Will my income affect my children's Social Security survivor benefits from their deceased father?

Good news! Your income doesn't affect your children's survivor benefits at all. Since the benefits are based on their deceased father's earnings record, what YOU earn has zero impact on what THEY receive. The only earnings test that would apply would be if the CHILDREN themselves earned above certain limits (which is unlikely at their ages). Your children can continue receiving benefits until they turn 18 (or 19 if still in high school). So go ahead and take that job without worrying about their benefits!

Thats not entirely right. My sisters income did effect her kids survivors benifits. The SSA lady said something about "deemed income" when she made to much money. Check w/ ur local office!!!

The previous comments are mostly correct, but let me clarify a few things: 1. Your income as a parent does NOT affect your children's survivor benefits. These benefits are based solely on their deceased father's earnings record. 2. However, there is an earnings limit for the CHILDREN themselves if they work. In 2025, beneficiaries under full retirement age can earn up to $23,400 without reduction in benefits. Above that amount, $1 in benefits is withheld for every $2 earned. 3. Your children will receive benefits until they turn 18 (or 19 if still in high school full-time). 4. If you yourself are receiving widow's benefits on your deceased husband's record (different from your children's benefits), then YOUR earnings would affect YOUR benefits, but not the children's. Take the job with confidence - your increased income won't impact their benefits!

When my husband died 3 years ago the Social Security people told me I could make whatever I wanted and it wouldn't affect my son's benefits. But then they sent me a letter saying I was over some limit and reduced his payment!!! I had to go through this whole appeals process to prove they were wrong. It was SUCH a nightmare getting through to them on the phone. Literally waited 3+ hours multiple times and got disconnected. So frustrating!!!

I went thru the same thing when my wife passed away 5 years ago. As others have said, YOUR income doesn't affect your KIDS' survivor benefits. The only thing that would affect their benefits is if THEY earn income above the limits (which is pretty high for kids anyway). My suggestion: take that full-time job offer. It's actually better for your family financially in both the short and long-term. The survivor benefits will continue unchanged, and you'll have additional income. Plus, you'll be building your own Social Security credits for your eventual retirement. Also, keep in mind that survivor benefits for kids end when they turn 18 (or 19 if still in high school), so having a solid income will help you prepare for when that support ends.

Thank you everyone for your helpful responses! I just accepted the job offer today and feel so much better knowing my kids' benefits won't be affected. I really appreciate all of you taking the time to share your knowledge and experiences.

My kids were in almost identical situation when my husband died. Your income has literally nothing to do with their survivors benefits. Take that job and build a better future for all of you! Besides when the kids turn 18/19 the benefits stop anyway so you need that income!

Congratulations on your new job! This is such great news. As someone who works in benefits administration, I can confirm what everyone else has said - your income absolutely does not affect your children's survivor benefits. These are two completely separate programs. Your kids' benefits are based on their father's work record and will continue until they age out, regardless of what you earn. You made the right decision taking that position. It's wonderful that you'll have both the survivor benefits for your children AND a stable full-time income to help secure your family's future. Best of luck with the new job!

This is such a heartwarming update! As a newcomer here, I've been reading through this thread and it's really encouraging to see how supportive this community is. CosmicCruiser, I'm so glad you were able to get the clarity you needed and make the decision that's best for your family. It's stories like this that show how important it is to have reliable information about Social Security benefits. Wishing you all the best in your new position - your kids are lucky to have such a dedicated parent who's working hard to secure their future while navigating these complex benefit systems!

As another newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how valuable this entire discussion has been to read through! CosmicCruiser, congratulations on your new job - what a relief it must be to know you can accept this opportunity without worrying about your children's benefits. This thread really demonstrates the importance of getting accurate information from people with real experience. I've learned so much just from reading everyone's responses, especially the clarifications about the difference between survivor benefits and SSI, and how the earnings limits work. It's wonderful to see a community where people genuinely help each other navigate these complex government programs. Thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experiences!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to add my voice to congratulate CosmicCruiser on this wonderful outcome! Reading through this entire thread has been incredibly educational - it's amazing how a question that seemed so complex initially got such clear, consistent answers from people with real experience. What really stands out to me is how everyone emphasized the key distinction: the children's survivor benefits are based on their father's work record and are completely separate from the mother's income. This is exactly the kind of practical, real-world guidance that makes such a difference when families are dealing with these situations. CosmicCruiser, your kids are fortunate to have a parent who researched this thoroughly before making the decision. Best of luck with your new position - it sounds like you've found the perfect balance of maintaining their benefits while improving your family's overall financial stability!

As a newcomer to this community, I've been following this thread with great interest and wanted to add my congratulations to CosmicCruiser! This entire discussion has been such an excellent example of how valuable community knowledge can be when navigating Social Security benefits. What really impressed me was how consistently everyone emphasized the key point: survivor benefits for children are completely independent of the surviving parent's income. This distinction is so important for families to understand. CosmicCruiser, it's wonderful that you were able to make this career decision with confidence - accepting a $72,000 position while knowing your children's benefits remain secure is truly the best of both worlds. As someone new to learning about these programs, I've gained so much insight from reading everyone's experiences and explanations. Thank you all for creating such a supportive and informative environment!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful and informative this entire thread has been! CosmicCruiser, congratulations on your new job - what a wonderful outcome! Reading through everyone's responses really highlights how important it is to get accurate information from people who've actually dealt with these situations firsthand. The consistent message from experienced community members that your income won't affect your children's survivor benefits must have been such a relief to hear. It's also educational to see the clarifications about different types of benefits (survivor benefits vs. SSI) and how the earnings limits work. This is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that makes such a difference for families navigating these complex systems. Thank you to everyone who shared their knowledge and experiences - it's clear this community is a valuable resource for anyone dealing with Social Security benefits!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to express how incredibly valuable this entire discussion has been to read! CosmicCruiser, huge congratulations on your new job - what an amazing outcome! This thread is such a perfect example of why community support matters so much when dealing with Social Security benefits. Seeing how you went from genuine worry about potentially losing your children's benefits to confidently accepting a great career opportunity really shows the power of getting accurate information from people with real experience. The consistent reassurance from multiple members that your income has zero impact on your kids' survivor benefits must have been such a weight off your shoulders. I've learned so much just from reading through everyone's responses, especially the important distinctions between different benefit programs. It's wonderful that your family now has both the continued survivor benefits AND the stability of your new full-time position. Thank you to all the experienced members who shared their knowledge - this community is clearly an invaluable resource for navigating these complex systems!