---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 C.F.R. § 222.31"
title: "20"
number: "222.31"
heading: "Relationship as child for annuity and lump-sum payment purposes."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/20/222.31"
---

# §222.31. Relationship as child for annuity and lump-sum payment purposes.

- (a) **Annuity claimant.** When there are claimants under paragraph [(a)(1)](/cfr/20/222.30.md?p=a-1), [(a)(2)](/cfr/20/222.30.md?p=a-2), or [(a)(3)](/cfr/20/222.30.md?p=a-3) of § 222.30, a person will be considered the child of the employee when that person is—
  - (1) The natural or legally adopted child of the employee (see [§ 222.33](/cfr/20/222.33.md)); or
  - (2) The stepchild of the employee; or
  - (3) The grandchild or step-grandchild of the employee or spouse; or
  - (4) **The equitably adopted child of the employee.**
- (b) **Lump-sum payment claimant.** A claimant for a lump-sum payment must be one of the following in order to be considered the child of the employee:
  - (1) The natural child of the employee;
  - (2) A child legally adopted by the employee (this does not include any child adopted by the employee's widow or widower after the employee's death); or
  - (3) **The equitably adopted child of the employee.** For procedures on how a determination of the person's relationship to the employee is made, see [§§ 222.32-222.33](/cfr/20/222.32-222.33.md).

## Notes

### Amendments

[65 FR 20726, Apr. 18, 2000]

### Authority

Authority: 45 U.S.C. 231f.

### Source

Source: 54 FR 42949, Oct. 19, 1989, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[65 FR 20726, Apr. 18, 2000]