Howell & Associates Advanced Planning - Green Bay, WisconsinEach family member may be eligible for a monthly benefit that is up to half of your retirement or disability benefit amount. However, there is a limit to the total amount of money that can be paid to you and your family. The limit varies, but is generally equal to about 150 to 180 percent of your retirement or disability benefit.
When you start receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits, other family members also may be eligible for payments. For example, benefits can be paid to your husband or wife:
• If he or she is age 62 or older; or
• At any age if he or she is caring for your child (the child must be younger than 16 or disabled and entitled to Social Security benefits on your record).
Benefits can also be paid to your unmarried children if they’re:
• Younger than 18;
• Between 18 and 19 years old, but in elementary orsecondary school as full-time students; or
• Age 18 or older and severely disabled (the disability must have started before age 22).
If you become the parent of a child (including an
adopted child) after you begin receiving benefits, let us
know about the child, so we can decide if the child is
eligible for benefits.