Dependents Benefits for Social Security

Social security is a government program designed to take care of members of society who are no longer able to work. Social security benefits apply to those who have worked the required number of years (usually ten) in a non-government position. The theory behind social security benefits is that these individuals have worked long enough and paid enough of their income into the governmental tax system that when they are no longer able to work, some of that money should be distributed back to them. Usually these social security benefits are provided to those who have worked the required number of years and then retired from the positions that they held. However, an Atlanta social security lawyer will be able to show that there are other reasons that a person might receive social security benefits, including dependents benefits.

Basics

Dependents benefits are meant to be shared with those who are the spouses of retired or disabled workers who require social security retirement or disability benefits. When a worker entitled to receive these benefits is unable to collect them for some reason, then the spouse and minor dependents of the worker are allowed to receive the same benefits that the worker would have received. In a situation like this it is necessary for the worker who is unable to claim his or her benefits to have qualified for the benefits. If the worker should have qualified but for some reason was unable to claim their benefits, then their benefits are able to be passed on to their spouse and dependents. These dependents can include children, or other persons under the age of 18 who are legally the responsibility of the worker who is unable to claim their benefits.

Rationale

The rationale behind dependents benefits is the belief that the worker would have shared these social security benefits with his or her family if only the worker had been able to claim the benefits. Society believes that the dependents of the worker should not be forced to go without just because the worker did not claim their benefits. An Atlanta social security lawyer will be able to work this out.