It can happen suddenly or it can be something that was expected but it is never easy when the parent of a child passes and while it may be one of the last things you think about, Social Security has some reassurances for families in these circumstances.

In addition to being emotionally painful, the loss of a loved one can be financially devastating as well. Jack Myers with Social Security says they can help the financial aspect through its survivor benefits for children.

According to Myers, you must have worked and paid enough into Social Security for your children to qualify for this benefit. He says for those who do financial planning, knowing what those benefits are can be a great help.

To learn if you have, create a mySocialSecurity account at www.socialsecurity.gov, and look at your Social Security Statement. Social Security hopes your family doesn’t need it, but knowing what they’ll qualify for if something happens to you should be part of your financial planning.