2025 CBEM Key Topic Report

2025 Data Reveals Rising Need, Uneven Access, and Unclaimed Support

In partnership with the New York Life Foundation, Judi’s House/JAG Institute released the 2025 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model (CBEM) County-Level Reports this fall, offering the most comprehensive look yet at childhood bereavement across the United States.

County results within these state-specific reports build on the 2025 National result that an estimated 8.9%, or 1 in 11, children will experience the death of a parent or sibling before the age of 18, illustrating how rates of childhood bereavement vary across counties within each state .

Download the Reports*

*Under the Topic filter, select “County Level” to view the reports

Childhood Bereavement at the National Level

Together, these reports show that while childhood bereavement is experienced everywhere, it is not experienced equally. With estimated county rates for children who will be bereaved by the death of a parent or sibling by age 18 that range from 3.0% (1 in 33 children) to 38.6% (more than 1 in 3 children), these reports show that who you are and where you are matters when considering the prevalence of childhood bereavement.

Unclaimed Social Security Survivor Benefits

This year’s release includes a special focus on Social Security Administration (SSA) survivor benefits, highlighting a critical gap in support for grieving families. Each year in the U.S., an estimated $15.5 billion in survivor benefits goes unclaimed by children and families who may qualify after the death of a working parent. Each state report presents the estimated total amount of unclaimed SSA survivor benefits statewide and in the county with the highest number of children under 18 that are already bereaved by the death of a parent in that state.

Data show SSA benefits are significantly underutilized.^1,2 Nationally, an estimated 45% of eligible bereaved children do not claim this benefit, leaving them without this critical financial support.

To help close this gap, Judi’s House/JAG Institute supports the following recommendations to strengthen access and awareness:

Bereaved families: Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 as soon as possible to initiate access to survivor benefits. Benefits accrue from the date a claim is initiated, not when it is ultimately approved.
Grief centers and schools: Use schools, and school reporting forms, to help identify eligible children and families to facilitate SSA benefits access (see the example of Utah’s approach highlighted in the reports).
Advocates & policymakers: Work to advance policy changes to reduce barriers to SSA benefits access.¹

Together, these actions can help ensure that every child and family receives the support they deserve during one of life’s most difficult times.

Percent of children who will be bereaved by age 18, by county

This map shows the projected percentage of children in each U.S. county who are expected to lose a parent or sibling before age 18. Each dot marks a location offering grief support. Tap or click the map below to zoom in for more detail.

Relevant Media

Farrell, C. (2025, November 28). Social Security is a safety net for children too. Marketplace.

Sources

Weaver, D. (2025, June 16) Real Clear Markets.
Weaver, D. (2019). Population Review, 58(2).