Is There a Maximum Social Security Benefit for Married Couples?
Learn how Social Security benefits for married couples are capped by the family maximum, affecting total household payouts.
Social Security is a comprehensive social insurance program providing financial support to millions of Americans. It offers benefits for retirement, disability, and survivorship. While each individual’s earned benefits are calculated based on their work history, there is also an overarching limit on the total amount of benefits a family can receive based on one worker’s earnings record.
Individual Social Security Benefits
An individual worker’s Social Security benefit forms the foundation for any potential family benefits. The monthly retirement benefit an individual receives at their full retirement age (FRA) is known as the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). This PIA is determined through a multi-step calculation that considers a worker’s lifetime earnings.
The first step involves calculating the Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME). To do this, the Social Security Administration (SSA) reviews a worker’s entire earnings history, considering the 35 highest-earning years. These annual earnings are then “indexed” to account for changes in general wage levels over time, bringing past earnings to a more current value. The sum of these 35 highest indexed earnings years is then divided by 420 to arrive at the AIME.
Once the AIME is established, the PIA is calculated using a progressive formula with “bend points.” This formula applies different percentages to specific portions of the AIME. For instance, for those becoming eligible for retirement benefits in 2025, the PIA is calculated as 90% of the first $1,226 of AIME, plus 32% of AIME between $1,226 and $7,391, plus 15% of AIME above $7,391. These bend points are adjusted annually based on changes in average wages. Claiming benefits before or after one’s full retirement age will adjust the monthly payout from the PIA.
Spousal and Dependent Benefits
Social Security benefits are not solely for the individual worker; they can also extend to eligible family members, including spouses and dependent children. A spouse may be eligible for benefits if they are at least 62 years old, or at any age if they are caring for the worker’s child who is under 16 or disabled. The marriage must have lasted for at least one year, and the worker must already be receiving their Social Security benefits.
Spousal benefits are calculated as up to 50% of the worker’s Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). If a spouse claims benefits before their own full retirement age, their monthly benefit amount will be permanently reduced. For example, claiming at age 62 can result in a benefit as low as 32.5% to 35% of the worker’s PIA. For individuals born before January 2, 1954, a “deemed filing” rule may apply, meaning that when they apply for one type of benefit (e.g., spousal), they are automatically considered to have applied for all benefits they are eligible for, and the higher amount is paid. It is important to note that receiving a spousal benefit does not reduce the worker’s own Social Security benefit.
Dependent children can also qualify for benefits based on a parent’s earnings record. To be eligible, the child must be unmarried and either under 18 years old, or up to 19 years old if they are still a full-time high school student. Children who are 18 or older may also qualify if they have a disability that began before age 22. These dependent child benefits can be up to 50% of the parent’s PIA.
The Social Security Family Maximum
The Social Security system implements a “family maximum” to limit the total amount of monthly benefits payable on one worker’s earnings record. This maximum ensures that the total payout to a family does not exceed a certain cap. The worker’s own benefit is never reduced by the family maximum, but the benefits of other eligible family members may be proportionally reduced.
The calculation of the family maximum for retirement and survivor benefits uses a formula similar to the PIA calculation. This formula results in a family maximum ranging from 150% to 188% of the worker’s PIA. For a worker becoming eligible in 2025, the family maximum is determined by applying specific percentages to portions of their PIA: 150% of the first $1,567 of the worker’s PIA, plus 272% of the amount between $1,567 and $2,262, plus 134% of the amount between $2,262 and $2,950, and finally, 175% of any amount exceeding $2,950. These bend points are adjusted annually based on wage growth.
When the sum of all individual benefits (worker’s benefit plus all auxiliary benefits) exceeds this calculated family maximum, the auxiliary benefits are reduced. This reduction is applied proportionally to each auxiliary beneficiary’s payment. Benefits paid to a divorced spouse, however, are not included in the family maximum calculation and are not subject to these reductions.
Scenarios Affecting the Family Maximum
The application of the Social Security family maximum can vary significantly depending on a couple’s specific circumstances. When both spouses have substantial earnings records and are eligible for their own Social Security benefits, the family maximum may not apply. Each spouse can claim their own earned benefit, and if one spouse’s benefit is higher than what they would receive as a spousal benefit on the other’s record, they will receive their own higher amount.
However, if one spouse claims benefits based on their own earnings record and the other claims a spousal benefit, the family maximum is a consideration. The presence of dependent children significantly increases the likelihood of reaching the family maximum. If a couple has multiple eligible children, the sum of their individual benefits (worker, spouse, and children) can easily exceed the family maximum, leading to proportional reductions for the spouse and children.
The age at which a worker or spouse claims benefits can also influence the family maximum’s impact. This does not change the underlying family maximum calculation, which is based on the worker’s Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) at full retirement age. The family maximum determines the ceiling for the combined benefits paid on one record.
In instances of divorce, benefits for a former spouse do not count against the family maximum that applies to the current family. The former spouse’s eligibility for benefits depends on criteria such as the marriage lasting at least 10 years and the former spouse being unmarried and at least 62 years old.