Location: Houston Tx
Yesterday me and my mom got into an argument and I brought up how she gets money for me and my sister on her taxes and that she gets adoption checks for us. She denied this and said “the only checks im getting are child support from my dead husband.” At the time of his death they were still married. He died back in late 2019 and I’m currently 17 and my sister is 13. How is she getting “child support checks” if they never divorced or split up? What actual checks is my mom getting that deals with me or my sister?
Comments
Probably survivors benefits from social security. We got that after my dad died. Unless there has been a change you get it until you’re 18 and graduate high school.
She could be getting survivors benefits from social security for you and your sister.
Edit to add: those would be paid out until you’re 18 and your mother would be the one receiving them if she’s your legal guardian.
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Most likely survivor benefits from SS or possibly military pension
I would guess she is receiving Social Security survivor benefits checks for each of you on behalf of your dad’s SS contribution. They will continue until each of you graduates from HS /turns 18.
They are meant to replace wages your dads wages that would’ve gone to caring for you so while not technically child support payments, I can understand why she used that term in an argument.
You ok? Was this just a standard mom vs teenager fight? Or is your mom neglecting you or not paying for the necessities for you?
Probably social security survivor benefits. Here is the SSA.gov page on them. If someone who has worked and paid into social security dies, their family can be eligible under specific circumstances to receive “their” social security payments after their death. If your mom is under 60 and not disabled she wouldn’t be qualified to get the survivor benefits herself, but because you and your sister are both under 18 you’d be eligible, and they would be paid to her as your parent for your benefit.
Social security survivor benefits or a work related pension would be the most likely. This is not the same as when someone is divorced and is making child support payments. These are things your father would’ve likely paid into while working.
It is child support in the sense that she is (hopefully) using the money to provide support for you and your sibling.