SSA-4-BK Application for Child's Insurance Benefits

Form SSA-4-BK (04-2020) UF
Discontinue Prior Editions
Social Security Administration

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OMB No. 0960-0010

APPLICATION FOR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS
CHILD'S INSURANCE BENEFITS

(Do not write in this space)

With this application, you are applying on behalf of the child or children listed in item 3 below for all
insurance benefits for which they may be eligible under Title II (Federal Old-Age, Survivors and
Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act as presently amended. If you are applying on your own
behalf, answer the questions on this form with respect to yourself.
If you are applying for benefits based on the earnings record of a Deceased Worker, this may also be
Life
considered an application for survivors benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act and for Veterans
Claim
Administration payments under Title 38, U.S.C., Veterans Benefits, Chapter 13 (which is, as such, an
application for other types of death benefits under Title 38).
1.
(a) PRINT name of Wage Earner or Self-Employed person FIRST NAME, MIDDLE INITIAL, LAST NAME
(herein referred to as the ''Worker'').

Death
Claim

(b) PRINT Worker's Social Security number.
2.

FIRST NAME, MIDDLE INITIAL, LAST NAME

(a) PRINT your name (unless you are the Worker).

(b) PRINT your Social Security number.

PART 1 - INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORKER'S CHILDREN
The Worker's children (including natural children, adopted children, and stepchildren) or dependent grandchildren (including
step grandchildren) may be eligible for benefits based on the earnings record of the Worker. For a living Worker, the
information below applies to this month or to any of the past 12 months. For a deceased Worker, the information below
applies to the date of death or for any period since the Worker's death.

F

Natural

Check (X) the
Column That
Shows Child's
Relationship to
Worker

Stepchild
Dependent
Grandchild
Other

M

Date of Birth
(MM/DD/YYYY)

Check
(X) if
Child
17.5 or
Older is:

Adopted

• Under age 18
• Age 18 to 19 and attending elementary
or secondary school (grade 12 or
lower) full-time
• Age 18 or older with a disability that
began before age 22
FULL NAME OF CHILD

Check
(X)
Sex of
Child

Disabled

List below all children who are:

Student

3.

CHILD'S SOCIAL
SECURITY NUMBER

If you do not wish to be payee for any child or dependent grandchild named above, list the child's name and address in
"Remarks" on page 5. You may apply for a child even though you do not wish to be payee for the child's benefits.
4.

If any children in item 3 are stepchildren of the Worker, enter the
date the Worker married the natural parent.

5.

(a) Is there a legal representative (guardian, conservator, curator,
etc.) for any of the children in item 3?

MM/DD/YYYY

Yes
(If "Yes," complete
(b) and (c).)

No
(If "No," go on to
item 6.)

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TELEPHONE NUMBER

Form SSA-4-BK (04-2020) UF
NAME (First name, middle initial, last name)
5.
(b) Write the
following information
about the legal
ADDRESS
representative(s):

(INCLUDE AREA CODE)

(c) Briefly explain the circumstances which led the court to appoint a legal representative.

6.

Are you the natural or adoptive parent of the person(s) for whom you are filing?

7.

Have any children in item 3 ever been adopted by someone other than the Worker?
Yes
No
(If "Yes," enter the following information):
Name of Child
Date of Adoption
Name of Person Adopting

8.

Are all the children in item 3 now living in the same household with
you? (If "No," enter the following information about each child not living
with you. If uncertain as to the whereabouts of any of these children,
explain in "Remarks".)
Name of Child Not Living
With You

9.

10.

Yes

Yes

Person With Whom Child Now Lives
Name and Address

Has any child in item 3 ever been married?
(If "Yes," enter the information requested below.)

No

No

Relationship to Child

Yes

No

Name of Child

Date of Marriage (MM/DD/YYYY)

How Marriage Ended (If still married, write "not ended").

Date Marriage Ended (MM/DD/YYYY)

Has anyone ever before filed an application with the Social Security
Administration for monthly benefits on behalf of any child in item 3? (If
"Yes," enter below the name(s) of the child(ren) and the name(s) and
Social Security number(s) of the person(s) on whose earnings record
any other claim was based.)
Name of Child
Name of Worker

Yes

No

Social Security Number of Worker

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If you are applying ONLY for a child age 18 or over who is disabled, omit items 11 through 14. In all other cases,10answer
items 11 through 14.
EARNINGS INFORMATION FOR LAST YEAR (Do not complete if the Worker died this year)
11. (a) Did any child in item 3 earn more than the exempt amount last year?
Yes
No
(If "Yes," answer (b). If "No," go on to item 12.)

Form SSA-4-BK (04-2020) UF

(b)
NAME OF CHILD WHO
EARNED OVER THE EXEMPT
AMOUNT LAST YEAR

TOTAL EARNINGS
OF CHILD

LIST EACH MONTH THAT CHILD DID NOT EARN MORE
THAN $
IN WAGES AND DID NOT PERFORM
SUBSTANTIAL SERVICES IN SELF-EMPLOYMENT

$
$
$
EARNINGS INFORMATION FOR THIS YEAR
12.

(a) Do you expect the total earnings of any child in item 3 to be more than
the exempt amount this year? (Count all earnings beginning with the
Yes
No
first of this year and all anticipated earnings through the end of this year.)
(If "Yes," answer (b). If "No," go on to item 13.)
(b)
LIST EACH MONTH (INCLUDING THE PRESENT MONTH)
NAME OF CHILD WHO
EXPECTED
THAT CHILD DID NOT OR WILL NOT EARN MORE THAN
EXPECTS TO EARN OVER THE
EARNINGS OF
$
IN WAGES AND DID NOT OR WILL NOT
EXEMPT AMOUNT THIS YEAR
CHILD
PERFORM SUBSTANTIAL SERVICES IN
SELF-EMPLOYMENT
$
$
$

Complete item 13 ONLY if any child is now in the last 4 months of the child's taxable year (Sept., Oct., Nov., and Dec., if
the taxable year is a calendar year).
EARNINGS INFORMATION FOR NEXT YEAR
13.

(a) Do you expect the total earnings of any child in item 3 to be more
than the exempt amount next year? (If "Yes," answer (b.) If "No," go
on to item 14.)
(b)

NAME OF CHILD WHO
EXPECTS TO EARN OVER THE
EXEMPT AMOUNT NEXT YEAR

EXPECTED
EARNINGS OF
CHILD

Yes

No

LIST EACH MONTH THAT CHILD WILL NOT EARN MORE
THAN $
IN WAGES AND WILL NOT PERFORM
SUBSTANTIAL SERVICES IN SELF-EMPLOYMENT

$
$
$
If any of the children for whom you are filing uses a fiscal year (one that Name of child and month fiscal year ends
does not end on December 31), print here the name of the child and the
month the fiscal year ends.
Complete items 15 and 16 ONLY if the Worker is living. Otherwise, go on to item 17.
15. If any children in item 3 are children adopted by the Worker, print below the name of each such child and the date of
adoption by the Worker.
NAME OF ADOPTED CHILD
DATE OF ADOPTION
14.

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Form SSA-4-BK (04-2020) UF
16. Have all of the children in item 3 lived with the Worker during each of
the last 13 months (counting the present month)?
(If "No," enter the information requested below.)
NAME OF CHILD WHO
DID NOT LIVE WITH THE
WORKER IN EACH OF
THE LAST
13 MONTHS

17.

LIST EACH MONTH IN WHICH
THIS CHILD DID NOT
LIVE WITH THE WORKER

Yes

No

PERSON WITH WHOM CHILD LIVED
NAME AND ADDRESS

If any of the children in item 3 are within 2 months of age 65 or older,
blind or disabled, do you want to file on his/hertheir behalf for
Supplemental Security Income?

RELATIONSHIP TO
CHILD

Yes

No

PART II - INFORMATION ABOUT THE DECEASED. Complete items 18 through 26 only if the Worker is deceased.
18.

(a) Print date of birth of Worker

MM/DD/YYYY

(b) Print Worker's name at birth if different from item 1 (a)
(c) Check (X) one for the Worker
19.

(a) Print date of death
(b) Print place of death

20.

Print the name of the state or foreign country where the Worker had a
fixed, permanent home at the time of death.

21.

Did the Worker work in the railroad industry for 5 years or more?

22.

(a) Was the Worker in the active military or naval service (including
Reserve or National Guard active duty or active duty for training)
after September 7, 1939 and before 1968?

Male
MM/DD/YYYY
CITY AND STATE
STATE OR FOREIGN COUNTRY
Yes
Yes
(If "Yes," answer
(b) and (c).)
FROM (MM/YYYY)

(b) Enter dates of service
(c) Has anyone (including the Worker) received, or does anyone
expect to receive, a benefit from any other Federal agency?
23.

Female

Yes
Yes
(If "Yes,"
answer (b).)

(a) Did the worker have sSocial Ssecurity credits (for example, based
on work or residence) under another country's Ssocial Ssecurity
system?

No
No
(If "No," go
on to item 23.)
TO (MM/YYYY)

No
No
(If "No," go
on to item 24.)

(b) List the country(ies).
24.

Yes
(If "Yes", skip to
item 25.)

(a) Did the worker have wages or self-employment income covered
under Social Security in all years from 1978 through last year?

Answer item 25 ONLY if death occurred within the last 2 years.
25.

AMOUNT

(a) About hHow much did the Worker earn from employment
and self-employment during the year of death?

$

(b) About hHow much did the Worker earn the year before death?

AMOUNT
$

No
(If "No," answer
(b).)

Form SSA-4-BK (04-2020) UF
(b) List the years from 1978 through last year in which the worker did
not have wages or self-employment income covered under
Social Security.

Answer item 25 ONLY if death occurred within the last 2 years.

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Form SSA-4-BK (04-2020) UF
26.

27.

Check if applicable:
I am not submitting evidence of the deceased's earnings that are not yet on his/hertheir earnings record. I
understand
that these earnings will be included automatically within 24 months, and any increase in my benefits will be paid
with full retroactivity.
(a) Did the Worker ever file an application for Social Security benefits, a
period of disability under Social Security, Supplemental Security
Income, or hospital or medical insurance under Medicare?

Yes

No

Unknown

(If "Yes," answer (b) and (c).)
(If "No" or "Unknown," go on to item 28.)

(b) Enter name of person(s) on whose Social Security record other
application was filed.
(c) Enter Social Security number of person named in (b).
(If "Unknown," so indicate.)
Answer item 28 ONLY if the Worker died prior to age 66 and within the past 4 months.
28.

(a) Was the Worker unable to work because of a disabling
conditionillnesses, injuries or conditions at the time of death?
(b) Enter the date the Worker first became unable to work disability began

29.

Yes
(If "Yes," answer (b).)

No

MM/DD/YYYY

Were all the children in item 3 living with the Worker at the time of death?
Yes
No
(If "No," enter the following information)
PERSON WITH WHOM CHILD WAS LIVING
NAME OF CHILD NOT LIVING
RELATIONSHIP TO
WITH THE WORKER
NAME AND ADDRESS
CHILD

REMARKS: (You may use this space for any explanations. If you need more space, attach a separate sheet.)

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Form SSA-4-BK (04-2020) UF
Con't Remarks

I declare under penalty of perjury that I have examined all the information on this form, and on any accompanying
statements or forms, and it is true and correct to the best of my knowledge. I understand that anyone who knowingly
gives a false statement about a material fact in this information, or causes someone else to do so, commits a crime
and may be subject to a fine or imprisonment.
Date (MM/DD/YYYY)

SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT

Telephone Number(s) at wWhich yYou
mMay be cContacted dDuring the dDay
(Include Area Code)

SIGNATURE (First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name) (Write in ink)

Direct Deposit Payment Information (Financial Institution)
Routing Transit Number

Account Number

Checking

Enroll in Direct Express

Savings

Direct Deposit Refused

Applicant's Mailing Address (Number and sStreet, Apt No., P.O. Box, or Rural Route) (Enter Residence Address in "Remarks," if
different.)

City and State

ZIP Code

County (if any) in which you now live

Witnesses are required ONLY if this application has been signed by mark (X) above. If signed by mark (X), two witnesses to the
signing who know the applicant must sign below giving their full addresses. Also, print the applicant's name in the signature block.
1. Signature of Witness

2. Signature of Witness

Address (Number and Street, City, State, and ZIP Code)

Address (Number and Street, City, State, and ZIP Code)

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Form SSA-4-BK (04-2020) UF

Privacy Act Statement
Collection and Use of Personal Information

Section 202(d) of the Social Security Act, as amended, allows us to collect this information. Furnishing us
this information is voluntary. However, failing to provide all or part of the information may prevent an
accurate and timely decision on any claim filed.
We will use the information to determine eligibility for monthly benefits or insurance coverage and to
authorize payments to the child(ren) of retired, disabled, or deceased workers. We may also share your
information for the following purposes, called routine uses:
•

To Federal, State, or local agencies for administering cash or non-cash income or health
maintenance programs; and

•

To a contractor or another Federal agency, as necessary for the purpose of assisting the Social
Security Administration in the efficient administration of its programs.

In addition, we may share this information in accordance with the Privacy Act and other Federal laws. For
example, where authorized, we may use and disclose this information in computer matching programs, in
which our records are compared with other records to establish or verify a person's eligibility for Federal
benefit programs and for repayment of incorrect or delinquent debts under these programs.
A list of additional routine uses is available in our Privacy Act System of Records Notice (SORN) 60-0089,
entitled Claims Folders System, as published in the Federal Register (FR) on April 1, 2003, at 68 FR 15784.
Additional information, and a full listing of all of our SORNs, is available on our website at
www.ssa.gov/privacy.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement - This information collection meets the requirements of
44 U.S.C. § 3507, as amended by section 2 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. You do not need to
answer these questions unless we display a valid Office of Management and Budget control number. We
estimate that it will take about 12 minutes to read the instructions, gather the facts, and answer the
questions. SEND OR BRING THE COMPLETED FORM TO YOUR LOCAL SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE.
You can find your local Social Security office through SSA's website at www.socialsecurity.gov.
Offices are also listed under U. S. Government agencies in your telephone directory or you may call
Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). You may send comments on our time estimate
above to: SSA, 6401 Security Blvd, Baltimore, MD 21235-6401. Send only comments relating to our
time estimate to this address, not the completed form.

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Form SSA-4-BK (04-2020) UF

RECEIPT FOR YOUR CLAIM FOR SOCIAL SECURITY CHILD'S INSURANCE BENEFITS
BEFORE YOU RECEIVE A
NOTICE OF AWARD
TELEPHONE NUMBER(S)
TO CALL IF YOU
HAVE A QUESTION
OR SOMETHING
TO REPORT

SSA OFFICE

DATE CLAIM RECEIVED

AFTER YOU RECEIVE A
NOTICE OF AWARD

Your application for Social Security benefits on behalf of the
child(ren) named below has been received. You will be notified
by mail as soon as a decision is made on
your claim.

In the meantime, if you or any child(ren) changes address, or if
there is some other change that may affect your claim, you or
someone for you should report the change. The changes to be
reported are listed on Page 9.

You should hear from us within
days after you have
given us all the information we requested. Some claims may
take longer if additional information is needed.

Always give us your claim number when writing or telephoning
about your claim.
If you have any questions about your claim, we will be glad to
help you.

CLAIMANT

WORKER'S NAME (If surname differs from name of claimant(s).)

SOCIAL SECURITY CLAIM NUMBER

Form SSA-4-BK (04-2020) UF

CHANGES TO BE REPORTED AND HOW TO REPORT

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FAILURE TO REPORT MAY RESULT IN OVERPAYMENTS THAT MUST BE REPAID
AND IN POSSIBLE MONETARY PENALTIES
• You or any child changes mailing address for checks or
residence. To avoid delay in receipt of checks, you
should ALSO file a regular change of address notice
with your post office.
• Any child's citizenship or immigration status changes.
• Any beneficiary goes outside the U.S.A. for 30
consecutive days or longer.
• Any beneficiary dies or becomes unable to
handle benefits.
• Work changes - On your application you told us
expected total earnings
(Name of Child)
for

to be $

.

(Year)
(is)

(is not) earning

(Name of Child)
wages of more than $

a month.
(is)

(is not) self-employed

(Name of Child)

• A student, age 18 or over, stops attending school,
reduces school attendance below full-time, changes
schools, or is paid by an employer to attend school.
• If the worker and stepchild's parent divorce. Benefits
are not payable to a stepchild beginning with the
month after the month the worker and the
stepchild's parent divorce. Promptly return any
benefit payment received on behalf of the stepchild
for the months after the month the divorce
becomes final.
• The child is confined for more than 30 continuous
days to a jail, prison, penal institution or correctional
facility for conviction of a crime or confined to a
public institution by a court order in connection with
a crime.
• Change in Marital Status - Marriage, divorce, or
annulment of marriage. You must report marriage
even if you believe that an exception applies.
• Disability Applicants - In addition to the applicable
reporting requirements listed above:
1. The disabled adult child returns to work (as an

and rendering substantial services in a trade or business.
(Report AT ONCE if this work pattern changes.)
• Custody Change - Report if a child for whom you are
filing or who is in your care dies, leaves your care or
custody, or changes address.
• The child age 13 or older has an unsatisfied felony or arrest
warrant for more than 30 continuous days for flight to avoid
prosecution or confinement, escape from custody, or flightescape.

employee or self-employed) regardless of
amount of earnings.
2. The disabled adult child's condition improves.
An agency in your State that works with us in administering
the Social Security disability program is responsible for
making the disability decision on the child's claim. In some
cases, it is necessary for them to get additional information
about the child's condition or to arrange for the child to have
a medical examination at Government expense.

HOW TO REPORT
You can make your reports online, by telephone, mail, or in person, whichever you prefer.
If you are awarded benefits and one or more of the above change(s) occur, you should report by:
•
•
•
•

Visiting the section "My Social Security" at our web site at www.socialsecurity.gov;
Calling us TOLL FREE at 1-800-772-1213;
If you are deaf or hearing impaired, calling us TOLL FREE at TTY 1-800-325-0778; or
Calling, visiting, or writing your local Social Security office at the phone number and address shown on your claim receipt.

For general information about Social Security, visit our web site at www.socialsecurity.gov.
For those under full retirement age, the law requires that a report of earnings be filed with SSA within 3 months and 15 days after
the end of any taxable year in which the child earns more than the annual exempt amount. You may contact SSA to file a report
for the child. Otherwise, SSA will use the earnings reported by the child's employer(s) and the child's self-employment tax return
(if applicable) as the report of earnings required by law, to adjust benefits under the earnings test. It is your responsibility to
ensure that the information you give concerning the child's earnings is correct.