Do Children Born Post-Death of a Parent Qualify for Social Security Benefits?

On March 19, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider the case of Karen Capato, who is trying to receive Social Security survivor benefits for her children who were born after the death of her husband, using in vitro fertilization. In 2000, Robert Capato was diagnosed with cancer and, as a precaution, froze sperm with a fertility clinic, out of concern that the treatment would render him sterile. Robert and Karen decided before Robert’s death to use the frozen sperm to conceive a child, as a sibling to their son. Robert died in 2002, and Karen gave birth to twins in 2003. She then applied for Social Security survivor benefits for the twins, but was denied. The government says this is because of the inheritance laws in effect in Florida (where the Capatos reside) which states that children conceived after the death of a parent cannot inherit property unless specifically provided for in a Will. Mrs. Capato argues that under the 1938 Social Security Act, survivor benefits go to any "child" of a covered individual, and that includes biological offspring of a married couple. The Florida law would only come into play if biological parentage is uncertain. A federal appeals court in Philadelphia ruled in favor of Mrs. Capato last year. There are currently an estimated 100 similar cases pending with the Social Security Administration.