My husband passed away in May of last year. My two children, myself, and his daughter from a previous marriage all collect survivor benefits. I'm wondering if his daughter's benefit will be redistributed to my kids when she ages out and graduates (this is her senior year).

Hi. I'm sorry for your loss. Yes, it sounds like the older child's benefit amount will be redistributed to you and your children when she stops collecting benefits. Surviving children and a surviving spouse with an eligible child in care can each be paid up to 75% of the deceased worker's primary insurance amount (PIA). But, the total monthly amount that can be paid on any worker's Social Security record is limited by the family maximum benefit (FMB).

Anytime that 3 or more survivors are collecting benefits on the same worker's account, the FMB limits their benefit rate to less than a full 75% of the worker's PIA. In such cases, when one survivor stops getting benefits it frees up more of the FMB to be distributed to the remaining eligible survivors. The remaining eligible survivors can each then be paid up to the lower of 75% of the worker's PIA, or their fractional share of the total FMB amount.

Best, Jerry