In order for a child to qualify for an annuity, the child must be unmarried, under age 18, and related to the employee as a:
- natural child;
- stepchild;
- legally adopted child;
- deemed child ( a child who was born of an invalid ceremonial marriage who would not have any rights under the state law for inheriting the employee's property);
- equitably adopted child ( a child who was never legally adopted by the employee);
- grandchild or step-grandchild, if the child's parents are deceased or disabled or the child was adopted by the employee's surviving spouse. There are also dependency requirements that a grandchild must meet before an annuity can be paid. These requirements can be explained to you by the personnel at the nearest field office.