have no online visibility into the benefits they're managing.

i went thru this with my nephew when my sister died. its super confusing! the system 4 kids is totally separate fr ur own benefits. they dont get their own accts online but u also cant see their stuff in ur own acct either. makes NO sense!!! the way i managed was just keeping track of bank deposits. social security is still living in the stone age with their technology lol

I had this exact issue with my grandchildren after their mother passed. Unfortunately, minors do not have their own MySocialSecurity accounts, and as the representative payee, you won't see their benefits in your personal account either. This is one of the most frustrating aspects of the SSA system that hasn't been modernized. What I did was set up a dedicated spreadsheet where I track all incoming payments and how they're spent. This serves two purposes: 1) I can easily fill out the annual Representative Payee Report, and 2) I have documentation if there's ever a question about missing payments or how funds were used. I've found the direct deposit notifications from my bank are the most reliable way to track when payments arrive.

I use Claimyr when I need to speak with someone at Social Security about my kids' benefits. I was in the same situation - couldn't check their benefits online and couldn't get through on the phone for weeks. Claimyr connected me to an SSA agent within 30 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. Their video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU shows how it works. Saved me from having to take time off work for an in-person appointment just to check on a payment issue.

DONT TRUST THE PAPER STATEMENTS!!!! I had MAJOR issues with my grandson's benefits after my daughter died. The statements would show one amount but different money was deposited!!! When I finally got through to SSA after WEEKS of trying, they said there was an "adjustment" that wasn't reflected on the statement. YOU HAVE TO WATCH YOUR BANK ACCOUNT LIKE A HAWK because SSA makes mistakes ALL THE TIME and they won't fix it unless you catch it!!! The whole system is BROKEN especially for kids benefits!!!

You can request something called a "Representative Payee Accounting Form" from your local SSA office. It won't be online, but it will give you all the payment details for your children. I'm a rep payee for my disabled brother (not a minor but similar situation) and SSA's online capabilities are severely lacking for anyone managing benefits for someone else. The MySocialSecurity accounts are only for personal benefits. It's one of my biggest frustrations with the system.

One tip that might help - make sure you're using separate dedicated bank accounts for each child's benefits. The SSA regulations actually require this, and it makes tracking much easier. Each child should have their own account where only their SS benefits are deposited (your name will be on it as the representative payee). This not only helps with recordkeeping but also protects you during the annual accounting review. The format should be "[Your Name], representative payee for [Child's Name].

anyone else notice benefits for kids are always like a few days later than adult benefits?? my daughters always hit the bank like 3-5 days after mine do even tho supposedly they all pay on same schedule?? super weird

As others have said, you won't see your children's benefits in your MySocialSecurity account. This is actually a privacy measure. Even though you're the representative payee, the benefits legally belong to your children, so SSA maintains separate records. The system could certainly be improved to provide online access for representative payees while maintaining appropriate privacy protections, but the current technology doesn't support this. I recommend calling your local office (not the main number) first thing when they open. You'll have better luck getting through than calling the national 800 number.

If possible, I would recommend scheduling that appointment, even if it's 7 weeks out. Face-to-face interactions with SSA are almost always more productive than phone calls. When you go, ask them to print out a benefit verification letter for each child and a payment history. These documents will show exactly what they're entitled to and when payments were issued. You might also want to ask them about any potential adjustments to their benefits coming up. Survivor benefits can sometimes change based on various factors, and it's better to know in advance.

I'm in a similar situation with my stepson after his father passed. What helped me was creating a simple tracking system using a notebook where I write down the deposit date, amount, and what bank account it went into each month. I also take a photo of the deposit notification on my phone as backup. The SSA system really is frustrating for representative payees - you'd think in 2025 they'd have a portal where we could at least view payment histories for the kids we're responsible for. Until then, I've found that keeping meticulous records yourself is the only way to stay on top of things. The annual paperwork becomes much easier when you have everything documented throughout the year. One thing that caught me off guard was that the benefits can be adjusted without much notice if there are changes to your own widow's benefits or if they recalculate the family maximum. Having your own records helps you spot when something doesn't look right.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I completely understand your frustration with the SSA system. I went through something similar when my brother passed and I became representative payee for his teenage daughter. What everyone else has said is accurate - there's unfortunately no online portal for representative payees to monitor the children's benefits. It's one of the most antiquated aspects of their system. Here's what I learned that might help: 1. Set up text or email alerts with your bank for deposits into their accounts - this gives you immediate notification when payments arrive 2. Keep a simple monthly log (I use a basic spreadsheet) with deposit dates, amounts, and any notes about changes 3. When you do get through to SSA, ask them to mail you a "Master Beneficiary Record" printout for each child - it shows their full benefit history and any upcoming changes The most important thing I learned is to document EVERYTHING. If there's ever a discrepancy between what you expected and what was deposited, having your own records makes it much easier to get it resolved. Also, don't hesitate to escalate if you encounter problems. If the local office can't help, ask to speak with a supervisor or contact your congressional representative's office - they often have staff who can cut through SSA red tape. Hang in there - it does get easier once you establish a routine for tracking everything!

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I completely understand your frustration with the SSA system. I went through something similar when my brother passed and I became representative payee for his teenage daughter. What everyone else has said is accurate - there's unfortunately no online portal for representative payees to monitor the children's benefits. It's one of the most antiquated aspects of their system. Here's what I learned that might help: 1. Set up text or email alerts with your bank for deposits into their accounts - this gives you immediate notification when payments arrive 2. Keep a simple monthly log (I use a basic spreadsheet) with deposit dates, amounts, and any notes about changes 3. When you do get through to SSA, ask them to mail you a "Master Beneficiary Record" printout for each child - it shows their full benefit history and any upcoming changes The most important thing I learned is to document EVERYTHING. If there's ever a discrepancy between what you expected and what was deposited, having your own records makes it much easier to get it resolved. Also, don't hesitate to escalate if you encounter problems. If the local office can't help, ask to speak with a supervisor or contact your congressional representative's office - they often have staff who can cut through SSA red tape. Hang in there - it does get easier once you establish a routine for tracking everything!

I'm really sorry for your loss and the frustration you're dealing with on top of everything else. I went through this exact situation when my mom passed and I became rep payee for my younger sister. The advice here is spot-on - there's no online access for rep payees, which is honestly ridiculous in 2025. What saved my sanity was setting up a dedicated email folder where I screenshot every bank deposit notification and file them by month. I also created a simple Google Sheet with columns for date, amount, which kid, and any notes. Takes 2 minutes each month but makes the annual reporting so much easier. One thing I learned the hard way - if you ever need to change banks or account numbers, do it well before the payment date. SSA takes forever to update their records and you could miss a month of payments while they sort it out. Also, don't feel bad about being persistent with phone calls. The squeaky wheel gets the grease with SSA. When I had a payment issue, I called every single day until someone helped me. It's frustrating but sometimes that's what it takes to get answers about your kids' benefits.

I'm so sorry for your loss and completely understand your frustration. I'm a financial advisor and see this issue constantly with my clients who become representative payees. The lack of online access for children's benefits is honestly one of the most outdated aspects of SSA's system. Here's what I typically recommend to clients in your situation: 1. **Set up automatic bank alerts** for deposits into each child's account - this gives you real-time notification when payments arrive 2. **Create a simple tracking spreadsheet** with columns for date, child's name, amount deposited, and any notes about changes 3. **Request a "Benefit Verification Letter"** for each child when you visit the office - this shows their current benefit amounts and payment schedule 4. **Keep digital copies** of everything - screenshot deposit notifications, scan any SSA letters, etc. One thing many people don't realize is that you can also request what's called a "Payment History" report that shows up to 24 months of past payments. This is incredibly helpful for spotting any discrepancies or missed payments. The system really needs to be modernized to give representative payees secure online access to the benefits they're managing. Until then, meticulous record-keeping is unfortunately your best defense. The good news is once you establish a routine, it becomes much more manageable. Hang in there - you're doing everything right by being proactive about monitoring their benefits.

I'm so sorry for your loss and the additional stress of navigating this confusing system. As others have mentioned, the lack of online access for representative payees is incredibly frustrating - you're definitely not alone in this struggle. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you can also call the SSA's automated phone system (1-800-772-1213) and use their "payment information" option. While you can't access your children's detailed records this way, you can sometimes get basic payment status information without waiting on hold for an agent. It's not ideal, but it can give you peace of mind between your regular tracking methods. Also, when you do finally get your appointment in 7 weeks, consider bringing a list of specific questions written down beforehand. Ask for printed copies of everything - payment histories, benefit verification letters, and contact information for your local representative payee coordinator (if they have one). Having all this documentation will make future inquiries much easier. The learning curve is steep, but once you get your tracking system in place, it becomes much more manageable. You're clearly being very thorough and responsible - your children are lucky to have someone looking out for their interests so carefully.

I'm so sorry for your loss and completely understand your frustration with the SSA system. I went through this exact situation when my father passed and I became representative payee for my younger brother who was 14 at the time. Unfortunately, as others have confirmed, there's no way to view your children's benefits through your own MySocialSecurity account, and minors can't have their own accounts either. It's honestly one of the most frustrating gaps in their system. What helped me manage this was creating a dedicated email address just for SSA-related correspondence and setting up a simple monthly reminder on my phone to check that both kids' deposits came through as expected. I also keep a running note in my phone with the expected deposit amounts and dates, so I can quickly spot if something seems off. One tip I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you have a good relationship with your bank, some branch managers can set up informal monitoring where they'll give you a heads up if there are any unusual changes to the deposit patterns. Not all banks will do this, but it's worth asking. The system really needs to be modernized for representative payees, but until then, creating your own tracking system is unfortunately the best solution. It does get easier once you establish a routine!

I'm so sorry for your loss and completely understand your frustration. I went through this same situation when my wife passed and I became representative payee for our twin daughters who were 10 at the time. Unfortunately, everything others have said is correct - there's no online portal for representative payees, and it's honestly baffling that SSA hasn't modernized this in 2025. Here's what I learned that might help you: **For immediate peace of mind:** Set up mobile banking alerts for both kids' accounts. You'll get instant notifications when deposits hit, which helps catch any issues quickly. **For long-term tracking:** I created a simple Google Sheet with tabs for each child. Each tab has columns for date, expected amount, actual amount, and notes. Takes 2 minutes per month but makes everything so much clearer. **Pro tip:** When you call SSA (and you will need to eventually), ask specifically for a "Representative Payee Payment History" for each child. This shows 24 months of payments and is different from the annual accounting form. It's incredibly helpful for spotting patterns or discrepancies. Also, don't feel bad about being persistent with phone calls. I called every morning for a week straight when there was a payment issue, and eventually got someone who could actually help. The system is frustrating, but you're clearly being thorough and responsible. Your kids are lucky to have someone looking out for them so carefully during such a difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss and the added stress of trying to navigate SSA's outdated system during such a difficult time. As everyone has confirmed, there's unfortunately no online access for representative payees - it's one of the most frustrating aspects of dealing with children's benefits. What I found helpful when I became rep payee for my nephew was setting up a dedicated folder on my phone where I screenshot every deposit notification and keep a running note with the expected amounts and dates for each child. This way I can quickly spot if something seems off without having to dig through bank statements. One thing I learned that might save you some frustration - when you do get your appointment in 7 weeks, ask them to print out a complete "Beneficiary Payment History" for each child going back at least 12 months. This will give you a baseline to work from and help you understand any patterns or changes in their benefits. Also, don't hesitate to contact your congressional representative's office if you continue having trouble getting through to SSA by phone. Their constituent services staff often have direct lines to SSA and can help cut through the bureaucracy when you need answers about your children's benefits. The system really needs to be modernized, but in the meantime, the tracking methods others have shared here will help you stay on top of everything. You're doing great by being so proactive about monitoring their benefits.

I'm so sorry for your loss and completely understand your frustration with this system. I went through something very similar when my sister passed and I became representative payee for her 13-year-old son. The lack of online access for children's benefits is absolutely maddening, especially when you're already dealing with so much. What helped me was setting up a simple system right away: I created a basic spreadsheet with columns for each child's name, expected deposit date, amount, and actual deposit date. I also set up text alerts through my bank so I get notified the moment deposits hit their accounts. This gives me immediate peace of mind that payments are coming through as expected. One thing that really saved me headaches later was asking my bank to print monthly statements specifically for the kids' accounts and keeping them in a dedicated folder. When it came time for the annual Representative Payee Report, having everything organized made the process so much smoother. Also, when you do get your appointment, ask specifically for a "Master Beneficiary Record" printout for each child - it shows their complete benefit history and any scheduled changes. Having this baseline documentation is incredibly helpful for tracking everything going forward. The system is definitely broken for representative payees, but once you get a routine established for tracking everything yourself, it becomes much more manageable. You're clearly being very responsible about this - your children are fortunate to have someone so dedicated to looking out for their interests during such a difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss and can completely relate to your frustration. I became rep payee for my daughter when my ex-husband passed last year, and the lack of online access for children's benefits is incredibly outdated. What's helped me manage this is setting up a simple tracking system using a basic notebook where I log each deposit - date, amount, which child, and any notes about changes. I also take photos of my bank's deposit notifications with my phone as backup records. The key insight that took me months to figure out is that SSA treats children's benefits completely separately from your own, even though you're managing them. There's literally no connection between your MySocialSecurity account and their benefits in their system. One thing that might help while you wait for your appointment - call the SSA automated line (1-800-772-1213) and try the payment information option. It's not perfect, but sometimes you can get basic status updates without waiting on hold forever. Also, when you do get to that appointment, ask specifically for printed "Payment History" reports for both kids covering the last 12 months. This will give you a complete picture of what they've been receiving and help you establish a baseline for your own tracking going forward. The system really needs to catch up with modern technology, but in the meantime, keeping your own detailed records is unfortunately the only reliable way to monitor their benefits. It does get easier once you establish a routine!

I'm so sorry for your loss and completely understand your frustration with this system. I went through the same thing when my husband passed and I became representative payee for our 8-year-old daughter's survivor benefits. Unfortunately, what everyone else has said is correct - there's no online portal where you can view your children's benefits, even as their representative payee. It's honestly one of the most backwards aspects of SSA's technology in 2025. Here's what I learned that might help you get some peace of mind while you wait for that appointment: **Immediate steps:** - Set up mobile alerts through your bank for deposits into both kids' accounts - you'll get instant notifications when payments hit - Start a simple log (even just in your phone's notes app) tracking expected vs actual deposit dates and amounts **For your appointment:** Ask specifically for "Benefit Verification Letters" and "Payment History" printouts for both children covering the last 12-24 months. These documents will show you exactly what they're entitled to and when payments were issued. **Long-term tracking:** I created a basic spreadsheet with tabs for each child showing monthly deposits, amounts, and any notes about changes. It takes just a few minutes each month but makes the annual Representative Payee Report so much easier. The automated SSA phone line (1-800-772-1213) sometimes has a payment status option that can give you basic information without the endless hold times, though it's limited. It's frustrating that we have to create our own monitoring systems, but once you get a routine established, it becomes much more manageable. You're clearly being very responsible about this - your kids are lucky to have someone looking out for them so carefully.

I'm so sorry for your loss and completely understand your frustration. I went through this exact situation when my wife passed and I became representative payee for our two kids (ages 11 and 14 at the time). Unfortunately, as everyone has confirmed, there's no way to view children's benefits through your MySocialSecurity account, and minors can't create their own accounts either. It's honestly baffling that SSA hasn't modernized this system for representative payees. Here's what I've found works best for tracking their benefits: **Set up bank alerts immediately** - Configure text/email notifications for deposits into each child's account. This gives you real-time confirmation when payments arrive and helps you quickly spot any issues. **Create a simple tracking system** - I use a basic Google Sheet with columns for child's name, expected deposit date, actual deposit date, amount, and notes. Takes 2 minutes per month but saves hours during annual reporting. **When you get to your appointment**, ask specifically for: - "Master Beneficiary Record" printouts for both children - "Payment History" reports covering the last 12-24 months - Contact info for your local representative payee coordinator **Pro tip**: The SSA automated phone line (1-800-772-1213) sometimes has basic payment status information available without the endless hold times. The system is definitely broken for representative payees, but once you establish a routine for tracking everything yourself, it becomes much more manageable. You're clearly being very thorough and responsible - your children are fortunate to have someone looking out for them so carefully during such a difficult time.