# Social security question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-question/694550>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 1, 2014, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-question/694550 "2014-08-01T03:35:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![koufax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ea924/32.png) [@koufax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koufax)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-question/694550/1 "2014-08-01T03:35:10Z")

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If a grown 28 year old only child loses both parents, is she eligible to collect any of their Social security until hers starts?

Thanks in advance.

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**Author:** ![wellanuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@wellanuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wellanuff)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-question/694550/2 "2014-08-01T03:46:35Z")

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Survivor benefits stop at 18, unless you are still in high school or are disabled.

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**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-question/694550/3 "2014-08-01T06:06:02Z")

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> [@koufax](#):
>
> If a grown 28 year old only child loses both parents, is she eligible to collect any of their Social security until hers starts?
> 
> Thanks in advance.

Only if she hides the bodies and continues to collect the cheques.

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**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-question/694550/4 "2014-08-01T16:03:21Z")

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Did you look under the couch?

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-question/694550/5 "2014-08-01T16:06:21Z")

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> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#):
>
> Did you look under the couch?

Unless it’s an old couch, it shouldn’t be lumpy.  
Then there’s the smell …

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**Author:** ![obbn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d6d6ee/32.png) [@obbn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obbn)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-question/694550/6 "2014-08-01T16:45:12Z")

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> [@Duckster](#):
>
> Unless it’s an old couch, it shouldn’t be lumpy.  
> Then there’s the smell …

Couldn’t smell worse than the new hippy like incense (sp?) my wife recently brought into our home. 😃

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**Author:** ![barbitu8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@barbitu8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/barbitu8)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-security-question/694550/7 "2014-08-01T21:40:15Z")

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> [@wellanuff](#):
>
> Survivor benefits stop at 18, unless you are still in high school or are disabled.

If you come under a “disability” (as determined by SSA) before you attain the age of 22, you will be entitled to child’s benefits, provided, of course, that you are not engaging in substantial gainful activity. [Code of Federal Regulations § 404.350](http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/cfr20/404/404-0350.htm)