My husband passed away in 2015. I have three children, 10, 12, and soon to be 18. They currently receive $1189/each. After my son turns 18 and is ineligible to receive benefits, will his portion be distributed between the two younger ones?

Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. It sounds like your oldest child's benefit amount won't be fully redistributed to your younger 2 children. The maximum rate that a surviving child can be paid is equal to 75% of the deceased worker's primary insurance amount (PIA). Up to 2 surviving children can always be paid their full maximum benefit rate if they are the only survivors drawing benefits on a deceased worker's record. So, when your youngest 2 children are the only survivors collecting benefits on your husband's account they'll be paid 75% of your husband's PIA.

The only time that a surviving child's benefit amount is reduced to below 75% of the worker's PIA is if there are more than 2 eligible children, or at least 2 eligible children plus a surviving spouse drawing benefits. In that case, they must split the family maximum benefit (FMB) amount that can be paid on the worker's record. FMBs can amount to anywhere from 150% of the decease worker's PIA to 187% of the deceased worker's PIA.

Based on the amount that you're children have been receiving I'm guessing that the FMB limit on your husband's account is probably equal to 175% of his PIA. That would mean that your youngest 2 children's benefit rate will likely increase when your oldest child stops getting benefits, but their increase won't amount to the full amount that your oldest son's been getting.

Here's an example to clarify. Let's say 3 children are eligible for survivor benefits on their father's account and that no surviving spouse is collecting benefits. The father's PIA is $2000, and the FMB is 175% of his PIA, or $3500. Each child individually could be paid up to $1500, or 75% of their father's PIA. But, if all 3 children were paid that much it would exceed the FMB. So, each of the children would only be paid a third of the FMB, or roughly $1166 each. If one of the 3 children stop receiving benefits the remaining 2 children could then be paid their full rate of $1500 or a total of $3000, not the full roughly $3500 that was being paid when 3 children were drawing benefits.

Since the FMB on your husband's account likely will no longer be fully paid when your oldest child stops getting benefits, you may want to contact Social Security to see if you qualify for mother's benefits (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.04/handbook-0415.html). Surviving spouses with a child under age 16 or a disabled child in their care can potentially qualify for mother's benefits, but whether or not you could actually collect mother's benefits depends on whether or not you're working, and if so how much you're earning (https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/whileworking.html).

Best, Jerry