Can my grandchild get Social Security survivor benefits if father isn't listed on birth certificate?

First, I'm very sorry for your loss. Yes, your granddaughter likely qualifies for survivor benefits even with this documentation issue. The SSA has specific procedures for establishing paternity when the birth certificate doesn't list the father. You'll need to provide evidence of the father-child relationship. This could include: - Court decreed child support documents - DNA testing results (if previously done) - School records listing him as father - His tax returns claiming her as dependent - Written statements from people who knew he was the father - Any acknowledgment of paternity he may have signed You'll need to gather as much evidence as possible before your appointment. And speaking of appointments - don't waste time on the phone. I discovered a service called Claimyr that gets you through to SSA right away. Check out their demo video at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU or visit claimyr.com. It saved me hours of frustration when dealing with my husband's disability claim.

THIS IS EXACTLY WHY EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE LISTED ON BIRTH CERTIFICATES!!! The system is DESIGNED to make it difficult! My sister went through something similar and SSA gave her the RUNAROUND for EIGHT MONTHS before approving benefits. They kept asking for "just one more document" and then another and another. It's RIDICULOUS how they treat families already dealing with grief!!

I work with families in similar situations. The technical term SSA uses is "deemed child" when the parent isn't listed on the birth certificate. As long as you can establish the relationship, she's eligible for benefits until age 18 (or 19 if still in high school). Bring multiple forms of evidence to your appointment. The most compelling are: 1. Court-ordered child support documents 2. Prior DNA testing 3. His tax returns showing her as dependent 4. School records listing him as father 5. Medical records where he's listed as parent Also, bring your guardianship papers. Since you're not the biological parent, SSA will need to establish you as the proper representative payee. The benefit amount will be 75% of his Primary Insurance Amount (what his retirement benefit would have been at Full Retirement Age).

my daughter gets survivors from her dad and we get about $1,900 a month which helps SO much with expenses! but we had his name on birth certificate. i had to bring his death certificate, her birth certificate, my ID, her social security card, and they still needed our marriage certificate even tho we were actually divorced when he died. bring EVERYTHING you can think of to the appointment!

Update: I managed to find some old tax returns where he claimed her, and I've contacted his mother who has some old medical records that list him as her father. I'm feeling a bit more optimistic now. Has anyone done this application process recently? How long does it typically take to get approved once you submit everything?

my friends kid got like $1200 a month when her dad died last year and she was 15. they had dna test from when he tried to avoid child support lol. that backfired on him but helped her get benefits fast

I just realized - make sure you apply for any back benefits too! If he died in May and it's now... wait what month is it? August? You can get payments backdated to May when you apply! Don't leave that money on the table!

I was finally able to schedule an appointment for next week! I've gathered tax returns from 2018-2019 when he claimed her, statements from his mother and brother, and some school emergency contact forms where he's listed as her father. I also found an old hospital visit summary where he's listed as the responsible party and father. Hoping this will be enough. Will update after the appointment. Thanks for all the helpful advice everyone!

I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing a child is devastating, and dealing with bureaucracy while grieving makes it even harder. You're doing the right thing by pursuing these benefits for your granddaughter. I went through something similar when my nephew's father died without being on the birth certificate. The key is establishing a "parent-child relationship" through what SSA calls "clear and convincing evidence." From what you've described, you're already on the right track gathering those tax returns and family statements. One thing that really helped in our case was getting an affidavit from the hospital where she was born. Sometimes they have records of who was present during delivery or who signed paperwork, even if it didn't make it onto the actual birth certificate. Also, if your son ever had any life insurance policies or bank accounts that listed her as a beneficiary, those documents can be powerful evidence. The process took about 3 months for us, but she did receive retroactive benefits back to the date of death. Don't get discouraged if they ask for additional documentation - it's normal in these cases. You're being a wonderful advocate for your granddaughter during an incredibly difficult time.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing a child is unimaginably difficult, and you're showing incredible strength by advocating for your granddaughter during this heartbreaking time. Based on your updates, it sounds like you're gathering excellent documentation. The tax returns and hospital records will be particularly compelling evidence for SSA. A few additional thoughts that might help: If your son ever took your granddaughter to any doctor appointments, try to get those medical records - they often have the father listed as the responsible party or emergency contact. Also, check if there are any school enrollment documents from when she started kindergarten or changed schools where he might have signed as her father. Since you mentioned addiction issues, it's worth noting that SSA won't hold his struggles against your granddaughter's claim. They're only concerned with establishing the parent-child relationship and his work history for benefit calculation purposes. The fact that you've had legal guardianship since she was 3 actually works in your favor - it shows a stable family structure and your role as her caregiver. Make sure to bring those guardianship papers to your appointment. You're doing everything right, and from what you've described, you have strong evidence to support her claim. Wishing you both strength and a smooth process ahead.

I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your son. What you're going through is heartbreaking, and it's clear how much you love and care for your granddaughter. From reading through all the helpful advice here, it sounds like you're building a really strong case with the tax returns, hospital records, and family statements. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if your son ever had any social media accounts where he posted pictures with your granddaughter or referred to her as his daughter, screenshots of those posts can actually serve as additional evidence of their relationship. Facebook posts, Instagram photos with captions mentioning "my daughter," things like that can be surprisingly helpful. Also, if your granddaughter has any school friends whose parents knew your son, getting a simple written statement from them acknowledging that they knew him as her father could add to your evidence pile. Sometimes these informal acknowledgments from the community carry weight. You're being such an incredible advocate for her during the most difficult time imaginable. The fact that you're pushing through all this bureaucracy while grieving shows what an amazing grandparent you are. She's lucky to have you fighting for her rights and future security.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Losing your son and then having to navigate all this bureaucracy while grieving must be incredibly overwhelming. You've gotten excellent advice here, and it sounds like you're gathering strong documentation. One thing I wanted to add that I haven't seen mentioned - if your son ever filled out any emergency contact forms for jobs, schools he attended, or even things like gym memberships where he might have listed your granddaughter as his dependent or emergency contact, those can also serve as evidence of the parent-child relationship. Also, don't forget about any old Christmas or birthday cards he may have signed "Love, Dad" or similar. I know it sounds small, but SSA considers all forms of evidence when establishing paternity, and personal items like cards or letters can actually be quite meaningful in their determination. The good news is that SSA really does want to help children get the benefits they're entitled to. While the process can feel daunting, they have experience with exactly these kinds of situations where the birth certificate doesn't tell the whole story. You're doing everything right by gathering multiple forms of evidence rather than relying on just one document. Best of luck with your appointment next week. Your granddaughter is fortunate to have someone fighting so hard for her during this difficult time.

I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your son. Having walked this path myself when my brother passed away and left behind two children, I understand how overwhelming it can be to navigate these systems while grieving. It sounds like you've done an incredible job gathering evidence - the tax returns, hospital records, and family statements should definitely establish the parent-child relationship SSA needs to see. One additional piece of documentation that really helped in our case was getting a letter from your granddaughter's school counselor or a teacher who knew your son. Even if it just states that they were aware he was her father and attended school events or parent conferences, it adds another layer of community recognition to your case. Also, if you still have any old cell phone records or phone bills that show regular contact between your son and your household during the years you've been raising her, those can demonstrate ongoing parental involvement. Phone companies usually keep records going back several years. The 75% benefit rate that was mentioned earlier is significant - for a 42-year-old who was working, that could provide meaningful financial support for her education and daily needs through age 18. You're doing such important work ensuring she gets what she's entitled to. Thinking of you both during this difficult time, and hoping your appointment next week goes smoothly.

I'm so sorry for your loss, and I want to commend you for being such a dedicated advocate for your granddaughter during this incredibly difficult time. Reading through this thread, it's clear you've received excellent advice and have gathered substantial evidence. I wanted to add one more potential source that hasn't been mentioned yet - if your son ever had any interactions with Child Protective Services or family court (even positive ones like custody discussions or support arrangements), those records often contain acknowledgments of paternity that can be very compelling to SSA. Also, since you mentioned he struggled with addiction, if he ever went through any treatment programs or rehab facilities, they sometimes have intake forms where patients list their children and family relationships. These medical/treatment records can serve as additional evidence of his acknowledgment of being her father. Based on everything you've shared, you have built an incredibly strong case. The combination of tax records, hospital documentation, family statements, and your legal guardianship papers should be more than sufficient. SSA sees cases like this regularly, and they have established procedures specifically for situations where the birth certificate is incomplete. You're giving your granddaughter such a gift by ensuring she receives the benefits her father's work history has earned her. Wishing you both strength and a successful appointment next week.

My heart goes out to you during this incredibly difficult time. Losing your son and then having to navigate these complex systems while grieving is unimaginably hard, but you're showing such strength and dedication in advocating for your granddaughter. I've been following your updates throughout this thread, and I'm truly impressed by how thoroughly you've prepared for your appointment. The combination of tax records, hospital documentation, family statements, and your legal guardianship papers creates a compelling picture of the parent-child relationship that SSA needs to establish. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if your son ever had any utility bills, lease agreements, or other household documents where your granddaughter was listed as living with him (even temporarily), those can serve as additional evidence. Also, if he ever received any government benefits like food stamps or Medicaid and listed her as a dependent, those records from social services agencies can be very persuasive to SSA. It's also worth noting that SSA has a vested interest in approving legitimate claims. They want to ensure children receive the benefits they're entitled to, and they have extensive experience with cases where documentation is incomplete. Your thorough preparation and the multiple forms of evidence you've gathered should give them everything they need to make a positive determination. Your granddaughter is so fortunate to have you fighting for her future during this heartbreaking time. The benefits you're securing will provide important financial stability as she finishes high school and potentially pursues higher education. You're honoring your son's memory by ensuring his work history benefits his daughter. Best of luck with your appointment - you've got this!

I'm so sorry for the loss of your son. What you're going through is heartbreaking, and it's clear how much you love and care for your granddaughter. I wanted to share that I went through a very similar situation when my nephew's father passed away without being listed on the birth certificate. The process can feel overwhelming, but you're absolutely on the right track with the documentation you've gathered. One thing that really helped us was creating a timeline document that showed the relationship over the years - listing dates when he claimed her on taxes, attended school events, medical appointments, etc. SSA appreciated having everything organized chronologically, and it helped tell the story of their father-daughter relationship despite the missing birth certificate documentation. Also, if your granddaughter has any artwork, school projects, or cards she made for Father's Day over the years that reference "Dad" or "Daddy," bring those too. They might seem insignificant, but they show her recognition of the relationship from her perspective, which can be meaningful evidence. The 14-year work relationship you've had raising her, combined with your legal guardianship, actually strengthens your case. It shows stability and your role as her primary caregiver, which SSA needs to establish for you to serve as the representative payee. You're doing everything right, and from what you've shared, you have strong evidence. Your granddaughter is fortunate to have someone fighting so hard for her during this difficult time. Wishing you both strength and a smooth process ahead.

I'm so deeply sorry for the loss of your son. What you're going through - grieving while trying to navigate these complex systems to protect your granddaughter's future - takes incredible strength and love. Reading through your journey in this thread has been both heartbreaking and inspiring. You've received such thoughtful advice and have clearly built an exceptionally strong case with multiple forms of evidence. The tax returns, hospital records, family statements, and your legal guardianship documentation create a compelling picture that should satisfy SSA's requirements for establishing paternity. What strikes me most is how this process, while administratively challenging, is also a way of honoring your son's memory and ensuring his work history continues to provide for his daughter. Despite the struggles he faced with addiction, he was still her father and did contribute to the system that now can support her future. Your thoroughness in gathering evidence from so many different sources - from medical records to school documents to family statements - shows SSA that this isn't just a legal technicality, but a real family relationship that deserves recognition. The fact that you've been her primary caregiver with legal guardianship for over a decade only strengthens your position as the appropriate representative payee. Going into your appointment next week, remember that SSA deals with these situations regularly and has processes specifically designed for cases where birth certificate documentation is incomplete. You've done everything right in your preparation. Wishing you and your granddaughter strength for the road ahead. She's fortunate to have such a dedicated advocate fighting for her rights during this difficult time.