Social Security benefits for adopted grandchildren - should I switch from deceased parent's record to my retirement record?

Yes, this could definitely be a good move financially! When you adopt children, they become eligible for benefits based on your record. Since you mentioned your work history is likely stronger than your son's, the benefit amount for the boys would probably increase. You'll need to contact SSA and inform them of the adoption. Bring certified copies of the adoption papers to your appointment. They'll recalculate the benefits and determine which record (yours or your late son's) provides the higher amount. SSA will always pay the higher benefit. One thing to note: there is a family maximum benefit that applies to your record, which could limit the total amount your household receives. But it's definitely worth checking into!

i went thru something similar with my niece last yr. make sure u bring EVERYTHING to ssa - birth certificates adoption papers death cert for ur son ur ss cards etc etc. they kept asking me for more papers every time i went in it was so frustrating!!!

This sounds like a good plan but I WARN YOU the family maximum is going to bite you!! My sister adopted her grandkids and when they calculated everything, the increase wasn't as much as she thought because of that stupid family maximum limit thing. They take the total benefits everyone can get on your record and cap it!! It's SO FRUSTRATING how the SSA has all these rules that nobody tells you about until AFTER you've gone through all the paperwork. Still probably worth doing but just be prepared to be disappointed!

I'm a benefits counselor and work with these situations regularly. Here's what you should know: 1. Benefits for adopted grandchildren on your record can be up to 50% of your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) 2. There's indeed a Family Maximum Benefit (typically 150-180% of your PIA) that limits the total benefits payable on your record 3. If your wife is also collecting on your record, that affects the family maximum calculation 4. The good news: SSA will calculate which scenario is more beneficial - continuing survivor benefits on your son's record OR switching to benefits on your record 5. They will pay whichever amount is higher, and there shouldn't be any gap in payments You should definitely pursue this. Schedule an appointment with SSA (don't just walk in) and bring certified adoption documents, death certificate, and your ID. The fact that you're already their representative payee will simplify the process.

I tried getting through to SSA for 3 weeks for a similar situation with my adopted niece. Kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Someone told me about this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that gets you through to an agent without the wait. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - saved me so much frustration! The SSA agent told me that adopted grandchildren benefits can actually be quite a bit higher depending on your earnings record compared to their parent's.

I know you're asking about benefits but have you updated their social security cards too? After we adopted our grandkid we had to get a new SS card with the new last name and it was a whole separate process from the benefits part. Just a heads up!

When my partner and I adopted my niece after my sister died, we found that the benefit on my record was actually lower than what she was getting on my sister's record. SSA kept her on the higher benefit (my sister's), which surprised me. Just be aware that they'll compare the two and go with whatever gives your grandsons more money. In our case, even though I had higher lifetime earnings, my sister was younger when she died which somehow resulted in a higher benefit calculation for my niece.

make sure u keep the money separate!!! my friend got in big trouble bcuz she mixed her grandsons benefits with her own money. the ssa is super strict about that!!

One more important point: If you decide to switch the boys to your record, you'll need to file SSA-4-BK (Representative Payee Report) for the benefits they received under their father's record before closing that out. This is basically an accounting of how you spent their benefits. Keep all documentation of how their current benefits are being used for their care, education, etc. The transition from one benefit type to another often triggers a review of the previous benefits management.

Congratulations on finalizing the adoption! As someone who has navigated similar waters with my adopted nephew, I'd strongly recommend getting a written estimate from SSA before making any changes. When I called to inquire about switching my nephew from survivor benefits to my record, they were able to give me the exact dollar amounts for both scenarios over the phone - this helped me make an informed decision without any surprises. Also, since you mentioned you're already the representative payee and have separate accounts set up, you're ahead of the game! The transition should be smoother since SSA already has all your payee information on file. Just make sure to ask specifically about the effective date of any changes when you meet with them - sometimes there can be slight delays in processing that might affect when the new benefit amounts kick in. The fact that your son hadn't worked consistently in recent years definitely suggests your record could provide higher benefits for the boys. Good luck with the process!

As a newcomer to this situation, I really appreciate all the detailed advice everyone has shared here! I'm in a similar position - just became guardian of my grandchild after my daughter passed, and I had no idea that switching benefit records was even an option. The point about getting written estimates before making changes is brilliant - I definitely don't want any surprises with benefit amounts. And thank you to everyone who mentioned the family maximum limits and the potential for review during transitions. These are exactly the kinds of details that SSA doesn't always explain upfront. One question I have after reading through all this: For those who have gone through this process, how long did it typically take from when you submitted the adoption paperwork to when the new benefit amounts started? I'm trying to plan ahead since I know government processes can take time. Also, has anyone dealt with this when the grandchildren were already receiving benefits in multiple states? My grandchild was living with their other grandparent in a different state before coming to live with me, so I'm wondering if that complicates things. Thanks again for all the insights - this community is incredibly helpful!

Welcome to both of you newcomers! It's great to see people helping each other navigate these complex situations. Regarding the multi-state question - I went through something similar when my grandson moved from his mom's state to live with us. The good news is that Social Security benefits follow the child, not the state. You'll just need to update your address with SSA and make sure your local office has all the current information. The guardianship paperwork from the other state should be valid, but definitely bring certified copies of everything. For timing, in my experience it took about 6-8 weeks from when I submitted the adoption papers to when the new benefit calculation took effect. However, they backdated the benefits to the adoption date, so there was no financial loss during the processing period. One tip I learned the hard way - when you call SSA for those estimates, ask them to mail you a written summary of what they tell you over the phone. Sometimes different representatives give slightly different information, so having it in writing helps avoid confusion later. The family maximum issue is real, but don't let it discourage you from exploring this option. Even with the cap, you might still come out ahead, especially if the previous parent had limited work history. SSA will always choose whichever scenario benefits the child more, so you really can't go wrong by investigating!

As someone who recently went through the adoption process with my own grandchildren, I want to echo what others have said about this being potentially very beneficial! The key thing that helped me was calling SSA ahead of time to get rough estimates before I even scheduled the appointment. When I called, they were able to look up both my earnings record and my son's record and give me ballpark figures for what the kids would receive under each scenario. In our case, switching to my record resulted in about 40% higher monthly benefits for each child, even after accounting for the family maximum. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you do switch to your record, the boys will continue receiving these benefits until they turn 18 (or 19 if still in high school), just like they would on their father's record. The advantage is that your benefit calculation is likely more stable since you have a complete work history versus your son's incomplete record. Also, don't forget to ask about any potential retroactive adjustments. In some cases, if your record would have provided higher benefits from the beginning, they might adjust previous payments. It doesn't always happen, but it's worth asking about when you meet with them. The emotional aspect of this transition can be tough too - it feels like you're moving away from their dad's legacy. But remember, you're doing what's best for their financial security, which is exactly what their father would have wanted. Best of luck with everything!

As a newcomer to this community and someone who's just starting to navigate the Social Security system for my adopted grandchild, I'm incredibly grateful for all the detailed advice shared here! This thread has been more informative than hours of trying to research this on my own. I'm in a very similar situation - recently became the guardian of my grandson after his mother (my daughter) passed away unexpectedly. I had no idea that switching from survivor benefits to grandparent benefits was even possible, let alone that it might result in higher payments. The advice about getting written estimates before making any changes seems crucial. I'm definitely going to call SSA this week to get those ballpark figures that several of you mentioned. It sounds like having those numbers upfront will help me make a much more informed decision. One question for those who have been through this process: Did any of you encounter situations where SSA representatives weren't familiar with these adoption scenarios? I want to be prepared with the right terminology and questions to make sure I get accurate information on my first call. Also, for those who mentioned the family maximum limits - is this something that's calculated automatically by SSA, or do you need to specifically ask them to factor that into their estimates? Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative community. It's clear that navigating these benefits can be complex, but having real experiences shared here makes it so much less overwhelming!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for sharing such detailed and helpful experiences! I'm currently in the process of adopting my nephew after my brother passed away, and this thread has been incredibly informative. Reading through all the responses, I'm struck by how much variation there seems to be in both the process and outcomes. Some people saw significant increases in benefits after switching records, while others found the survivor benefits were actually higher. It really reinforces the importance of getting those written estimates before making any decisions. One thing I'm curious about that I haven't seen addressed yet - has anyone dealt with this situation when the child was already close to aging out of benefits? My nephew is 16, so we're only looking at a couple years of benefits regardless. I'm wondering if the administrative effort of switching records is worth it for such a short timeframe, or if there are other factors I should consider (like potential college benefits that might extend beyond age 18). Also, for those who mentioned keeping meticulous records as representative payees - do you have any recommendations for specific tracking methods or software that work well for documenting how benefits are spent? I want to make sure I'm prepared for any potential reviews. Thanks again for creating such a supportive space to discuss these complex situations!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to add my perspective on the timing aspect that Giovanni brought up. Even though your nephew is 16, don't overlook the potential for extended benefits! I went through a similar situation with my adopted daughter when she was 17. Initially, I thought it wasn't worth the hassle since she was so close to 18, but it turned out she qualified for student benefits that continued through her high school graduation at 19. The switch to my record ended up providing about $200 more per month, which over those extended months added up to several thousand dollars that helped with her college expenses. Also, if your nephew plans to attend college, having the higher benefit amount during those final months can help you save more for his education expenses since you'll have more discretionary income from the increased benefits. SSA doesn't restrict how representative payees spend the benefits as long as it's for the child's current needs and reasonable future needs (like education savings). One practical tip: when you call SSA for estimates, ask specifically about student benefit extensions and what documentation they'd need if your nephew stays in school past 18. The rules around this can be nuanced, and getting clarity upfront will help you plan better. Even with just a couple years left, I'd say it's absolutely worth getting those estimates. The peace of mind alone of knowing you maximized his benefits is valuable, and the potential financial gain could be more significant than you expect!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly grateful to have found this thread! I'm currently in the early stages of considering adoption for my granddaughter after my daughter's passing, and I had absolutely no idea that switching benefit records was even an option. Reading through everyone's experiences has been so enlightening. The advice about getting written estimates before making any changes seems like the most important first step - I love how multiple people emphasized this point. It's clear that every situation is unique, and having those concrete numbers upfront is the only way to make an informed decision. What really stands out to me is how supportive and detailed everyone's responses have been. From the benefits counselor explaining the family maximum calculations to people sharing their personal timelines and challenges, this is exactly the kind of real-world information that you can't get from official SSA websites or pamphlets. I'm planning to call SSA next week to start gathering information, and thanks to this thread, I now know to ask for written estimates, inquire about student benefit extensions, and request a written summary of what they tell me over the phone. I also feel much better prepared for the possibility that I might need to explain my situation to multiple representatives before getting consistent information. Thank you all for creating such a helpful community. It's clear that navigating these benefits can feel overwhelming when you're already dealing with loss and major life changes, but having access to these shared experiences makes it so much more manageable!