SSA-7 Webpage Factsheet

Infonnation You Will Need When You Apply for Parent's Benefits

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Forms Home Page

Introduction

Page 1 of3

Prepare for Your Interview
Information You Will Need When You Apply
t~'to¥? for Parent's Benefits

cSt",.

Whether it's by phone or in person, we want your
visit to go as smoothly as possible. You can help
by being ready to answer the following questions
and having as many of the needed documents as
possible.
We may also ask you to provide documents to
show that you are eligible:
• Birth certificate or other proof of birth;
• Naturalization papers;
• U.S. military discharge paper(s);
• W-2 forms( s) and/or self-employment tax

returns for last year.

We accept photocopies of W-2 forms, self­
employment tax returns or medical documents, but
we must see the original of most other documents,
such as your birth certificate. (We will return them
to you.)
Don't delay filing your claim just because you don't
have all the documents. We'll help you get them.

When you apply for parent's benefits, we will ask
you:
• Your name and social security number;
• Your name at birth (if different);
• Your deceased child's name, gender, date of

birth and social security number;

• Your date of birth and place of birth (State or

foreign country);

• Your deceased child's date and place of

death;

• Whether a public or religious record was

made of your birth before age 5;

• Your citizenship status;
• Whether you have used any other Social

Security number;

• Whether you were dependent on the worker

for 1/2 of your support at the time of the

http://mwww.ba.ssa.gov/online/ssa-7 .html

6/8/2009

Infonnation You Will Need When You Apply for Parent's Benefits

Social Security
uses this
information to
determine your
eligibility for
parent's benefits.

Page 2 of3

worker's death or at the time the worker
became disabled. {If "Yes", we will ask for
proof.};
• Whether you or anyone else has ever filed
for Social Security benefits, Medicare or
Supplemental Security Income on your
behalf .(If so, we will also ask for information
on whose Social Security record you
applied);
• Whether the deceased worker ever filed for
Social Security benefits, Medicare or
Supplemental Security Income. (If so, we will
also ask for information on whose Social
Security record you applied);
• Whether you became unable to work
because of illnesses, injuries or conditions at
any time within the past 14 months. (If "Yes,"
we will also ask the date you became unable
to work.);
• Depending on when the worker died, we may
ask you whether he or she was unable to
work because of a disabling condition. (If so,
we will ask you for the date he or she
became unable to work.);
• Whether you or the worker were ever in the
active military service before 1968 or worked
for the railroad industry. {If so, we will ask for
the dates of service and whether you or the
worker received or expect to receive a
pension from a military or Federal civilian
agency.};
• Whether your spouse ever worked for the
railroad industry;
• Whether you have earned social security
credits under another country's social
security system;
• Whether you have married since the worker's
death;
• The amount of the worker's earnings in the
year of death and the preceding year:
• Whether the worker had earnings in each
year since 1978;
• The amount of your earnings for this year,
last year and next year;
• Whether you have any unsatisfied felony
warrants for your arrest or unsatisfied
Federal or State warrants for your arrest for
a~ violations of the conditions of your parole
or probation; and
• If you are within 3 months of age 65, whether

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Information You Will Need When You Apply for Parent's Benefits

Page 3 of3

you want to enroll in Supplemental Medical
Insurance (Part B of Medicare).
Depending on the information you provide, we may
need to ask other questions.
You also should bring along your checkbook or
other papers that show your account number at a
bank, credit union or other financial institution so
you can sign up for Direct Deposit, and avoid
worries about lost or stolen checks and mail
delays.
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Last reviewed or modified Wednesday Apr 01, 2009

http://mwww.ba.ssa.gov/online/ssa-7.html

6/8/2009