Automatic Determinations

Primary Insurance Amount

Wage-indexed amounts

The maximum family benefit is the maximum monthly amount that can be paid on a worker's earnings record. There is a special formula for computing the maximum benefits payable to the family of a disabled worker. The following, however, is devoted to the more common family maximum for retirement and survivor benefits.

Computation of the Retirement and Survivor Family Maximum
The formula used to compute the family maximum is similar to that used to compute the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). The formula sums four separate percentages of portions of the worker's PIA. For 2024 these portions are the first $1,500, the amount between $1,500 and $2,166, the amount between $2,166 and $2,825, and the amount over $2,825. These dollar amounts are the "bend points" of the family-maximum formula. Thus, the family-maximum bend points for 2024 are $1,500, $2,166, and $2,825. See table showing bend points for years beginning with 1979 (table also shows PIA formula bend points).

For the family of a worker who becomes age 62 or dies in 2024 before attaining age 62, the total amount of benefits payable will be computed so that it does not exceed:
(a) 150 percent of the first $1,500 of the worker's PIA, plus
(b) 272 percent of the worker's PIA over $1,500 through $2,166, plus
(c) 134 percent of the worker's PIA over $2,166 through $2,825, plus
(d) 175 percent of the worker's PIA over $2,825.
We then round this total amount to the next lower multiple of $.10 if it is not already a multiple of $.10.

Determination of family-maximum bend points for 2024

Amounts in formula
Average wage indices
For 1977:9,779.44
For 2022:63,795.13
Bend points for 1979
First:$230
Second:$332
Third:$433
Computation of bend points for 2024 First bend point
$230 times 63,795.13 divided by $9,779.44 equals $1,500.38, which rounds to $1,500
Second bend point
$332 times 63,795.13 divided by $9,779.44 equals $2,165.77, which rounds to $2,166
Third bend point
$433 times 63,795.13 divided by $9,779.44 equals $2,824.63, which rounds to $2,825