Social Security dependent benefits for my teen son - can he collect if I delay my retirement benefits?

Yes, your child can receive benefits on your record even if you're not collecting retirement benefits yourself! You need to file for retirement benefits but then immediately request "suspension" of your own benefits. This allows your son to receive his dependent benefits (generally 50% of your PIA) while you continue to earn delayed retirement credits until 70. This is sometimes called "file and suspend." Your son's benefits will continue until he graduates high school or turns 19, whichever comes first.

My sister tried 2 do this last year and they told her wrong info 3 times!!! Make sure u talk to someone who ACTUALLY knows the rules not just the first person who answers!!

The previous advice is not entirely accurate. The "file and suspend" strategy was largely eliminated by Congress in 2015 through the Bipartisan Budget Act. However, what you can do is file for your retirement benefits now, which will allow your son to collect dependent benefits (up to 50% of your PIA). Yes, this means you'll start receiving your retirement benefits earlier than planned, but given that your son will receive benefits for almost 3 years, the combined total might offset the reduction from claiming early. Alternatively, if your son's other parent is deceased, disabled, or retirement-eligible, he might qualify for benefits on that record instead, which would allow you to delay your own benefits as planned. This gets complicated quickly and depends on your specific family situation.

I dealt with almost this exact situation last year. Here's what worked for me - I found that calling Social Security was IMPOSSIBLE. I kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a real SSA agent in about 20 minutes. They have this system that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. There's a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Once I finally got through to someone knowledgeable, they explained all my options clearly. In my case, I did have to start taking my benefits for my son to get his, but at least I was able to make an informed decision after talking to a real person. The peace of mind was worth it.

Uhhhh the people giving advice here are WRONG! My neighbor works for SSA and says you MUST be collecting your benefits for your kid to get anything. There is NO WAY to delay yours and still get child benefits, that loophole got closed years ago!!! The ONLY exception is survivor benefits if the other parent died.

so sorry about your confusion with all this! i went through something similar with my grandson (raising him) and the rules are super confusing. hoping you figure it out!! social security people were actually nice when i finally got to talk to someone in person at the office

Just wanted to add that if you do have to claim early (before 70), the reduction to your benefit isn't as bad as it seems at first glance since you're already at FRA. You'd only be giving up the delayed credits (8% per year), not taking an early reduction. And your son getting 50% of your PIA for 3 years might make up for it financially in the long run. But each situation is unique so definitely get official advice from SSA.

One more thing to consider: Even if you start your retirement benefits now, your son's benefits won't affect your own benefit amount. His payments come on top of yours, not out of your share. And remember, if he's still in high school, he can receive benefits until he graduates or turns 19, whichever comes first. But they won't continue through college unless he becomes disabled before 22.

my friend says if u go to the SS office in person instead of calling u can get better answers faster!!! worth a try

After reading through all these comments, I want to clarify: The most accurate approach is to contact SSA directly for your specific situation. The rules around dependent benefits are complex and have changed over the years. What was true pre-2015 is different now, and what works for one family might not apply to another based on various factors including age, disability status, and family composition. Document everything when you speak with them, including the name of the representative, date and time, and what you were told.

Good luck with your appointment next week! I hope they can give you clear answers. This thread really shows how confusing Social Security rules can be - even people who think they know the system are giving conflicting advice. It's frustrating that something so important is so hard to get straight information about. Please do update us when you find out what your actual options are. There are probably other parents in similar situations who could benefit from knowing what you learn. Fingers crossed the in-person visit goes better than the phone calls!

This is such a complex situation and I really feel for you! As someone who's had to navigate Social Security rules myself, I can tell you that getting consistent information is unfortunately one of the biggest challenges. What I've learned is that the rules around dependent benefits have changed significantly over the years, and even SSA representatives sometimes give outdated or conflicting information. From what I understand, the key issue is that the old "file and suspend" strategy was mostly eliminated in 2015, but there may still be some limited circumstances where it applies. Your best bet is definitely the in-person appointment you've scheduled - bring a list of specific questions and ask them to show you the exact regulations they're referencing. One thing that might help is to ask specifically about the difference between how spousal benefits and child benefits are handled under current rules. I've heard they have different requirements, but I'm not confident enough in my knowledge to give you definitive advice. Also, consider asking about whether your son might qualify for benefits on his other parent's record if that's applicable to your situation. Sometimes there are alternative pathways that aren't immediately obvious. Really hoping you get clear answers at your appointment!

Reading through this thread as someone new to Social Security rules, I'm struck by how much conflicting information there is even among people who seem knowledgeable! It really highlights how complex the system is. @Philip Cowan, I think your decision to go with an in-person appointment is wise - it seems like getting consistent information over the phone is nearly impossible based on everyone's experiences here. One thing I noticed from the discussion is that several people mentioned the 2015 rule changes, but there seems to be disagreement about exactly what those changes affected. When you go to your appointment, it might be worth asking the representative to walk you through the specific current rules for child benefits versus spousal benefits, since those seem to be treated differently. Also, I'd suggest bringing a calculator or asking them to help you run the numbers on both scenarios - claiming now so your son can get benefits versus waiting until 70. The financial comparison over your lifetime might help make the decision clearer. Good luck with your appointment, and I really hope you'll share what you learn since this seems to be a situation many parents face!

As someone new to this community and Social Security benefits in general, I've been following this discussion with great interest since I'm likely to face similar decisions in the future. The range of experiences and advice shared here really illustrates how challenging it can be to get clear, consistent information about these important benefits. @Philip Cowan, I admire how thoughtfully you're approaching this decision - trying to balance maximizing your own retirement security while ensuring your son gets the support he's entitled to. That's exactly the kind of careful planning more people should be doing. What strikes me most from reading through everyone's responses is how much the rules seem to have changed over the years, particularly around 2015, and how even SSA representatives sometimes provide conflicting guidance. It makes me wonder if there should be clearer, more accessible resources for families navigating these situations. I'm really hoping your in-person appointment goes well and that you're able to get definitive answers. If you're comfortable sharing what you learn, I think it would be incredibly valuable for other parents who might find themselves in similar circumstances. The fact that this thread has generated so much discussion shows how common and confusing these situations can be. Best of luck with your appointment - looking forward to hearing how it goes!