Form SSA-4-BK (04-2020) UF
Discontinue Prior Editions
Social Security Administration
APPLICATION FOR CHILD'S INSURANCE BENEFITS
Page 1 of 9
OMB No. 0960-0010
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
considered an application for survivors benefits under the Railroad Retirement Act and for Veterans
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).
(Do not write in this space)
1. (a) PRINT name of Wage Earner or Self-Employed person
(herein referred to as the ''Worker'').
Life
Claim
Death
Claim
FIRST NAME, MIDDLE INITIAL, LAST NAME
(b) PRINT Worker's Social Security number.
2. (a) PRINT your name (unless you are the Worker).
FIRST NAME, MIDDLE INITIAL, LAST NAME
(b) PRINT your Social Security number.
PART 1 - INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORKER'S CHILDREN
3.
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.
List below all children who are:
• Under age 18
• Age 18 to 19 and attending elementary
or secondary school full-time
• Age 18 or older with a disability that
began before age 22
Check
(X)
Sex of
Child
M F
Date of Birth
(MM/DD/YYYY)
Check
(X) if
Child
17.5 or
Older is:
Student
Disabled
Check (X) the
Column That
Shows Child's
Relationship to
Worker
Adopted
Stepchild
Dependent
Grandchild
Other
CHILD'S SOCIAL
SECURITY NUMBER
FULL NAME OF CHILD
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.
MM/DD/YYYY
5. (a) Is there a legal representative (guardian, conservator, curator,
etc.) for any of the children in item 3?
Yes
(If "Yes," complete
(b) and (c).)
No
Natural
(If "No," go on to
item 6.)
Date of Marriage (MM/DD/YYYY)Name of Child
(b) Write the
following information
about the legal
representative(s):
NAME (First name, middle initial, last name)
ADDRESS
TELEPHONE NUMBER
(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?
Yes No
7.
Have any children in item 3 ever been adopted by someone other than the Worker?
(If "Yes," enter the following information):
Yes No
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".)
Yes No
Name of Child Not Living
With You
Person With Whom Child Now Lives
Name and Address Relationship to Child
9.
Has any child in item 3 ever been married?
(If "Yes," enter the information requested below.)
Yes No
How Marriage Ended (If still married, write "not ended"). Date Marriage Ended (MM/DD/YYYY)
10. 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.)
Yes No
Name of Child Name of Worker Social Security Number of Worker
Form SSA-4-BK (04-2020) UF
5.
Page 2 of 9
NAME OF CHILD WHO
EXPECTS TO EARN OVER THE
EXEMPT AMOUNT NEXT YEAR
NAME OF CHILD WHO
EXPECTS TO EARN OVER THE
EXEMPT AMOUNT THIS YEAR
NAME OF CHILD WHO
EARNED OVER THE EXEMPT
AMOUNT LAST YEAR
If you are applying ONLY for a child age 18 or over who is disabled, omit items 11 through 14. In all other cases, answer
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?
(If "Yes," answer (b). If "No," go on to item 12.)
Yes No
(b)
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
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.)
Yes No
(b)
EXPECTED
EARNINGS OF
CHILD
LIST EACH MONTH (INCLUDING THE PRESENT MONTH)
THAT CHILD DID NOT OR WILL NOT EARN MORE THAN
$ IN WAGES AND DID NOT OR WILL NOT
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.)
Yes No
(b)
EXPECTED
EARNINGS OF
CHILD
LIST EACH MONTH THAT CHILD WILL NOT EARN MORE
THAN $ IN WAGES AND WILL NOT PERFORM
SUBSTANTIAL SERVICES IN SELF-EMPLOYMENT
$
$
$
14.
If any of the children for whom you are filing uses a fiscal year (one that
does not end on December 31), print here the name of the child and the
month the fiscal year ends.
Name of child and month 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
Form SSA-4-BK (04-2020) UF
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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.)
Yes No
NAME OF CHILD WHO
DID NOT LIVE WITH THE
WORKER IN EACH OF
THE LAST
13 MONTHS
LIST EACH MONTH IN WHICH
THIS CHILD DID NOT
LIVE WITH THE WORKER
PERSON WITH WHOM CHILD LIVED
NAME AND ADDRESS
RELATIONSHIP TO
CHILD
17.
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/her behalf for Supplemental
Security Income?
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
Male Female
19.
(a) Print date of death
MM/DD/YYYY
(b) Print place of death
CITY AND STATE
20.
Print the name of the state or foreign country where the Worker had a
fixed, permanent home at the time of death.
STATE OR FOREIGN COUNTRY
21. Did the Worker work in the railroad industry for 5 years or more?
Yes No
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?
Yes
(If "Yes," answer
(b) and (c).)
No
(If "No," go
on to item 23.)
(b) Enter dates of service
FROM (MM/YYYY) TO (MM/YYYY)
(c) Has anyone (including the Worker) received, or does anyone
expect to receive, a benefit from any other Federal agency?
Yes No
23.
(a) Did the worker have social security credits (for example, based on
work or residence) under another country's social security system?
Yes
(If "Yes,"
answer (b).)
No
(If "No," go
on to item 24.)
(b) List the country(ies).
24.
(a) Did the worker have wages or self-employment income covered
under Social Security in all years from 1978 through last year?
Yes
(If "Yes", skip to
item 25.)
No
(If "No," answer
(b).)
(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.
25.
(a) About how much did the Worker earn from employment and
self-employment during the year of death?
AMOUNT
$
(b) About how much did the Worker earn the year before death?
AMOUNT
$
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Check if applicable:
Form SSA-4-BK (04-2020) UF
26.
I am not submitting evidence of the deceased's earnings that are not yet on his/her 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.
27.
(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 condition at
the time of death?
Yes
(If "Yes," answer (b).)
No
(b) Enter date disability began
MM/DD/YYYY
29.
Were all the children in item 3 living with the Worker at the time of death?
(If "No," enter the following information)
Yes No
NAME OF CHILD NOT LIVING
WITH THE WORKER
PERSON WITH WHOM CHILD WAS LIVING
NAME AND ADDRESS
RELATIONSHIP TO
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.
SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT
SIGNATURE (First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name) (Write in ink)
Date (MM/DD/YYYY)
Telephone Number(s) at Which You May
be Contacted During the Day (Include
Area Code)
Direct Deposit Payment Information (Financial Institution)
Routing Transit Number
Account Number
Checking
Savings
Enroll in Direct Express
Direct Deposit Refused
Applicant's Mailing Address (Number and Street, 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
Address (Number and Street, City, State, and ZIP Code)
2. Signature of Witness
Address (Number and Street, City, State, and ZIP Code)
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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.
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.
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RECEIPT FOR YOUR CLAIM FOR SOCIAL SECURITY CHILD'S INSURANCE BENEFITS
TELEPHONE NUMBER(S)
TO CALL IF YOU
HAVE A QUESTION
OR SOMETHING
TO REPORT
BEFORE YOU RECEIVE A
NOTICE OF AWARD
AFTER YOU RECEIVE A
NOTICE OF AWARD
SSA OFFICE DATE CLAIM RECEIVED
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.
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.
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.
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 SOCIAL SECURITY CLAIM NUMBER
WORKER'S NAME (If surname differs from name of claimant(s).)
Form SSA-4-BK (04-2020) UF
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CHANGES TO BE REPORTED AND HOW TO REPORT
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
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 flight-
escape.
• 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
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 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.
Form SSA-4-BK (04-2020) UF
(Name of Child)
expected total earnings
for
(Year)
to be $
.
(Name of Child)
(is) (is not) earning
wages of more than $ a month.
(Name of Child)
(is) (is not) self-employed
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