mathews lucas argued january decided june social security act provides child individual died fully insured act entitled surviving child benefits child student dependent time parent death child considered dependent insured parent living contributed child support time death certain children however need submit individualized proof dependency unless adopted person child legitimate entitled inherit insured parent state law considered dependent time parent death even lacking relationship state intestacy law entitled presumption dependency decedent death gone marriage ceremony parent resulting purported marriage nonobvious defect valid acknowledged writing child decreed child father ordered support child child father died appellee illegitimate children administratively denied surviving children benefits ground failed show dependency proof father lived contributing support time death statutory presumptions dependency ruling upheld administrative appeal appellees filed action review appellant secretary health education welfare alleging denial benefits violated equal protection component due process clause fifth amendment children including legitimate children statutorily entitled appellee children survivors benefits regardless actual dependency district held statutory classifications constitutionally impermissible reversing administrative decision ordering benefits paid children held judicial scrutiny traditionally devoted cases involving discrimination along lines race national origin required legislation treats legitimate illegitimate offspring differently pp challenged statutory classifications permissible reasonably related likelihood dependency death failing extend presumption dependency appellee children others like act impermissibly discriminate compared legitimate children illegitimate children statutorily deemed dependent pp congress unwilling assume every child deceased insured dependent time death presuming dependency basis relatively readily documented facts legitimate birth support order paternity decree relied upon indicate likelihood continued actual dependency congress able avoid burden expense specific determination large number cases dependency objectively probable presumptions aid administrative functions though may approximate rather precisely mirror results adjudication show permissible fifth amendment long lack precise equivalence exceed bounds substantiality tolerated applicable level scrutiny pp challenged classifications justified reasonable empirical judgments consistent design qualify entitlement benefits upon child dependency time parent death gomez perez new jersey welfare rights org cahill weber aetna casualty surety levy louisiana jimenez weinberger frontiero richardson distinguished pp blackmun delivered opinion burger stewart white powell rehnquist joined stevens filed dissenting opinion brennan marshall joined post deputy solicitor general jones argued cause appellant brief solicitor general bork assistant attorney general lee william kanter christopher brown argued cause appellees brief thomas pearlman justice blackmun delivered opinion case presents issue constitutionality due process clause fifth amendment provisions social security act condition eligibility certain illegitimate children surviving child insurance benefits upon showing deceased wage earner claimant child parent time death living child contributing support robert cuffee deceased lived belmira lucas years never married two children born years ruby lucas darin lucas cuffee lucas separated cuffee died providence home died without ever acknowledged writing paternity either ruby darin never determined judicial proceeding lifetime father either child cuffee death lucas filed application behalf ruby darin surviving children benefits social security act stat amended ed supp iv based upon cuffee earnings record ii operative terms act provides unmarried son daughter individual died fully currently insured act may apply entitled survivor benefit applicant years age time application student years age dependent within meaning statute time parent death child considered dependent purpose insured father living contributing child support time death certain children however relieved burden individualized proof dependency unless child adopted individual child legitimate child entitled inherit personal property insured parent estate applicable state intestacy law considered dependent time parent death even lacking relationship state law child unless adopted individual entitled presumption dependency decedent death gone marriage ceremony parent resulting purported marriage nonobvious legal defect valid writing acknowledged child decreed child father ordered support child child examiner social security administration hearings determined cuffee paternity established children failed demonstrate dependency proof cuffee either lived contributing support time death statutory presumptions dependency thus entitled survivorship benefits act appeals council social security administration affirmed rulings became final decision secretary health education welfare lucas timely filed action pursuant act district district rhode island behalf two children hereinafter sometimes called appellees review secretary decision district ultimately affirmed factual findings administrative agency robert cuffee children father never acknowledged paternity writing paternity support obligations subject judicial proceeding lifetime marriage ever contracted cuffee lucas children inherit cuffee personal property intestacy law rhode island time death neither living children contributing support supp none factual matters issue motion summary judgment filed appellees relied jimenez weinberger urged denial benefits case paternity clear violated fifth amendment due process clause provision comprehends principle equal protection laws children including legitimate children statutorily entitled lucas children survivorship benefits regardless actual dependency addressing issue district ruled statutory classifications constitutionally impermissible recognizing web statutory provisions regarding presumptive dependency overinclusive entitled children actually dependent survivorship benefits act although underinclusive since otherwise eligible child establish actual dependency time death denied benefits concluded act intended merely replace actual support child lost death insured parent rather characterized statute one designed replace obligations support potential support lost death obligation perceived congress basis responsibility relation child parents valid one thus concluded act conditions eligibility basis congress views entitled support reflects society view legitimate legitimated children entitled support parent illegitimate children legitimate governmental interest thus support challenged classification gomez perez emphasis original secretary appealed directly noted probable jurisdiction set case argument norton mathews post iii secretary disagree lucas children others similarly circumstanced treated differently class children legitimate illegitimate relieved statutory presumption requirement proving actual dependency time death cohabitation contribution children advantaged classes may statutorily entitled benefits even never dependent upon father claim statutory classifications course per se unconstitutional matter depends upon character discrimination relation legitimate legislative aims essential inquiry inevitably dual one legitimate governmental interest classification promote fundamental personal rights might classification endanger weber aetna casualty surety although district concluded close judicial scrutiny statute classifications necessary conclusion invalidating classifications also concluded legislation treating legitimate illegitimate offspring differently constitutionally suspect requires judicial scrutiny traditionally devoted cases involving discrimination along lines race national origin appellees echo approach disagree true course legal status illegitimacy however defined like race national origin characteristic determined causes within control illegitimate individual bears relation individual ability participate contribute society recognized weber visiting condemnation upon child order express society disapproval parents liaisons illogical unjust moreover imposing disabilities illegitimate child contrary basic concept system legal burdens bear relationship individual responsibility wrongdoing obviously child responsible birth penalizing illegitimate child ineffectual well unjust way deterring parent omitted therefore adhere earlier view see labine vincent act discrimination individuals basis legitimacy command extraordinary protection majoritarian political process san antonio school dist rodriguez exacting scrutiny entail see jimenez weber iv consistent decisions secretary explains design statutory scheme assailed program provide children deceased insureds demonstrate need terms dependency times insureds deaths cf jimenez authenticates description reference explicit language act specifying applicant child classification legitimate acknowledged ultimately relevant determination dependency reference legislative history indicating statute general welfare provision legitimate otherwise approved children deceased insureds intended replace support lost child father dies taking explanation face value think clear conditioning entitlement upon dependency time death impermissibly discriminatory providing children loss parent immediate source need cf geduldig aiello jefferson hackney richardson belcher see also weber appellees contend actual design statute belies secretary description statute intended provide support insured decedents children generally legitimate claim support without regard actual dependency death case assert statute matrix classifications bears adequate relationship actual dependency death since dependency justify statute discriminations appellees argue classifications must fall gomez perez supra assertions effect one basis appellees argument obvious fact presumptions dependency renders class incrementally overinclusive sense children within class presumptive dependents automatically entitled benefits statute although fact prove economic dependence upon insured wage earners time death conclude statutory classifications permissible however reasonably related likelihood dependency death congress purpose adopting statutory presumptions dependency obviously serve administrative convenience congress unwilling assume every child deceased insured dependent time death presuming dependency basis relatively readily documented facts legitimate birth existence support order paternity decree relied upon indicate likelihood continued actual dependency congress able avoid burden expense specific determination large number cases dependency objectively probable presumptions aid administrative functions though may approximate rather precisely mirror results adjudication show permissible fifth amendment long lack precise equivalence exceed bounds substantiality tolerated applicable level scrutiny see weinberger salfi cases strictest scrutiny approximations must supported least showing government dollar lost overincluded benefit recipients returned dollar saved administrative expense avoided frontiero richardson plurality opinion standard review appropriate however materiality relation statutory classifications likelihood dependency assertedly reflect need scientifically substantiated james strange quoting roth opinion harlan case believe congress required realm less strictest scrutiny weigh burdens administrative inquiry solely terms dollars ultimately spent ignoring relative amounts devoted administrative rather welfare uses cf weinberger salfi finally scrutiny showing judged toothless one jimenez weinberger frontiero richardson stewart concurring judgment powell concurring judgment reed reed burden remains upon appellees demonstrate insubstantiality relation see lindsley natural carbonic gas cf gainey applying principles think statutory classifications challenged justified reasonable empirical judgments consistent design qualify entitlement benefits upon child dependency time parent death begin note statutory scheme significantly different provisions confronted cases invalidated legislative discriminations among children basis legitimacy see gomez perez new jersey welfare rights org cahill weber aetna casualty surety levy louisiana differences render cases little assistance appellees fairly argued respect statutes struck cases legitimacy child simply taken indication dependency valid ground qualification one statutes legitimate child automatically entitled benefits illegitimate child denied benefits solely finally basis illegitimacy regardless demonstration dependency legitimate factor see also griffin richardson supp md summarily aff davis richardson supp summarily aff weber aetna casualty surety supra sole partial exception statutory scheme provided child equal recovery workmen compensation plan event death father child dependent also dependent child legitimate jimenez weinberger supra invalidating discrimination among afterborn illegitimate children entitlement child disability benefits social security act similarly distinguishable somewhat related statutory matrix considered legitimate children capable inheriting personal property state intestacy law illegitimate solely account nonobvious defect parents marriage eligible benefits even born onset father disability illegitimate afterborn children conclusively denied benefits regardless showing dependency held discrimination among illegitimate afterborn children impermissible rejecting secretary claim classification based upon considerations regarding trustworthy proof dependency accept assertion blanket conclusive exclusion appellants subclass illegitimates reasonably related prevention spurious claims dependency assuming appellants fact dependent claimant father serve purposes act conclusively deny opportunity establish dependency right insurance benefits conclusively deny one subclass benefits presumptively available denies former equal protection laws guaranteed due process provision fifth amendment course enough simply child deceased insured eligible benefits upon showing dependency frontiero richardson supra found impermissible qualify entitlement dependent benefits married woman uniformed services upon individualized showing husband actual dependence upon half income showing actual dependency required married man uniformed services obtain dependent benefits account wife invalidity discrimination rested upon overbroad assumption schlesinger ballard underlying discrimination male workers earnings vital support families earnings female wage earners significantly contribute families support weinberger wiesenfeld see frontiero contrast statute broadly discriminate legitimates illegitimates without carefully tuned alternative considerations presumption dependency withheld absence significant indication likelihood actual dependency moreover say factors give rise presumption dependency lack substantial relation likelihood actual dependency rather agree assessment originally ruled norton weinberger supp md clearly rational presume overwhelming number legitimate children actually dependent upon parents support likewise children invalid marriage typically live wage earner home supported order support entered reasonable assume compliance occurred paternity decree necessarily ordering support almost strongly suggest support subsequently obtained conceding written acknowledgment lacks imprimatur judicial proceeding establishes basis rational presumption men customarily affirm writing responsibility illegitimate child unless child man acknowledged child likely provide support one sure none statutory criteria compels extension presumption dependency constitutional question whether presumption required whether permitted ratifying statutory classifications role hypothesize independently desirability feasibility possible alternative basis presumption matters practical judgment empirical calculation congress drawing upon practical experience congress tailored statutory classifications accord calculations likelihood actual support suggested narrow set objective apparently reasonable indicators role simply determine whether congress assumptions inconsistent insubstantial reasonably supportive conclusions individualized factual inquiry order isolate nondependent child given class cases unwarranted administrative exercise end precise accuracy congress calculations matter specialized judicial competence basis question detail beyond evident consistency substantiality cf gainey say expectations unfounded indiscriminate render statute classifications baseless conclude short failing extend presumption dependency appellees others like act impermissibly discriminate compared legitimate children illegitimate children statutorily deemed dependent reversed footnotes every child defined section title individual dies fully currently insured individual child filed application child insurance benefits time application filed unmarried either attained age student attained age dependent upon individual ii individual died time death shall entitled child insurance benefit month beginning first month august child becomes entitled insurance benefits determining whether applicant child fully currently insured individual purposes subchapter secretary shall apply law applied determining devolution intestate personal property courts state insured individual domiciled time death applicants according law status relative taking intestate personal property child shall deemed section act provides pertinent part child shall deemed dependent upon father adopting father mother adopting mother time specified paragraph subsection unless time individual living contributing support child child neither legitimate adopted child individual child adopted individual additionally child qualifies see supra considered legitimate purposes thus dependent section set forth provides pertinent part child deemed child fully currently insured individual pursuant section section shall deemed legitimate child individual therefore presumptively dependent section set forth provides applicant son daughter fully currently insured individual deemed child insured individual subparagraph applicant shall nevertheless deemed child insured individual insured individual mother father case may applicant went marriage ceremony resulting purported marriage legal impediment described last sentence paragraph valid marriage impediment resulting lack dissolution previous marriage otherwise arising previous marriage dissolution ii resulting defect procedure followed connection purported marriage applicant son daughter fully currently insured individual deemed child insured individual paragraph subsection shall nevertheless deemed child insured individual case deceased individual insured individual acknowledged writing applicant son daughter ii decreed father applicant iii ordered contribute support applicant applicant son daughter acknowledgment decree order made death individual ii insured individual shown evidence satisfactory secretary father applicant insured individual living contributing support applicant time insured individual died upon original petition review district affirmed administrative findings made remanded case secretary determine status relationship children parents question left unconsidered first administrative proceeding adverse determination point unsuccessful administrative appeal lucas behalf children timely sought review district presenting marriage question asserting constitutional challenge act district affirmed administrative conclusion marriage turned constitutional questions subject appeal see jimenez weinberger dept agriculture moreno frontiero richardson plurality opinion district affirmed secretary factual findings memorandum order entered august viewing constitutional claim one requiring convention district single district judge reach issue district convened disbanded appellees renewed motion summary judgment omitted earlier request injunctive relief constitutional claim thus correctly determined single district judge adds nothing say illegitimate child also saddled procedural burden proving entitlement basis facts legitimate child need prove legitimate child required like illegitimate prove facts upon statutory entitlement rests appellees suggest successfully strict judicial scrutiny statutory classifications required regulating entitlement survivorship benefits statute discriminatorily interferes interests constitutional fundamentality weinberger salfi dandridge williams course found privacy familial relationships entitled procedural due process protections disruption state whether relationships legitimized marriage state law stanley illinois concerns relevant context tangential analysis since statutory scheme interfere way familial relations see loving virginia bolling sharpe see oyama california korematsu hirabayashi statutory classifications challenged discriminate among illegitimate children mean course also properly described discriminating legitimate illegitimate children see frontiero richardson supra cf weber aetna casualty surety view conclusion regarding applicable standard judicial scrutiny need consider classes legitimate illegitimate children constitutionally defined appellees approach significance consideration seem suggested provisions enabling parents legitimatize children born illegitimate compare weber labine vincent course status dependency recognized statute wholly within control parent rodriguez identified suspect class entitled protections strict judicial scrutiny one saddled disabilities subjected history purposeful unequal treatment relegated position political powerlessness command extraordinary protection majoritarian political process bound agree secretary description legislative design legislative history structure provisions belie weinberger wiesenfeld jimenez weinberger appellees unable however summon meaningful legislative history support position regarding congressional design rely largely upon section conference committee report amendments social security act reproduced cong rec partially explaining addition set forth supra act child paid benefits based father earnings without regard whether status child state inheritance laws father supporting child legal obligation thus appellees order make case must ultimately rely upon asserted failure legislative product adequately fit purported legitimate aim provisions may thus reflect secondary purpose congress course moment mcginnis royster vacated remanded proceedings light jimenez adhered remand supp aff sub nom norton mathews post secretary pointing set forth specific terms provides child deemed child fully currently insured individual pursuant section section shall deemed legitimate child individual urges misconstrued statute jimenez concluding applicant qualifying child considered legitimate child therefore dependent question however correctness conclusion first operation recognition legitimacy state law giving rise presumption dependency takes consistent operational meaning second specifically exclude child qualified child considered legitimate anomalous effect illegitimate child acknowledged written statement insured father example deprived otherwise established eligibility benefits see applicable state law acknowledgment worked make child intestate heir moreover legislative history clear social security amendments pub stat adding act inserting provision specifying child shall deemed legitimate therefore dependent child death benefit purposes intended effect deeming child legitimate thus dependent see discussing appellees suggest unwilling assume discrimination children appellees class state intestacy laws constitutionally prohibited see labine vincent case appellees made eligible benefits justice stevens justice brennan justice marshall join dissenting reason government add burdens illegitimate children inevitably acquire birth radiantly clear committed proposition persons created equal reason approving discrimination class administrative convenience opaque insufficient opaque difference justification argument rejected jimenez weinberger difficult discern insufficient unfairly evaluates competing interests stake jimenez involved requirement wage earner must contributed support illegitimate child prior onset disability case involves requirement deceased wage earner contributing support illegitimate child time death critical objections classification held invalid jimenez apply equal force case classification jimenez overinclusive conclusively presumed legitimates illegitimates dependent disabled wage earner many persons fact dependent since legitimate well illegitimate children sometimes abandoned father death precisely objection applies statutory classification moreover jimenez classification underinclusive conclusively excluded illegitimates fact dependent wage earner case two appellee children conclusively excluded class eligibles even though supported father years eight years respectively underinclusiveness jimenez classification arbitrary classification even objectionable attaches greater weight support particular moment time support several years duration jimenez secretary told classification designed prevent spurious claims held objective insufficient justify blanket conclusive exclusion subclass illegitimates statute changed told justification similar blanket conclusive exclusion administrative convenience suggest merely different name federal interest statutory classification affect processing claims way except substituting mechanical test dependency kind inquiry otherwise required differentiate spurious genuine unable identify relevant difference jimenez case ii recognizes legal status illegitimacy however defined like race national origin characteristic determined causes within control illegitimate individual bears relation individual ability participate contribute society ante reason also recognizes imposing disabilities illegitimate child contrary basic concept system legal burdens bear relationship individual responsibility wrongdoing ibid thus starts analysis premise statutory classification illogical unjust ibid seems rather plain premise demands conclusion classification invalid unless justified weightier governmental interest merely administrative convenience characterized purpose statute providing benefits individuals legitimate claim support deceased wage earner rather actually dependent wage earner time death analysis provisions statute allow certain classes legitimate children receive benefits without showing actual dependency statutory presumptions aid administrative convenience appropriate reading statute goes however hold presumptions aid administrative convenience permissible long lack precise equivalence fact giving rise presumption fact presumed exceed bounds substantiality tolerated applicable level scrutiny ante opinion tells us little however applicable level scrutiny exacting scrutiny ante hand classification derives possibly rational support another source inherently untenable simply rests part illegitimacy ante believe admittedly illogical unjust result accepted without better explanation also something possibly rational basis repeatedly held distinctions disfavor illegitimates simply illegitimate invalid gomez perez weber aetna casualty surety however irrational may burden innocent children parents marry illegitimates nonetheless traditionally disfavored class society tradition disfavor especially vigilant examining classification involves illegitimacy traditional classification likely used without pausing consider justification newly created classification habit rather analysis makes seem acceptable natural distinguish male female alien citizen legitimate illegitimate much history inertia distinguishing black white sort stereotyped reaction may rational relationship pure prejudicial discrimination stated purpose classification made case true classification according one children dependent fathers children dependent subsidiary classifications actual effect allowing certain children eligible benefits regardless actual dependency supposedly justified increased convenience agency required every case determine dependency classifications actually bear substantial relationship fact dependency statute one another criteria giving rise presumption dependency exists make almost children deceased wage earners eligible child legitimate qualifies child illegitimate nonobvious defect parents marriage qualifies declared father fact father issued order support father father acknowledged child writing qualifies apart qualifications child lucky enough live state allows inherit intestate father par children also qualifies none situations need allege much less prove actual dependency indeed contrary fact undisputed nevertheless qualified today attempts length explain factors rationally substantially related actual fact dependency adopting even somewhat tenuous rationalization district en customarily affirm writing responsibility illegitimate child unless child man acknowledged child likely provide support one ante without also noting man lives woman years two children born always orally acknowledged children lived children supported may never perceive need make formal written acknowledgment paternity even tenuous asserted relationship status illegitimate state intestacy law actual dependency asserts embodiment popular view within jurisdiction parent property devolve among children event death without specific directions legislation also reflects degree popular conception within jurisdiction felt parental obligation illegitimate child circumstances thus something likelihood actual parental support well life ante nebulous inference upon inference treated acceptable evidence actual dependency proof actual support many years whether classification expressed terms eligible classes terms presumptions dependency fact remains legitimacy written acknowledgments state law make eligible many children likely dependent children appellees situation yet name administrative convenience allows survivors benefits allocated grounds tenuous connection supposedly controlling factor child dependency father persuaded classification sustained today name administrative convenience probably product tradition thinking illegitimates less deserving persons legitimates sovereign firmly reject tradition fact illegitimacy apparent observer sex race make governmental classification less odious denied source social opprobrium even wholly unmerited circumstance individual responsibility whatsoever fair evaluation competing interests stake litigation requires affirmance judgment district respectfully dissent even children might rationally classified basis whether dependent upon disabled parent act definition two subclasses illegitimates overinclusive benefits children legitimated entitled inherit illegitimate solely defect marriage parents dependent disabled parent conversely act underinclusive conclusively excludes illegitimates appellants subclass fact dependent upon disabled parent thus shown record two subclasses illegitimates stand equal footing potential spurious claims hence conclusively deny one subclass benefits presumptively available denies former equal protection laws guaranteed due process provision fifth amendment survivors receive benefits show dependency parents widowers pure discrimination certainly legitimate purpose federal government especially sensitive discrimination grounds birth distinctions citizens solely ancestry nature odious free people whose institutions founded upon doctrine equality hirabayashi inception federal government directed treat citizens created equal eyes law declaration independence hold truths men created equal endowed creator certain unalienable rights among life liberty pursuit happiness relationship entitling presumption actual fact dependency nebulous conclusion supported resort supposed popular conception within jurisdiction classification must either irrational serve purpose one assertedly justified