How soon can I file for child auxiliary benefits after my SS retirement application? Need timeline and steps

You don't need to wait for your own benefits to be approved! You can and SHOULD apply for auxiliary benefits for your child immediately. There's actually a potential benefit to filing her application within 6 months of your own application - it can help establish protective filing date considerations. You'll need: your daughter's birth certificate, your custody documentation (since mom isn't involved), your SS number, and possibly school records showing she lives with you. You can file online or call to schedule an appointment.

i got my benefits last yr and did my daughters right after mine got approved. honestly wasnt a problem. think its easier that way cuz then they have ur record all set up in system

I'm in almost the exact same situation! Just applied for retirement 3 weeks ago (I'm 63) and have a 14-year-old son. The SSA office told me I HAD to wait until my benefits were approved before they'd even accept his application. Now I'm worried we're missing out on something important. Has anyone actually successfully applied for a child's benefits before the parent's application was approved??

I'm an advocate who helps people navigate SSA benefits, and I want to clarify a few things: 1. You can file for your child's auxiliary benefits any time after you file your own claim - no need to wait for approval 2. There's a 6-month retroactivity window for filing dependent applications that relates to potential retroactive benefits 3. For a 12-year-old dependent, you'll need: birth certificate (certified copy is fine), your identification, proof of custody/living arrangement, and school records showing your address 4. File at the SSA office in person if possible - auxiliary applications for children are sometimes problematic online 5. If your retirement application gets denied for any reason, your daughter's application would also be denied since her eligibility stems from yours

My daughter got her benefits right away when I got my disability approved last year. The money really helps with her expenses. Good luck!

The SSA phone lines are absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to get through on these days! I spent 3 hours on hold trying to ask a similar question about my grandson's benefits and eventually got disconnected. Then tried again the next day and same thing happened. It's ridiculous we can't get basic information about our benefits! I discovered a service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual SSA agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours. It was totally worth it - check out their demo video at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. The agent I spoke with confirmed you can absolutely file for your child right away, doesn't matter if your own benefits are approved yet or not.

ssA is so confusing!!!!! I filed for my granson last year and they made me wait till my benefits got approved first. Now reading this I think they made a mistake and he missed out on 3 months payments!!!!! Who can i talk to about fixing this??

One other important thing: make sure you understand how your early retirement (at 62 instead of Full Retirement Age) impacts BOTH your benefit amount AND your daughter's. She'll receive approximately 50% of what your PRIMARY INSURANCE AMOUNT would be at Full Retirement Age (not 50% of your reduced early retirement amount), but it's also subject to the family maximum benefit calculation. This is a complex calculation, but very important to understand for your financial planning.

make sure u bring all ur documents for ur kid they r super picky and will make u come back if u forget anything

I'm getting so many conflicting answers from SSA about this same issue! Last week one rep told me to apply for my son right away, this week another one says I need to wait. Does anyone know if there's a specific regulation or rule I can reference when I talk to them?

As someone who just went through this process 6 months ago, I can confirm you absolutely DO NOT need to wait for your retirement benefits to be approved first! I filed for my 10-year-old son's auxiliary benefits just 2 weeks after submitting my own retirement application, and it worked out perfectly. Here's what I learned: the SSA systems are designed to process these applications together once your retirement is approved. My son's benefits started the same month as mine, and we didn't lose any potential payments by filing early. Pro tip: when you go in person (which I highly recommend over online for child applications), bring extra copies of everything. I brought my son's birth certificate, custody papers, school enrollment records, and proof he lives with me full-time. The whole process took about 45 minutes, and the representative was able to link his application directly to mine in their system. Don't let one confused rep delay you - the sooner you file, the better protected you'll be for any retroactive payments!

I went through this exact same process with my daughter last year and want to echo what others have said - you absolutely CAN file for your child's benefits right away! The SSA rep who told you to wait was giving incorrect information, which unfortunately happens more often than it should. Here's what worked for me: I filed my daughter's application just 10 days after my own retirement application (I was 63). Both applications were processed together, and her benefits started the same month as mine with no delays or lost payments. For documentation, I brought her birth certificate (certified copy worked fine), my ID, school records showing our address, and since her father wasn't involved, I also brought a notarized statement about sole custody. The whole appointment took about an hour. One thing that really helped was being persistent when I got conflicting information. I called back and specifically asked to speak with someone who handles auxiliary benefits for children. The second rep I spoke with was much more knowledgeable and confirmed that filing simultaneously is not only allowed but actually recommended. Don't let that initial confusion delay you - get her application in as soon as possible to protect any potential retroactive benefits!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm in a very similar situation - just filed for my retirement benefits 2 weeks ago at age 62 and have a 13-year-old daughter. The SSA rep I initially spoke with also told me I had to wait, but after reading all these responses, I'm definitely going to file her application right away. One question I haven't seen addressed yet - since I'm filing for early retirement at 62, will my reduced benefit amount affect how much my daughter receives? I'm getting conflicting information about whether her benefit is calculated based on my reduced amount or my full retirement age amount. Also, does anyone know if there's a specific form number for the child's application, or is it just part of the general auxiliary benefits process? Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this has been incredibly helpful in clearing up the confusion!

I just went through this exact process 2 months ago and can confirm what everyone is saying - you absolutely do NOT need to wait! I filed my 11-year-old son's auxiliary benefits just 5 days after my own retirement application (I'm 63) and everything went smoothly. The key thing I learned is that different SSA reps have varying levels of knowledge about auxiliary benefits, which explains the conflicting information you received. When I called back and specifically mentioned I wanted to file for "child auxiliary benefits under my retirement claim," I got connected to someone much more knowledgeable who immediately confirmed I could file right away. Here's what made the process smooth for me: I went to the local office in person with my son's certified birth certificate, school enrollment records, my driver's license, and documentation showing he lives with me full-time (since his mom isn't involved either). The whole appointment took about 30 minutes, and they linked his application directly to mine in their system. Both of our benefits started the same month with no delays or lost payments. Don't let that initial confusion hold you back - file her application this week to protect any potential retroactive benefits within that 6-month window everyone mentioned!

I just want to add my voice to everyone saying you can file immediately - don't wait! I made the mistake of listening to the first SSA rep who told me to wait until my retirement was approved, and I ended up missing out on 2 months of benefits for my 15-year-old daughter. When I finally got a knowledgeable rep on the phone (took 3 tries!), she confirmed that I could have filed right away and that the delay cost us money. Here's what I wish I had known: bring EVERYTHING when you go in person. I had to make two trips because I forgot to bring school records showing my daughter lived with me. Also, if you're dealing with an absent parent situation like many of us here, consider bringing a notarized statement about sole custody or lack of contact - it can speed things up. The good news is once everything was properly filed, both our benefits started immediately and the process was much smoother than I expected. Don't let that initial confusing conversation delay you any further - get her application in this week while you're still well within that 6-month protective filing window!

I went through this same situation just 4 months ago with my 14-year-old son when I filed for early retirement at 62. The confusion you experienced is unfortunately very common - I got three different answers from three different SSA reps! Here's what I learned after finally getting it sorted out: You can absolutely file for your daughter's auxiliary benefits RIGHT NOW. Don't wait another day. I filed my son's application just 8 days after my retirement application, and both benefits started the same month with no issues. The magic words when you call are "I need to file for child auxiliary benefits under my pending retirement claim." This seems to get you connected to reps who actually understand the process. I also recommend going in person if possible - the online system for child benefits can be glitchy. For documentation, bring: her certified birth certificate, school enrollment records, your ID, and since mom isn't in the picture, any custody documents or a notarized statement about sole custody. I also brought utility bills showing she lives with me. One thing that really surprised me: my son's benefit is calculated on what my FULL retirement age benefit would be (not my reduced early retirement amount), so it's actually higher than I expected. The family maximum still applies, but it's definitely worth getting the ball rolling immediately. Don't let that confusing initial conversation cost you money - file this week while you're still in that protective 6-month window everyone keeps mentioning!