Unmarried Child Retirement Benefits

Course: Income Tax Planning
Lesson 10: Social Security

Student Question:

Does the retired worker have to also be drawing on their Social Security benefits for the unmarried child of the retired worker to receive benefits? For instance, a 63-year-old man has a 13-year-old daughter and he is retired but not drawing his SS benefits yet?

Melinda

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Instructor Response:

Great question Melinda.  Generally, the covered worker must be receiving benefits for anyone else to receive benefits on his (or her) record of covered earnings. 

The one exception you may see on the CFP Board Exam is the “ex-spouse” rule.  Note these two regulations:

• An ex-spouse who otherwise qualifies for retirement benefits on the covered worker’s record (of covered earnings) may claim and receive retirement benefits as long as the covered worker is eligible for benefits.
• Under this regulation, an ex-spouse may receive retirement benefits on the covered worker’s record even if the covered worker is not receiving retirement benefits.

Please let me know if you have any other questions.

Bruce