Hello. I have two dependents who receive survivor social security benefits. The oldest has reached 18 and graduated from high school. Will the younger child benefits increase?

Hi. No, not if it's just the 2 dependent children who are receiving survivor benefits. The maximum surviving child's benefit rate 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. The only time that a surviving child's benefit amount is reduced 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.

Therefore, assuming that just the 2 children have been collecting benefits, then they've both already been receiving their maximum monthly benefit rate. And, that would mean that the younger child's benefit rate won't go up when the older child's benefits stop.

Best, Jerry