Will my child support income disqualify us from Social Security survivor benefits for my stepdaughter?

I'm sorry for your loss. The child support shouldn't disqualify your stepdaughter from survivor benefits, but it might reduce the amount. SSA uses a complicated formula that looks at your total household income and the deceased's primary insurance amount (PIA). For your stepdaughter to qualify, your late husband needed to have provided at least 50% of her support, which sounds like was the case. The mother's benefits for you should be available until she turns 16 as you mentioned. The child support won't completely disqualify you, but it may affect the total amount due to something called the family maximum benefit (FMB). This is a cap on the total benefits payable on one worker's record. Definitely apply - even if the benefits are reduced somewhat, they'll still help.

u should apply no matter what!! my brother died 2 yrs ago and his stepkids got benefits even tho their mom got child support. they just had to prove he was supporting them when he died. dont give up before u try!!

First, please accept my condolences on your husband's passing. This is a complicated situation, but let me clarify some points: 1. For stepchild benefits, your daughter needs to have been living with and receiving at least 50% support from your husband at the time of his death. The fact that you receive child support doesn't automatically disqualify her. 2. The child support is considered income to your household, and SSA will factor this in when determining if your husband provided at least 50% support. They'll look at all your household expenses and income sources. 3. For mother's/father's benefits (technically called "mother's or father's insurance benefits"), you can receive these until your child turns 16 if you're caring for a child who's eligible for benefits on the deceased worker's record. 4. The family maximum benefit (FMB) will cap the total amount payable to all beneficiaries on your husband's record, typically between 150-180% of his basic benefit amount. I recommend gathering documentation of household expenses, your husband's income, and proof that he was supporting your daughter. Apply as soon as possible - benefits can be retroactive, but only for a limited time period. Even partial benefits would help your situation.

sorry about ur husband passing away. my cousin was in similar situation last year and her stepdaughter got benefits even with child support coming in. they said something about the "deemed support" rule or something like that. as long as your husband was living with your daughter and helping support her, it should be ok. good luck!

I went through something similar when my wife passed. The child support you receive doesn't automatically disqualify you - SSA will look at the total financial picture. They use a concept called "one-half support" which means they determine if your husband was providing at least 50% of your daughter's total support costs. Here's how they typically calculate it: 1. They total up ALL costs for supporting your daughter (housing, food, clothing, education, etc.) 2. They figure out how much of that was provided by your husband (his income used for these expenses) 3. They compare that to other support sources (like the child support) If your husband's contribution was more than 50% of the total, your daughter should qualify. Remember that "support" includes a portion of housing costs, utilities, food, etc. - not just direct expenses for the child. As for your mother's benefits, you should qualify if your daughter is eligible for survivor benefits. These will continue until she turns 16. Start gathering documentation now: household bills, proof of your husband's income, bank statements showing how household expenses were paid, etc. The process can take time, but don't get discouraged. Have you been able to schedule an appointment with SSA yet? The wait times have been ridiculous lately.

Try using Claimyr (claimyr.com) - it saved me HOURS of waiting when I was applying for my survivor benefits last year. They call SSA and hold in line for you, then call you when a rep is available. I was skeptical but they got me through in 40 minutes when I'd been trying for days! Check out their video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU

Just to add another perspective - when calculating the one-half support rule, SSA doesn't just look at money coming in, but HOW it's spent. If the child support mostly goes toward your daughter's direct expenses (clothes, activities, medical) but your husband's income covered your housing, utilities, groceries, car, insurance, etc., he could still have been providing more than 50% of her TOTAL support despite the child support payments. Make sure you document ALL household expenses and how they benefited your daughter. Many people make the mistake of only counting direct child expenses, which isn't how SSA views it. Also, there's no specific cutoff amount for child support that would disqualify you. It's all about the proportion of total support provided by each source.

On a practical note, you might want to request a "protective filing date" when you first contact SSA, even before your full application is complete. This preserves your filing date and potentially gets you more back pay. Also ask about the lump-sum death payment of $255 if you haven't already claimed it. It's not much, but every bit helps right now.

I WENT THRU THIS EXACT SITUATION!!!!! My second husband died when my son was 15. I got $2000/month in child support and was TERRIFIED we wouldn't qualify. DONT STRESS - we still got survivor benefits for my son BUT they were reduced because of the child support. Instead of like $1800/mo we got about $950/mo. Still REALLY HELPED US survive!!!! The SSA office made me bring in TONS of paperwork so be prepared!!!!! Bank statements for 6 months, tax returns, proof of child support, death certificate, marriage license, EVERYTHING!!!!!!

One other thing worth mentioning - if your stepdaughter does qualify for survivor benefits, you'll need to determine who should be the payee for her benefits. Since your daughter's biological father is still in the picture and paying child support, this could potentially get complicated. SSA generally prefers the custodial parent (you in this case) to be the representative payee, but sometimes non-custodial parents contest this. Also, just to clarify a technical point - your husband reached his maximum Social Security earnings, which means he had good earnings that would translate to a higher benefit amount. This is different from reaching the maximum benefit amount, which would only happen if he had delayed retirement beyond his full retirement age (which wasn't applicable since he was only 59). Have you gathered your husband's last W-2 or tax return? That will help SSA calculate the benefit amounts more accurately.

I'm so sorry for your loss. As someone who has helped many families navigate this process, I want to reassure you that the $1,720 monthly child support should NOT disqualify your stepdaughter from survivor benefits. The key factors working in your favor: - Your husband was the primary breadwinner covering most household expenses - Your daughter lived with you full-time (crucial for stepchild eligibility) - Housing, utilities, food, and other major expenses were largely covered by his income When SSA calculates the "one-half support" test, they look at TOTAL support costs - not just direct child expenses. If your husband's income covered your mortgage/rent, utilities, groceries, insurance, etc., his contribution to your daughter's support was likely well over 50% despite the child support. Some practical advice: 1. Apply ASAP - benefits can be retroactive but only for a limited time 2. Request a protective filing date on your first contact 3. Gather ALL documentation: bank statements, tax returns, household bills, proof of living arrangements 4. Don't forget about the $255 lump-sum death benefit Even if the child support reduces the benefit amount somewhat, you'll still likely qualify for substantial help. The family maximum benefit will determine the total payout, but partial benefits are still meaningful support during this difficult time. Many families in similar situations with child support income have successfully received survivor benefits. Don't let fear of rejection prevent you from applying - you need and deserve this assistance.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I wanted to share that I went through a similar situation when my husband passed away three years ago. I was receiving $1,400/month in child support for my son from my previous marriage, and I was terrified it would disqualify us from survivor benefits. Here's what I learned: SSA looks at the TOTAL picture of support, not just the dollar amounts coming in. They consider things like: - Who paid for housing (mortgage/rent, utilities) - Who provided food, transportation, insurance - Medical expenses and everyday living costs - Educational expenses In my case, even though I received substantial child support, my husband had been covering our housing, utilities, groceries, car payments, health insurance - basically our entire household infrastructure. When SSA calculated everything, his contribution was still over 60% of my son's total support. My advice: Start the application process immediately. Even if you're not sure about all the details, get that protective filing date. The worst thing that can happen is they say no, but from everything you've described, it sounds like your husband was definitely providing the majority of household support despite the child support payments. Also, keep detailed records of how the child support is actually spent versus what your husband's income covered. This documentation will be crucial for your case. You've got this - don't give up before you even try.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Reading your post brought back memories of when I lost my husband 5 years ago. I was also terrified about the financial aspects while trying to grieve. From what you've described, it sounds like your stepdaughter should absolutely qualify for survivor benefits. The $1,720 child support won't disqualify you - SSA looks at who provided the majority of TOTAL support, not just direct payments. A few key points that work in your favor: - Your husband was the primary income earner covering household expenses - Your daughter lived with you full-time - Major costs like housing, utilities, food were covered by his income - The child support likely went toward her personal expenses rather than basic living costs I'd recommend calling SSA immediately to establish a protective filing date, even if you don't have all your paperwork ready yet. This preserves your claim date for back benefits. When I applied, they asked for extensive documentation - bank statements, tax returns, household bills, marriage certificate, death certificate - so start gathering those now. Don't let fear of rejection stop you from applying. Even if the benefits are reduced due to the child support, you'll likely still receive substantial help. My situation was different but I received benefits that literally saved us financially during the worst time of our lives. You're being a strong advocate for your family during an incredibly difficult time. Keep pushing forward with the application.

I'm so sorry for your loss. As someone who works with Social Security disability and survivor claims, I want to emphasize what others have said - the child support amount you're receiving should NOT automatically disqualify your stepdaughter from survivor benefits. The key test is whether your late husband provided more than 50% of your daughter's total living support. From what you've described - him being the primary breadwinner covering housing, utilities, food, and other household expenses while the $1,720 child support mainly covers her personal needs - it sounds like he was likely providing well over half her support. A few important reminders: - Apply immediately and request a protective filing date to preserve your claim - Gather comprehensive documentation: bank statements, tax returns, household bills, proof of living arrangements - Don't forget about the one-time $255 death benefit - Benefits can be retroactive, but only for a limited period Even if the child support reduces your benefit amount somewhat due to family maximum limits, you're still likely to receive meaningful financial assistance. I've seen many families in similar situations successfully obtain survivor benefits despite receiving child support. The worst outcome is they deny the claim, but based on your circumstances, that seems unlikely. Your family needs and deserves this support during such a difficult time. Don't let uncertainty prevent you from applying for benefits you're entitled to receive.