Will Social Security send separate payments for my children's benefits? Tax implications at FRA

Yes, your children will receive their own separate payments from Social Security. The payments for minor children are made to a representative payee (usually a parent) but are considered the children's income, not yours. Each child will get their own separate 1099 form at tax time. You're thinking correctly about the family maximum - it limits the total benefits payable on your record. Smart move considering the tax implications. Just make sure you keep good records of how you spend your children's benefits, as the SSA requires representative payees to account for those funds.

congrats on reaching FRA! my kids got benefits when i retired last yr and YES they come separate. each kid gets their own payment but it goes to you as the parent. you'll get 3 different deposits each month. good luck!

Be SUPER careful with this!! When my brother retired, he thought the same thing but ended up with a HUGE tax bill because he didn't realize the kids benefits can still be taxable if the KIDS have other income or if they live with you and you provide more than half their support!!! The IRS has all these complicated rules about kiddie tax. PLEASE talk to a tax professional before assuming anything!!!!!

You made the right decision about your wife not applying. Many people don't realize how the family maximum works with retirement benefits. Just to clarify for others reading this: when a retired worker has children receiving benefits, the maximum is generally 150-180% of the worker's primary insurance amount. About the payments - Social Security will deposit separate payments for each beneficiary. You'll be the representative payee for your minor children, so you'll receive their payments, but they're legally their benefits, not yours. Each January, separate SSA-1099s will be issued for you and each child. Those benefits must be used for the children's needs - education, food, clothing, medical expenses, etc. Keep records of how you spend their benefits in case SSA asks for an accounting.

My neighbor had this exact situation and kept getting the runaround from Social Security! She could never get through on the phone to get a straight answer. She found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got her connected to an actual SSA agent in like 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU She said it was totally worth it to finally get her questions answered about the separate payments. Might help if you have more complicated questions that need an actual agent.

To add some technical clarity to this discussion: 1. Children's benefits are paid to a representative payee (usually a parent) until the child turns 18 (or 19 if still in high school) 2. Each beneficiary receives their own payment with their own claim number 3. For tax purposes, the benefits belong to the child. SSA will issue a separate SSA-1099 for each child in January 4. The family maximum formula is applied to determine the total benefits payable on your record. The current formula is complex, but essentially limits total benefits to 150-180% of your PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) 5. Your wife made a strategic decision by not applying, as her benefits would indeed count toward the family maximum and potentially create additional tax liability Keep in mind that you'll need to complete an annual Representative Payee Report explaining how the benefits were used for each child.

not sure why ppl are making this so complicated lol. the kids get their own money and its not ur income. my sister gets payments for her kids and its super simple. the govt sends u a form at tax time, done!

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! Just to update - I called SSA this morning (after trying for days) and finally got through. The representative confirmed that my children will receive separate payments with me as the representative payee, and that they'll each get their own 1099 forms for tax purposes. She also mentioned I should keep receipts and records of how I spend their benefits, as I'll need to file an annual Representative Payee Report. I'm going to set up separate savings accounts for each child to make tracking easier. I appreciate all the advice here - this community has been more helpful than the hours I spent trying to find clear information on the SSA website!

Just want to add one more thing about the tax situation, since there seems to be some confusion in the thread. Children's benefits are potentially taxable to the child if: 1. The child has other income that, when combined with the Social Security benefits, exceeds the tax filing threshold, OR 2. The child's benefits are being used by the parent for the child's support (food, housing, etc.) In the second case, the parent might have the option to include the benefits in their income rather than the child's. This is rarely advantageous, but a tax professional can help determine the best approach for your specific situation. Also, keep in mind that your children will continue receiving benefits until they turn 18 (or 19 if still in high school full-time). Their benefits will not affect your own retirement benefit amount.

Congratulations on reaching your FRA! As someone new to this community, I wanted to share that I'm in a very similar situation - just turned 66 and considering applying for benefits with two teenage children. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly educational. I'm particularly grateful for the detailed explanations about the separate payments and tax implications. One question I haven't seen addressed - does the timing of when you apply during your FRA year affect anything? I'm wondering if I should wait until later in the year or if it doesn't matter as long as it's after my birthday month. Also, @Adrian Connor, thank you for posting this question and following up with what SSA told you directly. It's so helpful to see real experiences rather than just trying to decode the official government websites!

Welcome to the community! I'm also relatively new here but have been following this discussion closely as I'm approaching my own retirement decision. @Connor Murphy, regarding your timing question - from what I've researched, applying earlier in your FRA year versus later doesn't affect your benefit amount, but there are a few practical considerations. If you're still working and earning above the earnings limit, waiting until you actually stop working might be simpler to avoid any temporary benefit reductions. Also, your first payment timing depends on your birth date and when SSA processes your application. One thing I've learned from this thread is how complex the family benefits can get with children involved. @Adrian Connor's experience with getting through to SSA directly seems like the gold standard - the official documentation can be really confusing compared to hearing from someone who actually went through the process. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences here. It's incredibly valuable to have real-world perspectives on these decisions that affect so many of us!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for such a thorough and helpful discussion! I'm currently 66 and have been hesitant to apply for Social Security benefits because I wasn't sure how it would work with my 15-year-old daughter who would be eligible for benefits on my record. Reading through @Adrian Connor's experience and all the detailed responses has really clarified things for me. The confirmation that children receive separate payments (but through the parent as representative payee) and get their own 1099 forms is exactly what I needed to know. I was particularly concerned about the tax implications and whether her benefits would somehow increase my taxable income. @Leo Simmons and @Aisha Jackson, your technical explanations about the family maximum and representative payee responsibilities are incredibly valuable. I had no idea about the annual Representative Payee Report requirement - that's definitely something I need to plan for. I think I'm ready to move forward with my application now. Like others have mentioned, this community discussion has been far more helpful than trying to navigate the SSA website alone. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

Welcome to everyone who's new to the community! As someone who's been navigating Social Security benefits for a while now, it's really heartwarming to see how this discussion has helped so many people understand the children's benefit process. I wanted to add one practical tip that hasn't been mentioned yet - when you do set up those separate accounts for your children's benefits, consider asking your bank about automatic transfers or savings goals. Some banks will let you set up small automatic transfers from the children's benefit accounts into dedicated savings for their future education or other long-term needs. Since you're managing these funds for their benefit anyway, it can be a great way to ensure some of their Social Security benefits are being set aside for bigger expenses down the road. Also, for those still deciding on timing, remember that Social Security has an online benefits estimator tool that can give you a rough idea of what your family's total benefits might look like. It's not perfect, but it can help with that initial planning before you make the call to speak with an actual representative. Great thread, @Adrian Connor - thanks for sharing your experience and following up with the official confirmation!

As someone completely new to this community and the Social Security system, I have to say this thread has been incredibly enlightening! I'm 65 and approaching my own FRA decision, and I had no idea how complex the family benefits could get with children involved. What really strikes me is how much more helpful real experiences are compared to the official documentation. @Adrian Connor, thank you for not only asking the question but also following up with what SSA actually told you on the phone - that kind of real-world confirmation is invaluable for those of us trying to navigate this system. I'm particularly grateful for all the technical details about separate payments, tax implications, and the representative payee responsibilities that @Leo Simmons and @Aisha Jackson provided. The tip about setting up separate accounts from @Niko Ramsey is exactly the kind of practical advice I needed to hear. One quick question for the group - for those who have gone through this process, roughly how long did it take from application to receiving the first payments? I'm trying to plan my timeline and would love to hear about actual experiences rather than what the SSA website estimates. Thanks again to everyone for creating such a welcoming and informative discussion!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to express my gratitude for such an incredibly detailed and helpful discussion! I'm 66 and have been putting off my Social Security application because I was overwhelmed by the complexity, especially with my 13-year-old son who would be eligible for benefits on my record. Reading through @Adrian Connor's experience and everyone's responses has been like having a personal consultation with experts. The clarification about separate payments, tax implications, and representative payee duties has answered questions I didn't even know I should be asking. What really resonates with me is how much more accessible this information becomes through real experiences versus trying to navigate the SSA website alone. The practical tips about separate bank accounts, keeping detailed records, and the annual reporting requirements are exactly what I needed to hear to feel prepared. I'm curious - for those who have been through this process with children, did you find that having all the documentation organized beforehand (birth certificates, tax returns, etc.) significantly sped up the application process? I want to make sure I'm as prepared as possible when I finally make that call to SSA. Thank you all for creating such a supportive environment for navigating these important life decisions!

Welcome to all the newcomers! As someone who's also relatively new to this community, I've been following this discussion with great interest since I'm 64 and starting to think about my own Social Security timeline. @Ravi Patel, your question about documentation is spot-on. From what I've learned through other benefits processes, having everything organized beforehand - birth certificates, Social Security cards for the kids, recent tax returns, W-2s, and any divorce decrees if applicable - definitely helps. It prevents those frustrating situations where you finally get through to SSA and then have to call back because you're missing a document. What's been most valuable to me in this thread is seeing how @Adrian Connor followed up with the actual SSA confirmation. It really reinforces that while this community is incredibly knowledgeable, getting official verification directly from SSA is still the gold standard for your specific situation. I'm particularly grateful for the practical tips about separate bank accounts and record-keeping that have been shared here. It's those real-world details that you just can't find in the official materials. Thanks to everyone for making this such an educational discussion!

Welcome to the community! As someone who's completely new here, I have to say this thread has been absolutely invaluable. I'm 65 and just started thinking seriously about applying for Social Security benefits, and I had no idea that children's benefits were even a possibility until I stumbled across this discussion. @Adrian Connor, thank you so much for asking this question and then following up with the official SSA confirmation - that kind of real-world verification is exactly what those of us new to this process need to hear. The fact that your children will get separate payments but through you as representative payee, with their own 1099 forms, makes so much more sense now. The technical explanations from @Leo Simmons about the family maximum calculations and representative payee responsibilities, along with @Aisha Jackson's clarifications about tax implications, have been incredibly educational. I never would have understood these complexities from the SSA website alone. One thing I'm curious about - for those who have been through this process, did you find it helpful to bring your children to the SSA office when you applied, or is their physical presence not necessary since you're acting as their representative payee? I want to make sure I'm prepared for whatever the application process requires. Thanks again to everyone for making this such a welcoming and informative community for newcomers like me!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to add my sincere thanks for such a comprehensive and helpful discussion! I'm 66 and have been hesitating to apply for Social Security benefits because I wasn't sure how the process would work with my 16-year-old daughter who would be eligible for benefits on my record. Reading through @Adrian Connor's experience and all the detailed responses has really demystified the entire process for me. The confirmation that children receive separate payments (with the parent as representative payee) and get their own 1099 forms for tax purposes addresses my biggest concerns about potential tax complications. I'm particularly grateful for the practical advice about setting up separate bank accounts from the start - that seems like such a simple step that could prevent a lot of headaches with record-keeping and the annual Representative Payee Reports. The technical explanations about family maximums and benefit calculations from @Leo Simmons and @Aisha Jackson have also been incredibly valuable. One question I haven't seen addressed - if I'm planning to continue working part-time after I apply (just a few hours a week, well under the earnings limit), does that affect anything about my daughter's benefits or the application process? I want to make sure I understand all the implications before I move forward. Thank you all for creating such a welcoming environment for those of us navigating these important decisions for the first time!

Welcome to the community! As someone completely new to both this forum and the Social Security process, I have to say this entire discussion has been absolutely eye-opening. I'm 65 and approaching my FRA, and I had no idea how children's benefits worked until reading through this thread. @Adrian Connor, thank you for not only asking the original question but also following up with the official SSA confirmation - that real-world verification is exactly what newcomers like me need to feel confident about the process. The fact that your children get separate payments through you as representative payee, with their own 1099 forms, makes so much more sense now than trying to parse through the SSA website. The technical expertise shared by @Leo Simmons and @Aisha Jackson about family maximums, representative payee duties, and tax implications has been invaluable. I never would have understood these complexities on my own. And the practical tips about separate bank accounts and detailed record-keeping are exactly the kind of real-world advice that makes all the difference. One thing I'm wondering about - for those who have been through this process, did you find it easier to apply online initially or to call directly? I've heard mixed experiences about the online application system versus speaking with a representative, especially when children's benefits are involved. Any insights would be greatly appreciated! Thanks again to everyone for making this such a welcoming and educational community for those of us just starting this journey.

As a newcomer to this community, I want to express my gratitude for such an incredibly thorough and helpful discussion! I'm 64 and starting to seriously consider my Social Security application timeline, and I had absolutely no idea about the complexities involved with children's benefits until stumbling upon this thread. @Adrian Connor, thank you so much for asking this question and following up with the official SSA confirmation - that kind of real-world verification is exactly what those of us new to this process desperately need. The clarification about separate payments, individual 1099 forms, and representative payee responsibilities has answered questions I didn't even know I should be asking. The technical expertise shared by @Leo Simmons and @Aisha Jackson about family maximums, tax implications, and representative payee duties has been absolutely invaluable. Combined with the practical tips about separate bank accounts and detailed record-keeping, this discussion has transformed what seemed like an overwhelming bureaucratic maze into a manageable process. I'm particularly struck by how much more accessible this information becomes through real experiences versus trying to decode government websites alone. This community has provided the kind of practical guidance that makes all the difference when facing these important life decisions. Thank you all for creating such a welcoming environment for newcomers navigating the Social Security system for the first time!