Skip to content
Social Security Online
      Questions?
SSA logo: link to Social Security Online home

Find An Answer to Your Question


Are you an employer? See answers to your W-2 Reporting questions.
 Answers 
 
Ask a Question
 
 My FAQ Update Notifications 
  hide accessible links  
  Help  
 
 Search by Category View Category Hierarchy
    
     Search Tips? 
   
    
  Answer ID  
354

 Printer Friendly Version of This Answer  Print Answer

 Email This Answer  Email Answer
 
  Is the family maximum adjusted when one child is no longer eligible?
  Question
  I have four children who receive benefits on my account. When one of my children graduates from high school, is the total amount that they receive reduced or is that amount now divided by three instead of four?
  Answer
 

There is a limit on the amount of benefits that can be paid each month on a person's earnings record. The purpose of this ceiling is to assure that a family will not get considerably more in benefits after a worker retires, becomes disabled, or dies than the family had in earnings when the worker was employed.

When benefits for a family would otherwise exceed the maximum amount payable, the benefits for all members, except the worker, are reduced proportionately to bring the total within the limit. As one child (auxiliary) turns age 18 and is no longer in a secondary school (high school), benefits to the other children will usually increase up to the family maximum. However, the remaining children on the record are each only entitled to no more than 50% of the number holder's benefit, and that percentage will not increase.


 
 
 
  
 
  Users who viewed this answer have also viewed
 
Search for Another Answer
  Search for Another Answer  

Privacy Policy | Website Policies & Other Important Information | Site Map         Need Larger Text?