Parents Claiming Social Security at 62 Can Unlock 50% Child Benefit
Updated
Updated · AS USA · Jul 26
Parents Claiming Social Security at 62 Can Unlock 50% Child Benefit
1 articles · Updated · AS USA · Jul 26
Summary
$1,500 a month in dependent benefits can be paid to a minor child when a parent starts Social Security at 62, Michael Ruger said, describing a little-known rule that can lift combined household payments.
A child under 18 can receive 50% of the parent's full-retirement-age benefit, so someone eligible for $3,000 at 67 but claiming early for $2,100 could collect $3,600 combined with the child benefit.
That strategy comes with trade-offs: claiming at 62 permanently cuts the worker's own benefit by 30% versus waiting until 67, while delaying past full retirement age raises benefits by 8% a year until 70.
Work income can also reduce payments before full retirement age, with Social Security withholding $1 for every $2 earned above $24,480 in 2026, or above $65,160 for those reaching full retirement age that year.