# SSR 65-18: SSR 65-18: SECTION 202(d). -- CHILD'S INSURANCE BENEFITS -- LEGAL ADOPTION INSTITUTED BY WORKER IN OR BEFORE MONTH PERIOD OF DISABILITY BEGAN > Federal · Rulings · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_65_18 ## Section - **Citation:** SSR 65-18 - **Heading:** SSR 65-18: SECTION 202(d). -- CHILD'S INSURANCE BENEFITS -- LEGAL ADOPTION INSTITUTED BY WORKER IN OR BEFORE MONTH PERIOD OF DISABILITY BEGAN - **Jurisdiction:** Federal - **Kind:** Rulings - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Social Security Rulings / OASI / Child's Insurance Benefits / SSR 65-18 ## Text SSR 65-18 Pursuant to his applications therefor, a period of disability beginning August 1962 was established for R and he became entitled to disability insurance benefits in March 1963, upon completion of the 6-month waiting period. In January 1961, R and his wife had applied to an adoption agency, and several weeks later were approved by the agency for placement of a child. In December 1962, the adoption agency placed C, a child born in that month, in R's home where he has lived ever since, receiving his entire support from R. In July 1963 legal proceedings were filed in the appropriate court, which entered a decree of adoption of C by R and his wife, effective November 1963. On January 10, 1964, R filed an application for child's insurance benefits on behalf of C. Whether C is entitled to child's insurance benefits on R's earnings record depends upon whether C meets the dependency requirements of section 202(d)(1) of the Act at the pertinent time. (All other requirements for entitlement to such benefits were met.) Section 202(d)(1)(C), as relevant here, provides that a child of an insured individual shall be entitled to child's insurance benefits if, among other things, he: * * * * * * * Section 202(d)(1) further provides that: In order to meet the dependency requirements of section 202(d)(1)(C) at any of the times specified therein, the necessary parent-child relationship must have existed at that time. Since C's adoption occurred in November 1963, C did not have the status as R's child either at the beginning of R's period of disability in August 1962 or at the time R became entitled to disability insurance benefits in March 1963. Therefore, C may be entitled only if the date of his application for child's insurance benefits, January 10, 1964, may be used for the purpose of determining whether he meets the dependency requirement. C did not have the status as R's child either at the beginning of R's period of disability in August 1962 or at the time R became entitled to disability insurance benefits in March 1963. Therefore, C may be entitled only if the date of his application for child's insurance benefits, January 10, 1964, may be used for the purpose of determining whether he meets the dependency requirement. Since C is not R's natural child or stepchild, but is his legally adopted child, dependency as of the date of C's application may be considered only if (1) C was legally adopted by R before the end of March 1965, the 24th month after the month R most recently became entitled to disability benefits, and (2) C was living with R in August 1962, the month in which R's period of disability began, or proceedings for the adoption of C had been instituted by R in or before that month. It is clear that C was legally adopted before March 1965, but since C was not living with R in August 1962, C's entitlement to benefits depends upon whether proceedings for his adoption were instituted by R in or before August 1962. The purpose of section 202(d)(1), as applicable to an adopted child is to permit a child to whom the worker has no actual parental relationship prior to becoming disabled to qualify for benefits after onset of the disability where some specific step toward the child's adoption was at least begun before the onset of the worker's period of disability and, at the same time, to provide a safeguard against an adoption undertaken after the onset of the worker's disability for the sole purpose of qualifying a child for benefits nship prior to becoming disabled to qualify for benefits after onset of the disability where some specific step toward the child's adoption was at least begun before the onset of the worker's period of disability and, at the same time, to provide a safeguard against an adoption undertaken after the onset of the worker's disability for the sole purpose of qualifying a child for benefits. Accordingly, under the limitation imposed in section 202(d)(1), for a child who is legally adopted within 24 months after the worker becomes entitled to disability insurance benefits to qualify for child's benefits (where the child was not living with the worker in the month the worker became entitled to disability benefits), some "proceedings" for the adoption must have been "instituted" before the worker's period of disability began. The legislative history of this provision indicates that it is to be construed broadly, and that the adoption proceedings include proceedings and arrangements with licensed adoption agencies or other qualified persons, as well as actual court proceedings for the adoption of a child. (Senate Report No. 1856, 86th Cong., 2d Sess., p. 36.) In this case, R had executed a general application for an adoptive placement with the adoption agency in January 1961 and the legal adoption of C was completed in November 1963. It is thus apparent that R had a good faith adoptive intent prior to the onset of his disability ll as actual court proceedings for the adoption of a child. (Senate Report No. 1856, 86th Cong., 2d Sess., p. 36.) In this case, R had executed a general application for an adoptive placement with the adoption agency in January 1961 and the legal adoption of C was completed in November 1963. It is thus apparent that R had a good faith adoptive intent prior to the onset of his disability. Accordingly, it is held that the initial general application for adoption filed by R was an institution of proceedings for adoption as is contemplated by section 202(d)(1)(C) of the Act; that C was legally adopted within 24 months after the month in which R became entitled to disability insurance benefits; that C was dependent on R on January 10, 1964, the date of his application for child's insurance benefits; and that, all other requirements having been met, he is entitled to child's insurance benefits beginning November 1963, the month he first acquired status as R's child. ## Nearby sections - [SSR 06-02p SSR 06-02p: Title II: Adjudicating Child Relationship Under Section 216(h)(2)(A) of the Social Security Act When Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) Test Shows Sibling Relationship Between Claimant and a Child of the Worker Who Is Entitled Under Section 216(h)(3) of the Social Security Act](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_06_02p.md) - [SSR 60-1 SSR 60-1. CHILD MARRIED AND DIVORCED BEFORE FILING EFFECTIVE APPLICATION](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_60_1.md) - [SSR 61-18 SSR 61-18. EFFECTIVE DATE OF ADOPTION WHERE ADOPTING PARENT DIES AFTER INTERLOCUTORY DECREE BUT BEFORE FINAL DECREE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_61_18.md) - [SSR 61-30 SSR 61-30. IRREVOCABLE SURRENDER OF CHILD TO PERSON WHO AGREES TO RAISE CHILD](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_61_30.md) - [SSR 61-52 SSR 61-52. CHANGE OF CIRCUMSTANCES SHORTLY BEFORE WORKER'S DEATH](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_61_52.md) - [SSR 61-64 SSR 61-64. LEGITIMATION OF CHILD BY INTERMARRIAGE OF PARENTS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_61_64.md) - [SSR 62-53 SSR 62-53. RELATIONSHIP -- EFFECTIVE DATE OF LEGITIMATION OF CHILD BY INTERMARRIAGE OF PARENTS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_62_53.md) - [SSR 63-15 SSR 63-15: SECTION 202(d). -- TERMINATION OF ENTITLEMENT TO CHILD'S INSURANCE BENEFITS -- ATTAINMENT OF AGE 18](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_63_15.md) - [SSR 63-28 SSR 63-28: SECTIONS 202(d), 216(e), and 216(h)(2)(A). -- RELATIONSHIP -- ADOPTED CHILD'S RIGHTS OF INHERITANCE FROM NATURAL PARENT](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_63_28.md) - [SSR 65-18 SSR 65-18: SECTION 202(d). -- CHILD'S INSURANCE BENEFITS -- LEGAL ADOPTION INSTITUTED BY WORKER IN OR BEFORE MONTH PERIOD OF DISABILITY BEGAN](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_65_18.md) - [SSR 65-20c SSR 65-20c: SECTIONS 202(d)(1), 216(e), and 216(h)(2). -- DEFINITION OF "CHILD" -- EQUITABLE ADOPTION](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_65_20c.md) - [SSR 65-35 SSR 65-35: SECTION 202(d). -- CHILD'S INSURANCE BENEFITS -- LEGAL ADOPTION BY CLAIMANT ENTITLED TO DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_65_35.md) - [SSR 65-36c SSR 65-36c: SECTIONS 202(d) and 216(h)(2)(A). -- RELATIONSHIP -- LEGITIMATION UNDER CALIFORNIA LAW](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_65_36c.md) - [SSR 65-51 SSR 65-51: SECTIONS 202(d) and 205(a). -- FINALITY OF DECISION -- REOPENING ON BASIS OF NEW AND MATERIAL EVIDENCE -- GOOD CAUSE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_65_51.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_65_18. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.