Alaska SSI and Social Security Benefits for a Grandchild in Kinship Care

A child you are raising may be eligible for monthly Social Security or SSI payments that have nothing to do with the state benefits you apply for through DPA. These federal benefits come through the Social Security Administration (SSA) and are based on the child's own circumstances — disability, a deceased parent, or a parent who is retired or disabled.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for a Disabled Child

If the child in your care has a physical, mental, or developmental disability that significantly limits their daily functioning, they may qualify for SSI. The program provides monthly cash payments to disabled children in low-income households.

Eligibility for a child under 18 depends on:

• The child's medical condition — SSA evaluates whether the disability meets or functionally equals a listing in its medical guide
• Household income and resources — SSI is means-tested; SSA may deem a parent's income to a child under its parental-deeming rules

For kinship caregivers, the deeming rules matter. SSA's parental-deeming rules apply to a child's parent or adoptive parent, not to a nonparent merely because that person is the child's legal guardian. The child's own income and support can still affect eligibility.

The maximum federal SSI payment in 2026 is $994 per month for an eligible individual. Alaska also administers a state supplement that may increase the total payment.

To apply, contact your local SSA office or call 800-772-1213. Bring medical records, school evaluations, IEP documents, and information about the child's daily limitations.

Survivor Benefits

If one or both of the child's parents has died and that parent had worked and paid into Social Security, the child may be eligible for monthly survivor benefits. Children can receive benefits on a deceased parent's record from birth through age 18 (or 19 if still in high school full-time).

The amount depends on the deceased parent's earnings history. A child typically receives up to 75% of the parent's basic Social Security benefit amount.

To file a survivor claim:

1. Visit your local SSA office or call 800-772-1213
2. Bring the parent's death certificate, the child's birth certificate, and Social Security numbers for both
3. If you are not the child's legal guardian, bring documentation of your caregiving arrangement — a PG-701, guardianship order, or school enrollment records showing the child lives with you

Survivor benefits are not means-tested. The caregiver's income does not affect the child's eligibility or payment amount.

Dependent Benefits on a Living Parent's Record

If a parent is alive but receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits (SSDI), the child may qualify for dependent benefits — up to 50% of the parent's benefit amount. This applies even if the parent is not living with the child.

These benefits are uncommon in kinship care situations, since the parent is usually absent due to addiction, incarceration, or incapacity. But if the parent is receiving SSDI (disability), the child may have an unclaimed entitlement.

How Social Security Affects State Benefits

Social Security and SSI payments received by the child count as income for some state programs:

• ATAP child-only: Social Security benefits received by the child offset the ATAP grant dollar-for-dollar after disregards. If the child receives $400 per month in survivor benefits, the ATAP cash payment is reduced by that amount.
• SNAP: Social Security income is counted as unearned income in the SNAP household calculation.
• Denali KidCare: Under MAGI rules, the taxable portion of Social Security benefits is included in income; SSI is not taxable and is excluded.

Even with the offset, filing for Social Security is usually worthwhile. Social Security survivor benefits are typically larger and more stable than ATAP, and they do not carry work requirements, time limits, or CSSD cooperation mandates.

Next Steps

For a complete guide to every financial program available to Alaska kinship caregivers — state cash grants, food benefits, health coverage, childcare subsidies, and how they all interact — see our Alaska Financial Help for Kinship Caregivers guide.

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