Losing a parent is one of the most difficult experiences a child can face.

Along with the emotional challenges, families often must navigate new financial realities. Jack Myers with Social Security says that what you may not realize is that Social Security can help support children through monthly survivor benefits.

If a parent worked and paid into Social Security, their surviving children should be eligible for monthly survivor benefits. In order to qualify, the surviving child must be unmarried and under the age of 18; unmarried and under the age of 19 but still a full-time high school student; or unmarried and disabled before age 22.  

To learn more about these benefits, visit www.ssa.gov/survivor or go to the publications section and look for 'Benefits for Children'.