Receiving Social Security Survivor Benefits?

My niece is 17, going on 18, in 2019. She will be a senior so I believe she qualifies for survivors' benefits until the end of high school. My brother died on 7/17, she lived with her mother who was not a next of kin for my brother or spouse/relationship. She has 6 kids of her own. My niece now lives with me and the first check she saw is for July. Her mother never gave her or set aside any money for the last year. How much control does she have over the money, and does she get survivors benefit just for being the parent? I am trying to figure out where all this money went.

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Judy
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts

July 22, 20180 found this helpful

The girls mother got that check to cover expenses for her. If you believe there has been wrongdoing, contact Social Security. The mother will have to show proof that the money went for the girls expenses

Pghgirl40
Bronze Feedback Medal for All Time! 196 Feedbacks

July 23, 20180 found this helpful

Sorry to hear you are having so many challenges. Will send up lots of prayers for you and your family!

Talk to the Social Security Administration and ask for help. Their contact info is here:

www.ssa.gov/.../

If they are not helpful or you need more help cutting through the red tape or figuring out what they are telling you, talk to your state senator. Go in person! If yours is like mine, they are amazing!

I found ours by putting in Google search my town name and the phrase state senator. His name came right up. Their services are free paid for by our tax dollars, so may this can help you!!

If you need low cost Legal Aid, since this situation sounds quite complicated, the State Senator can help with that also. Never pick a legal aid company from a Google search as many are not what they seem.

Good luck!

cybergrannie
Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks

July 25, 20180 found this helpful

Your question is a little confusing but basically you just want to know where all the money from 7/17 until 7/18 went?

Does that mean that your niece is now getting the benefit check in her name? Or is the check still going to the mother and she is giving it to your niece?

If your niece (how long has she lived with you?) is living with you and going to school, you and she can apply to the SSA to have the check sent to you since you will be paying for her living expenses (that is what the benefit check is for) until she graduates.
The check is not intended for your niece to spend or use as she sees fit but was given to the mother to cover the cost of her care.
The SSA can explain to you what this benefit check is to be used for and then you can decide if you wish to take your case any further.
How does your niece feel about all of this? Is she under the mistaken idea that the check was supposed to be given to her? This is many times the case and since this is not true it would probably be best if you and your niece went to the SSA in person so you will both be able to decide if you think something/money was mishandled.

As a general rule, a minor is only awarded a benefit check if they are living outside of the guardian home and providing living expenses for themselves.
You are correct in that benefits will stop when your niece graduates.
No one can give the information you are seeking other than the SSA.
You will not be able to obtain this information (from SSA) unless you have been awarded legal guardianship of your niece so she will have to be the one doing the inquiry with her SS number.

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