Social Security isn’t just for the elderly. It’s also for children. But that fact sometimes is overlooked. 

“Too many people fall into the trap of thinking of Social Security as strictly a program for ‘old people,’” says Kurt Czarnowski, a Social Security expert with Czarnowski consulting.  

Nearly 4 million people under 18 currently receive a monthly Social Security payment because a parent has retired, become disabled, or passed away. And these benefits can help stabilize a family’s future, according to the Social Security Administration.