Worker’s benefits: Workers who qualify for disability benefits are entitled to receive 100 percent of their PIA until the first of one of the following situations occurs: the disability ends (benefits are terminated in the second month after the end of the disability); the workers dies (benefits are terminated in the month after the month the worker dies); or the worker attains full retirement age (disability benefits convert to retirement benefits). Note that it is very challenging to qualify for disability benefits.

Spouse’s benefit: The spouse’s disability benefit is either 50 percent of the worker’s benefit or the spouse’s own Social Security benefit, whichever is larger. Retirement or disability benefits that are paid to a spouse who is sixty-two years old will be reduced by a maximum of 25 percent each year. If the worker’s benefit is decreased, the benefit paid to the worker’s spouse is also decreased.

Child’s benefit: Any child who is under eighteen (nineteen, if the child is still in high school), is eligible to receive a benefit of 50 percent of the retired worker’s PIA (this amount is subject to a family maximum).

Mother’s or father’s benefit: The surviving spouse of a fully or currently insured worker is eligible to receive a benefit of 75 percent of the worker’s PIA if he or she is caring for a child under age sixteen or a child who was disabled before age twenty-two.

Maximum family benefit: When more than one family member is eligible to receive benefits, a family maximum applies. This maximum applies to all benefits paid to the family. For disability benefits, the family maximum is either 150 percent of the worker’s disability benefit or 85 percent of the AIME used to calculate the worker’s benefit, whichever is smaller. This maximum will not be less than the benefit paid to the worker.