This article was paid for by Accredited Debt Relief
Wanting to help your children is a natural instinct for parents, even when that child is an adult. But providing ongoing financial support can create a cycle of dependency that can delay important milestones and threaten the parents’ financial security.
Nearly seven in 10 parent co-signers have made payments on their adult children’s loans or credit cards, according to a Sept. 2026 survey from Accredited Debt Relief and Money.com. Of those who pitched in, 28% said they helped out occasionally, while 42% made regular payments.
“There are two important questions to ask when deciding whether to help your grown children financially,” says Bobbi Rebell, chief financial education advisor at