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Does Old Age Social Security Help Children? The Impact of Social Security on Grandchild Resources

Author

Listed:
  • Lucie Schmidt
  • Lara Shore-Sheppard
  • Tara Watson

Abstract

Though Social Security is typically considered a program to support retirees, nearly one in ten children live in a home with Social Security income. Children are substantially more likely to live with an older adult than they were two decades ago, and they are twice as likely to report Social Security income in their household as traditional cash welfare. We use the sharp increase in eligibility for Social Security benefits at age 62 to investigate the role played by the Social Security program in childhood economic resources among children who live with their grandparents. We do not find that Social Security eligibility increases household income on average, but it is associated with a shift towards Social Security income and reductions in deep poverty. We also see increased availability of household members’ time for home production.

Suggested Citation

  • Lucie Schmidt & Lara Shore-Sheppard & Tara Watson, 2025. "Does Old Age Social Security Help Children? The Impact of Social Security on Grandchild Resources," NBER Working Papers 33381, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:33381
    Note: CH LS PE
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics

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