Hello! I am looking for information regarding survivors benefits..I seem to be finding information that does not directly apply to my situation..My daughter and her brother get benefits due to their father passing a few years ago..however he has a different mom..he will be turning 18 this year, so my question is, Will her benefits go up once he turns 18 and no longer collects?

Hi,

Assuming that their are only 2 children and no one else receiving benefits on their father's record, then the answer is no. Each eligible surviving child of a deceased worker can receive a maximum of up to 75% of the worker's primary insurance amount (PIA), subject to reduction if total family benefits exceed the family maximum benefit (FMB) that can be paid on the deceased worker's record. The FMB payable based on a deceased person's record is always at least 150% of their primary insurance amount (PIA), so if only 2 children are eligible for survivor benefits then they can both be paid their maximum possible benefit rates. Therefore, your daughter would receive the same benefit rate regardless of whether or not her brother stops receiving benefits.

Best, Jerry