Social Security benefits for adopted children when retiring early at 62 - how to estimate?

Yes, your children will be eligible for benefits based on your record! Each child can receive up to 50% of your PIA ($2,050), regardless of you taking early retirement. So potentially up to $1,025 per child. However, there's a Family Maximum Benefit (FMB) that will likely come into play with 3 children. The formula is complicated, but typically ranges from 150% to 180% of your PIA. So if your FMB is around 175% of your PIA, that would be approximately $3,587. The total benefits paid to your family members (not including you) cannot exceed the difference between your FMB and your benefit amount. Your early retirement at 62 will reduce your benefit to about 70% of your PIA, so roughly $1,435. That leaves about $2,152 to be divided equally among your three children, so around $717 per child. This is a rough estimate - Social Security will calculate the exact amounts when you apply.

when I retired my grandkids got benefits to. you have to go in person to the office and bring the adoption papers and birth certificates they DONT let you do this online.

I went through EXACTLY this situation 2 years ago, except I had 2 adopted kids. The person above gave mostly correct info, but there's one thing you should know - when my benefits started, there was a 2-month delay for the kids' benefits to begin. Something about processing time for dependent benefits. Make sure you have certified copies of the adoption decrees and birth certificates. They wouldn't accept my photocopies and I had to reschedule my appointment. Also, they'll deposit the kids' money separately from yours - you'll need to set up representative payee accounts. They'll explain this when you apply, but basically you'll manage separate accounts for each child's benefits until they turn 18.

I had a TERRIBLE time trying to get this set up for my kids. Went to the office THREE TIMES because they kept saying documents were missing. Then they calculated everything wrong and I had to file an appeal. The whole process took SEVEN MONTHS before my kids got a single payment!!! The SSA is completely BROKEN. They're understaffed and nobody knows what they're doing anymore. Sorry to be negative but I just want you to be prepared for a complete disaster. And good luck trying to get anyone on the phone - I spent HOURS on hold only to get disconnected!!

have u considerd waiting till your FRA to get the full amout? taking early at 62 is a BIG cut and permanant. with 3 kids maybe worth waiting???

To answer your question about filing - yes, you should file for the children's benefits at the same time you file for your retirement. It's all part of the same process, though they'll need to set up the representative payee arrangement the other poster mentioned. One important note: If you're still planning to work after claiming benefits at 62, be aware of the earnings limit ($2,090/month for 2025). If you earn above this amount, both your benefits AND your children's benefits could be reduced until you reach your full retirement age. This catches many people by surprise.

my sister tried to do this online and got denied. then went to the office and got approved right away. somethign about them needing to verify the kids in person i think?? anyway good luck!!

One other thing to be aware of - the children's benefits will continue until they graduate high school (or age 19, whichever comes first), not just until they turn 18. That extra year of benefits can make a difference for college planning. Also, the family maximum can change slightly if your PIA is recalculated due to annual COLA increases. It usually goes up a bit each year, which might mean small increases to the children's benefit amounts over time. Nothing dramatic, but worth knowing.

Yes, you can request an appointment with an SSA claims specialist who can provide you with benefit estimates for both yourself and your children before you file. Call the main SSA number (1-800-772-1213) to schedule, or visit your local office. Bring your most recent Social Security statement and the children's documents (birth certificates, adoption papers, and their Social Security cards) to the appointment. The specialist can run the calculations with your specific details and give you a much more accurate estimate than we can provide here. They can also explain the representative payee responsibilities and answer any questions about how the benefits work.