Unfortunately, thousands of Americans will not receive their Social Security checks as Social Security will cut more than 30,000 children from benefits starting in January. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), approximately 30,000 children of deceased workers have been removed from Social Security this year. Social Security provides monthly checks to some of the neediest citizens in the United States. The Social Security checks are provided to the elderly, the disabled, and anyone left behind by deceased workers who meet the SSA’s requirements, so they can have enough money to cover their living expenses such as housing, food, health care, entertainment, and in some cases even help them to pay off debt.
Goodbye to Social Security checks for thousands of Americans in 2025
As Kamala Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, noted, his family relied on Social Security checks after his father died, but new data shows that the agency has seen a decrease in the number of children receiving monthly benefits since the beginning of the year. In January of this year, there were about 2.04 million children of deceased workers receiving Social Security checks; by July, that number had dropped to about 2.01 million. In all, about thirty thousand children lost eligibility for Social Security survivor benefits.
As Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek, This has been a source of misunderstanding in recent months and with good reason. We’ve noticed drops in numerous subgroups of Social Security recipients, including children of deceased workers, but it’s unclear why the decrease occurred, and the administration hasn’t responded to inquiries. However, it is still unclear why the number of children receiving Social Security through survivors’ payments decreased from January to July, although there are numerous reasons why the number of beneficiaries could decrease.
According to Kevin Thompson, the founder of 9i Capital Group and a financial expert, the SSA periodically reviews eligibility, which has the potential to remove participants from the program due to factors including age, income, or the child’s no longer being eligible for Social Security checks. He also commented to Newsweek that there are income limitations that may need to be maintained. If the income threshold exceeds those restrictions, the earnings test may kick in and the benefits may be lowered or canceled. Thompson added that birth rates might also have an effect on eligibility for survivor benefits if a parent decides they need to take up another job to make ends meet.
Lastly, he underlines the difficult balance of providing Social Security checks to children under 18, adding that no effort has been made to minimize the number of youngsters receiving these benefits, but with many likely aging out and decreasing birth rates among Gen Y and Gen Z, this may continue. Children are eligible to receive the surviving child benefit until they reach 18 or get married, with an average monthly payment of more than $1,000. However, recipients should be aware that, in certain cases, stepchildren, grandchildren, and adopted children may also be eligible.
Can children qualify for the Supplemental Security Income program?
There are some cases in which children can apply for Social Security payments from the SSI program, but they will need to meet strict requirements. Even though SSI benefits are financial assistance, some children could be eligible to apply due to a disability, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Families that are struggling to pay for therapies, treatments, and the general care needed for a child with ASD may find these Social Security checks to be lifesavers. To be eligible for SSI benefits, your autistic child must meet specific medical and financial requirements. While autism is accepted as one of the qualifying conditions, the degree of the disability must be shown. Based on the current SSA guidelines, applicants must meet the following medical requirements:
- Social interaction deficits: Your child must have significant difficulty interacting with others.
- Verbal and nonverbal communication deficits: There must be clear limitations in both spoken and unspoken communication.
- Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior: This may include a limited range of interests or activities that are repetitive.
