Can my adopted granddaughter receive Social Security benefits from my husband's record while I'm still working?

Yes, your adopted granddaughter will likely qualify for dependent benefits on your husband's record once the adoption is finalized. Generally, dependent children (including legally adopted children) can receive up to 50% of the worker's primary insurance amount (PIA). Since your husband is already collecting, your granddaughter should be eligible until she turns 18 (or 19 if still in high school). Your employment status doesn't affect her eligibility at all.

the benefits go to the guardian until the kid is like 15 i think, then they can get their own account. my brother gets his daughters check direct deposited to his account

I went through something similar with my nephew who I adopted. Be sure to apply AS SOON AS the adoption is legally finalized because SSA doesn't pay retroactive benefits in these cases! You'll need to bring the final adoption decree, her birth certificate, your husband's Social Security number, and your marriage certificate. Also be prepared for LONG WAIT TIMES when calling the SSA office to set up an appointment - it took me 3 days of calling to get through! When we finally got the benefits approved, they were about 45% of my monthly benefit amount. The rules are complicated and there's something called the "family maximum" that might reduce what she gets if there are other people already receiving benefits on your husband's record.

Congrats on the adoption! Just wanted to say something important - DONT just go by what the lawyers tell you about SS stuff. They dont always know the specifics. My sister got told something similar and it turned out she had to prove she was providing over 50% of support for her adopted kids before the adoption to get full benefits. Go straight to SSA for the real rules!!!

I'm a former SSA claims specialist, and I want to clarify a few things: 1. Your granddaughter will qualify for child's benefits on your husband's record once the adoption is legally completed. The fact that you're working has no impact on this. 2. The benefit amount is up to 50% of your husband's Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), but subject to the family maximum benefit (FMB) provision. If your husband is the only person receiving benefits on his record currently, this likely won't affect the amount. 3. Benefits are not automatic - you must apply. Bring the finalized adoption papers, her birth certificate, your husband's SSN, and your marriage certificate. 4. As the adoptive parent, you'll be the representative payee managing these funds until she turns 18. You'll need to complete an annual Representative Payee Report showing how the benefits were used for her care. 5. These benefits are considered the child's income, not yours, for tax purposes. I recommend calling your local field office to schedule an appointment once the adoption is finalized. Don't delay, as benefits are only paid from the date of application forward in these situations.

Just be careful about the FAMILY MAXIMUM! If ur husband has other kids getting benefits it could reduce what ur granddaughter gets. Happened to my cousin and she only got like 30% instead of the full 50%. Also the SSA sometimes takes MONTHS to process these claims so apply early!!!!!

dose the granddaughter have to live with you to get these benefits? i heard somewhere that the kid has to be in your household for a year before they can get ss

My sister went thru all this last yr with her step grandson. The benefit amount was around $850 for him which really helped with all his expenses! But it took like 11 weeks to get the first payment and they wouldn't backdate it so definitely apply ASAP. Good luck with everything!!

Congratulations on your upcoming adoption! Just wanted to add a few practical tips from my experience helping my neighbor through a similar situation. Make sure to have multiple copies of all your documents when you go to the SSA office - they kept one set and we had to return with duplicates. Also, if possible, try to get an appointment at a smaller field office rather than the main downtown location - we found the wait times were much shorter and the staff had more time to explain everything clearly. One last thing - keep detailed records of all expenses for your granddaughter starting now, as you'll need to show how the benefits are being used for her care in those annual reports. The whole process can feel overwhelming but it's so worth it for the financial help it provides!

One thing I wish someone had told me earlier - make sure to ask about setting up direct deposit during your initial appointment! When I helped my daughter apply for benefits for my grandson, we had to make a separate trip just to set that up because we didn't know to bring banking information the first time. Also, don't be surprised if they ask for additional documentation even after you think you've provided everything - we ended up needing to get a certified copy of my son-in-law's Social Security card even though we had his number. The whole process took about 8-10 weeks for us, but once it was approved, the monthly payments really made a difference in covering his school supplies, clothes, and activities. Hang in there - the paperwork is tedious but the financial support is definitely worth it!

As someone who just went through this process with my adopted nephew last year, I wanted to share a few additional insights that might help you prepare. First, when you call to schedule your appointment, ask specifically about what time of day tends to have shorter wait times - I found that mid-morning appointments (around 10-11 AM) worked much better than early morning or afternoon slots. Second, consider bringing a small folder or binder to organize all your documents - it made a great impression on the caseworker and kept everything neat during the interview. One surprise we encountered was that they wanted to see proof of my nephew's school enrollment, so you might want to have that ready too even though your granddaughter is only 7. The whole experience was actually much smoother than I expected once we were properly prepared. The benefits have been a huge help with childcare costs while I'm at work. Best of luck with your adoption finalization and the SSA application process!

This is such wonderful news about your adoption! I just wanted to add something that helped me when I was navigating SSA processes - if you have trouble getting through on their main phone line, try calling your local field office directly. The wait times are often much shorter and the staff there can sometimes schedule appointments over the phone instead of making you go through the national system. Also, I'd recommend taking a photo of all your documents with your phone before you go to the appointment, just as a backup in case anything gets lost or misplaced. The SSA website also has a benefit estimator tool that might give you a rough idea of what to expect for the monthly amount, though the exact calculation will depend on your husband's specific benefit history. Wishing you all the best with the finalization and application process!

I'm going through a similar situation with my foster son who we're planning to adopt soon. One thing I learned from our social worker is that you might want to contact SSA before the adoption is completely finalized to understand exactly what documents they'll need and get a head start on the paperwork. They can't process the application until it's legal, but they can give you a checklist so you're ready to go immediately. Also, I'd suggest asking your adoption attorney if they have experience with SSA benefit applications - some lawyers actually have contacts at local SSA offices who can help expedite the process. The financial support will make such a difference for her future, and it sounds like you're doing everything right by planning ahead!

Mary, I went through something very similar when we adopted our grandson two years ago! Your situation sounds almost identical - my husband was already collecting SS and I was still working full-time. The good news is that all the information people have shared here is spot-on. Just wanted to add one thing that really helped us: when you go for your appointment, bring a small notebook to write down everything they tell you. The SSA worker gave us so much information that day, and I was worried I'd forget important details later. Also, don't be discouraged if they seem to ask the same questions multiple times - they're just being thorough. The whole process took about 9 weeks for us, but once those monthly payments started coming in, it was such a relief! The amount was right around 48% of my husband's benefit, which really helped with all the extra expenses that come with suddenly having a child in the house again. You're doing such a wonderful thing for your granddaughter, and this financial support will make the transition so much easier for your whole family.

Just wanted to jump in as someone who works with families navigating adoption and benefits - you've gotten some excellent advice here! One additional tip that might help: if your local SSA office offers online appointment scheduling, definitely use that instead of calling. I've found it's much more reliable and you can see available time slots without the phone hassles. Also, when you do get your first payment, don't panic if the amount seems different than expected - sometimes there are small adjustments for processing fees or other factors that get worked out in subsequent months. The Representative Payee responsibilities aren't too burdensome - basically just keeping receipts for major expenses like clothing, medical costs, school supplies, etc. Congratulations on your growing family - what you're doing for your granddaughter is truly special, and having this financial support will definitely help ease some of the practical concerns so you can focus on the joy of officially making her part of your family!