The Social Security Family Maximum

The Social Security system has a generous payment to beneficiaries of someone who retires, dies or becomes disabled. What catches many by surprise is that these payments are limited by the Social Security family maximum benefits rule.

If someone retires or dies, this rule caps the benefits that can be paid from any one individual’s record to a range of 150%-188% of their full retirement age benefit. If someone becomes disabled, the family maximum benefit will limit their beneficiaries to no more than 150% of their full retirement age benefit.

Resources:

MY ARTICLES & VIDEOS

Complete Guide to the SS Family Maximum

How To Calculate Your SS Benefit

Amount of Mother’s/Father’s Benefits

SSA research piece, “Understanding the Social Security Family Maximum”

SSA webpage on the formula for the family max

POMS RS 00615.768 Adjustment in Simultaneous and Dual Entitlement Cases

POMS RS 00615.756 Adjusting Benefits for the Family Maximum (FMAX)

RS 00615.768 Adjustment in Simultaneous and Dual Entitlement Cases

Splitting of entitlements

POMS RS 00208.000 Mother's and Father's Benefits (Child In Care)

POMS RS 00615.772 Determining the SSN Upon Which Benefits Will Be Paid

RS 00615.770 Simultaneous Entitlement of Children on More Than One SSN

2014 OIG Audit “Adjustment of Monthly Benefits Under the Family Maximum Provisions”

Don’t miss my free online workshop, “How to Choose the RIGHT Age to File for Social Security.” In this workshop you’ll learn:
✔The Most Important Factors to Consider BEFORE You File for Benefits
✔How to Coordinate Your Social Security Filing Decision with Your Other Assets & Income for a Tax Efficient Distribution Strategy
✔Why This Is The Biggest Decision of Your Retirement

Access the workshop today at this link

📜 HEAR YE HEAR YE: Some of my videos contain links to third party products, apps, and services. If you click through, I may receive a small referral fee to my media company (Carroll Media Properties) through their referral program. Rest assured, I only recommend products or services that I believe will be helpful and informative to my audience.

⭐⚠️⭐Please read this⭐⚠️⭐

⚠️I am not an attorney, SSDI advocate, or affiliated with the Social Security Administration or any other entity of the US Federal Government. I am a practicing financial planner, but I’m not YOUR financial planner and since I don’t really know you, I can’t give you advice. So please don’t take this video as specific advice for your specific situation. Consult your own tax, legal and financial advisors. 🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[karpat]

I was going to file but I was told that only my wife or disable adult child would receive the 50% Benefit and the other wouldn't. Based on what you said my 62 year old wife that cares for our adult child would receive 50% of my FRA benefit and my child would as well, is this correct?

[lauriegrivel]

Your family Max chart has an incorrect amount. It says 1400 is the amount the family would get the bided by the number in the family. It’s 1600. Sorry if somebody already noticed that

[pennyalmlie]

So my husband has been disabled for 20 plus years. I will be 62 in February. Can I collect anything? I will be taking retirement in February when I turn 62.

[journeysendorendlessjourne]

If you start collecting SS benefits but still working can your child get benefits? My child lives with her mother in another state she just turned 16 y.o.

[edsiler]

Have just watch your video "Calculating Social Security Spousal Benefits with Dual Entitlement" & am wondering how this impacts family maximum calculation.
Would the hi earner's family max be reduced by the spouse's entire amount, OR just the spousal portion?
Using your example in that video, spouse's own FRA benefit of $800 plus spousal portion of $200 = $1000
Would the hi earner's family max be reduced by $1000 or only $200?
Obviously this has a huge impact on the amount remaining for children's benefits.

[Theravadadann]

My wife is 66 and started her social security at 62, I am considering starting mine also this year at 62 and wondering if my early retirement would lower the amount of benefit my wife could get from spouse benefit, from half of my full retirement amount to half of my early retirement amount. Both figures are greater than her present amount.

[vanessaguay]

My husband died last year august, i'm 35 years old and we have two sons eldest 11 years old and the youngest is 8 years old, we are now living in Philippines.How i can apply our survivor benefits?

[eriklopez]

So if you have kids you get more money

[markgill]

my wife receives SS disability as does my disabled son from her record When I retire, will our family be limited to the family max or will I be able to collect my full benefit on my record, not just an amount that goes to the max

[rcarey]

If i file for my SSA benefits as soon as eligible at 62 and I have kids under 18 eligible for up to 75% of my benefit as a family maximum - if I start working again, I know my benefits wife gets reduced $1 for every $2 I earn…but does this also reduce what they can get? Thx.

[izzydoesit]

What if I marry an immigrant non us citizen can I add him to my SSDI? Thx

[theodfw]

Am I correct in assuming when you use the word 'retire' you mean claiming my SS benefit, not retiring from my job? I plan on retiring next year at age 64, but was planning on waiting till 70 to start my SS benefit. However, I have a 13-year old, and this video almost sounds like both my wife and her can get 50% of my FRA benefit when I retire next year. Surely that's not correct?

[edsiler]

Until now I had NO IDEA there is anything for children if one merely retires, though that was on a survivor benefit after death. We have grandchildren living with us, what would make them eligible? I have not filed yet.

[hiskingdom]

What about a military "partial disability"? Can S.S. benefit be paid

[AlanWhettonUKGUYINLV]

Hi Devin, - I'm 67 years old, still working but have just recieved my first social security payment. I have been told that i can apply for additional payments due to having two young daughters - 13 and 16. What forms do i need to apply for childrens benefits if this is the case ?? Thank you so much in advance should you answer : )

[montsanch]

Hi, can I collect children dependent benefits and live in mexico? Thank you.

[daveforgot]

If that is the case why even have the spouse apply for benefits. The kids could get the benefits and the spouse would not be limited to making an income working. By the way your numbers don't add up with all the kids.

[ronfry]

How about social security disability what about that so so security disability

[armyretguy]

So I get SSDI and 100% VA. On my SSDI, my daughter gets 50%. So since I had more kids, there is no point in adding my other kids right? Because mine plus my daughter equals 150%??? Me 100% daughter 50% = 150%

[imxploring]

So.... what happens if the deceased had 2 former spouses and a current spouse.... all marriages last 10 years? Throw a few kids into the mix and it looks like it can get messy quickly.
Great video as always Devin!