Effective Dates: 05/15/2023 - Present Previous | Next

TN 98 (03-25)

GN 00502.070 Determining Capability - Children

A. Policy for determining capability in children

We generally presume children under age 18 to be incapable, unless the child is emancipated under State law. In certain situations, we make direct payments to children under age 18 who show the ability to manage the benefits per GN 00502.070A.2.

Children under age 15 must have a payee, unless they have been emancipated under State law, see GN 00502.001C. When we presume an unemancipated child under age 15 incapable, obtain only for proof of age, per GN 00302.020. No further capability development is required.

If the child is emancipated under State Law, assume the child is capable unless some other indicator suggests otherwise. Make a capability determination as you would for an adult beneficiary.

We only develop a child's capability when the child asks for direct payment and files their own application.

1. For a child who is at least 15 years old and unemancipated, presume that the child is incapable:

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    when legally under parental control or in care of a person standing in place of a parent, see GN 00501.010B.5;

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    if the child has a court-appointed legal guardian; or

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    if entitled to disability benefits and a substance abuse condition exists which indicates the child may need assistance. To determine if a beneficiary has substance abuse (DAA) condition, see GN 00506.200B and look for DAA coding.

2. For a child who is at least 15 years old, presume that the child is capable and pay the child directly if the child:

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    is emancipated under state law;

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    is entitled to disability benefits based on their own earnings;

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    is on active duty in the armed forces;

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    is living alone and is self-supporting;

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    is a parent and filed for their own or their child's benefits and has had experience handling finances;

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    is within 7 months of attaining age 18 and is initially filing an application for benefits; or

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    has demonstrated the ability to handle their finances and no qualified payee is available.

Under these circumstances, develop only for the relevant evidence to establish the applicable scenario in GN 00502.070A.2. For proof of emancipation, see GN 00502.070B.3; and for evidence of age, see GN 00302.020.

If there are indicators or evidence to the contrary and you suspect a child may not be capable, you must make a capability determination as you would for an adult beneficiary, see GN 00502.020 through GN 00502.040.

B. Procedure for developing a child's capability

Generally, you should only develop a minor child's capability when the child asks for direct payment, and files their own application. If the child is presumed incapable because of age, you usually do not need to do a capability determination.

1. The child is legally under parental control or in the care of a person standing in place of a parent

If a child is legally under parental control or in the care of a person standing in place of parent (e.g., grandparent or stepparent), obtain proof of the child's age to establish that the child is incapable due to age and requires a payee, see GN 00302.020. No further development is required. Store the evidence in eView using the Evidence Portal (EP) or the eView application, or in the Non-Disability Repository for Evidentiary Documents (NDRED) using the EP, and make documentation per GN 00502.065.

2. The child has a legal guardian or a foster care agency is involved

If the child has a legal guardian or a foster care agency is involved,

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    obtain a copy of the court order for legal guardianship (photocopy is sufficient);

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    ask why the guardianship was established; and

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    determine the legal relationship between the child and the foster care agency and the legal guardian;

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    store the evidence in eView using EP or the eView application, or in NDRED using EP, and make documentation per GN 00502.065.

Remember, even when the agency is the legal guardian, you are not required to appoint the legal guardian as the payee. In many cases, the foster care agency will encourage the foster parents to apply as payee.

Gather all pertinent information and make a thoughtful and careful payee selection, determining who would serve in the child's best interest.

For additional considerations when guardian is involved, see GN 00502.139.

For additional considerations when foster care is involved, see GN 00502.159.

3. The child is emancipated under state law

An emancipated child under State law is a child who is no longer subject to parental control under the State's laws. A court order is needed in most States (GN 00501.010B.3). The minimum age and emancipation requirements vary from state to state.

Children who are emancipated under state law are presumed capable unless there are indications to the contrary. If the child is emancipated under state law:

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    obtain a copy of the court order or evidence that the requirements of state law are met; refer to the State Emancipation Law Survey Results in the PDF below; and

    View In PDF

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    store the evidence in eView or NDRED using EP and document your determination per GN 00502.065.

If there is some doubt regarding an emancipated child's capability,

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    conduct a capability investigation; and

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    make a determination as you would for an adult beneficiary (see GN 00502.020 through GN 00502.040).

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    document your determination per GN 00502.065.

4. The child files their own claim

If a child who is at least 15 years old files their own claim, determine whether the child is not under parental or legal guardian control and can be presumed capable as discussed in GN 00502.070A.2:

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    If yes, pay the child directly.

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    If no, determine why the child's parent is not filing the claim and whether they exercise control over the child.

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    If you are uncertain of the parent's interest and the child has shown the ability to handle finances, pay the child directly.

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    If the parent or the legal guardian is exercising control over the child, decide whether the parent or the legal guardian should be the payee. (Generally, a parent with interest in and exercising control over a child would be the preferred payee.) Develop for a representative payee following GN 00502.105.

C. Referral to a social service agency

If the child is incapable and you cannot find a qualified payee,

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    refer the case to the state social service agency for a special investigation into the child's welfare and recommendation for a payee per GN 00504.300 and GN 03316.065H;

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    pending this recommendation, take action to either pay the child directly (if permitted) or suspend benefits per GN 00504.110. For DAA cases and substantial harm determination, see GN 00504.105C.

You must document the social agency's recommendation or findings:

  1. 1. 

    Cases established in the electronic Representative Payee System (eRPS) (a payee application is taken or will be taken, whether the application is denied or approved):

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      See the Beneficiary Details page, using the Add Report of Contact link, complete the RPOC.

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      Write in the “Report” section “CAPA-SOCIAL AGY CONTACT” before adding your details, see MS 07416.002.

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    Cases not established in eRPS (e.g., the payee does not have an SSN):

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      Title 2 or Concurrent - Complete the Report of Contact (RPOC). Write in the “Report” section “CAPA-SOCIAL AGY CONTACT” before adding your details, see MS 03508.007.

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      Title 16 - Complete the Report of Contact page. Write in the “Report ” section “CAPA-SOCIAL AGY CONTACT” before adding your details, see MS 07416.002.

    If you are unable to establish an RPOC in MCS and Consolidated Claims Experience (CCE), use the paper Form SSA-5002 (Report of Contact) for your documentation and store it in NDRED using EP or in eView using EP or the eView application.

D. Reevaluating a child's capability

If there are allegations that the current payment method is not in the child's best interests, develop a change of payee or the child's capability.

When a child beneficiary entitled to disability benefits attains age 18, see GN 00502.075.

E. Procedure for documenting a capability determination

Make a capability determination based on the evidence. You must document capability determinations, summarizing the facts considered and the basis for your determination in eRPS, per GN 00502.065.

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0200502070
GN 00502.070 - Determining Capability - Children - 05/15/2023
Batch run: 12/03/2025
Rev:05/15/2023