Calculating future CMFB Social Security benefits with deceased spouse and DAC children

I was in a similar situation last year. The Combined Maximum Family Benefit is super confusing! I couldn't get straight answers on the SSA website, kept getting disconnected when calling, and the local office was booked 3 months out. I finally used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a real SSA agent - only had to wait 20 minutes instead of the usual 2+ hours! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. The agent explained that survivor benefits and DAC benefits can affect each other because of the family maximum. Definitely worth talking to an actual SSA rep about your specific situation.

The Combined Maximum Family Benefit (CMFB) calculation is quite complex in situations with DAC beneficiaries and surviving spouses. In your case, since your husband's FRA benefit was $2,700, the family maximum on his record would be approximately $4,725 (about 175% of his PIA, though the exact formula varies). Currently, your two DAC children are receiving benefits on your husband's record. Each would typically receive 75% of his PIA, so about $2,025 each. However, since the total would exceed the family maximum, their benefits are likely reduced proportionally. When you reach your FRA, you have an option to take either your own retirement benefit of $1,200 or a survivor benefit based on your husband's record (typically 100% of his benefit, so $2,700). The optimal strategy usually involves taking the smaller benefit first and switching to the larger benefit later, but with DAC beneficiaries in the picture, the family maximum considerations become important. The good news is that your retirement benefit on your own record is NOT affected by the family maximum on your husband's record. However, if you take the survivor benefit, it may be reduced due to the family maximum if your children are still receiving DAC benefits.

I went thru this exact mess when my husband died!!!! The CMFB is THE WORST system to try and figure out. The SSA people THEMSELVES gave me wrong info THREE TIMES!!!! I had to file an appeal because they calculated everything wrong and I was getting $436 less per month than I should have been. Make sure you get EVERYTHING in writing from them and DOUBLE CHECK their math. They told me one thing on the phone and did something TOTALLY different when my benefits started. The family maximum is different if the kids are DAC vs minor children too, and some SSA workers don't understand the difference!!!

In your specific situation with DAC beneficiaries, there's an important point many people miss: when both parents have work records, there are actually TWO family maximums to consider - one on each parent's record. Since your husband has passed away, there's a family maximum on his record that applies to your two DAC children and any survivor benefits you might claim. But your own retirement benefit is calculated separately under your own earnings record and family maximum. Here's what I'd recommend: 1. At age 62, consider taking your reduced retirement benefit on your own record (approximately $840 instead of $1,200) IF you need the income. 2. At your FRA, switch to the survivor benefit based on your husband's record ($2,700). 3. Request a detailed CMFB calculation from SSA showing how your DAC children's benefits affect the family maximum and your potential survivor benefit. Also, be aware that if your DAC children were disabled before age 22, they can remain on benefits indefinitely, and this affects long-term planning. If they're eligible for SSI as well, that introduces another layer of complexity with the $2,000 asset limit.

my wife died last yr and i got 2 kids. they told me we all get a total of like 180% of her benefit or something like that. u should just go to the office in person bc calling is impossible

I think ur misunderstanding how this works. If ur kids r on SSDI from their dad then u can still get full survivors without being affected by the maximum. My neighbor's situation is like this and she gets the full amount. The max only applies to minor kids not disabled adults I'm pretty sure.

Im confused about something... you said ur reaching FRA in 4 years but ur husband already died. Are you not getting any social security now? Shouldnt you be getting survivors benefits already? Or are you still working?