Can my grandchild receive Social Security benefits on my record when I retire? Legal custody questions

Yes, your grandchild can potentially qualify for benefits on your record, but there are specific requirements. Since you have legal custody, the key factors Social Security will consider are: 1) Does the child live with you? 2) Do you provide at least 50% of his financial support? 3) Are the parents providing significant support? If your grandchild is legally dependent on you, he could receive up to 50% of your PIA (Primary Insurance Amount), subject to the family maximum. You should gather documentation of the custody arrangement, proof of support, and the child's birth certificate before applying.

my sister went thru this with her grandbaby. SSA made her jump thru hoops proving she was supporting the kid. bring EVERYTHING when you go - custody papers, school records showing your address, medical records if you have him on your insurance, proof that the parents arent supporting him. they denied her the first time but she appealed and won.

Correction to what was said above - your grandson would actually get up to 50% of your benefit amount, NOT your PIA. And yes, it would be a separate payment made directly for him. But be aware of the family maximum! The total benefits payable to your family (including your grandson) generally ranges from 150% to 180% of your full benefit. So while your own benefit won't be reduced, the amount he receives might be less than the full 50% if there are other dependents also collecting on your record.

i had 2 deal with this years ago. you should ADOPT him if possible!!! its MUCH easier with SS if ur the adoptive parent vs just having custody. thats what i had to do with my granddaughter after my daughter passed. saved tons of headaches with SSA

Getting through to SSA to discuss your specific situation is crucial, but it can be incredibly frustrating. After spending weeks trying to get answers about my grandchildren's benefits, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com). They got me connected to an actual SSA agent within 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours or getting disconnected. There's a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - completely changed my experience with getting the answers I needed about dependent benefits.

UPDATE: I went to my local SSA office yesterday (had to make an appointment 3 weeks in advance). The rep confirmed that yes, my grandson can qualify for benefits on my record once I retire! She said we'll need to bring: the custody order, his birth certificate, school records showing my address, proof that I provide over 50% support (they'll look at household expenses, food, clothing, etc.), and a statement about the parents' absence. She said it helps that I've had him for 6+ years already. Thank you everyone for your help! Now I feel much better about our financial future.

IS THIS ONLY FOR RETIREMENT??? My grandson lives with me too but I'm on SSDI. Would he qualify for benefits now or do I have to wait till retirement age??

Great thread and so helpful to see Sofia's update! I'm in a similar situation with my 7-year-old granddaughter. One thing I want to add that might help others - when gathering proof of support, don't forget about medical expenses if you have the child on your health insurance. The SSA rep I spoke with said that counts as a significant form of support since healthcare costs for kids can be substantial. Also, if you're claiming the child as a dependent on your tax returns, bring those too - that's another piece of evidence showing you're providing the majority of their financial support.

This is such valuable information for grandparents! I wanted to add something that might help - if you're concerned about proving the parents aren't providing support (like Sofia mentioned), you can also ask SSA about getting a "Statement of Non-Support" form. This is something the absent parents can sign (if you can locate them) or you can provide an affidavit explaining their absence and lack of contact. I learned this when helping my neighbor with a similar situation. Also, keep records of ANY expenses you pay for your grandson - school supplies, clothes, activities, even small things add up and show the pattern of you being the primary provider. The more documentation you have, the stronger your case will be.

As someone new to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm in a very similar situation - I've had custody of my 8-year-old nephew for the past 4 years after his parents lost their rights due to substance abuse issues. Reading through Sofia's journey and everyone's advice has given me so much hope and direction for planning our future when I retire in a few years. The practical tips about documentation, the health insurance angle, and especially learning about the Statement of Non-Support form are game-changers. It's reassuring to know that SSA does recognize these family situations where grandparents and other relatives step up to raise children. Thank you all for sharing your experiences so openly - it makes navigating this complex system feel much less overwhelming for those of us just starting to research our options.