Provisions Affecting Family Member Benefits
These provisions modify the specific benefit amounts received by widow(er)s, spouses, and/or children based on a worker's Social Security account. We provide a summary list of all options (printer-friendly PDF version) in this category. For each provision listed below, we provide an estimate of the financial effect on the OASDI program over the long-range period (the next 75 years) and for the 75th year. In addition, we provide graphs and detailed single year tables. We base all estimates on the intermediate assumptions described in the 2023 Trustees Report.
Choose the type of estimates (summary or detailed) from the list of provisions.
Number | Table and graph selection |
---|---|
D1 |
Beginning in 2024, continue benefits for children of disabled or deceased workers
until age 22 if the child is in high school, college or vocational school.
Summary measures and graphs
(PDF version)
Detailed single year tables (PDF version) Memoranda containing this or a similar provision: |
D2 |
The current spouse benefit is based on 50 percent of the PIA of the other spouse.
Reduce this percent each year by 1 percentage point beginning with newly eligible
spouses in 2024, until the percent reaches 33 in 2040.
Summary measures and graphs
(PDF version)
Detailed single year tables (PDF version) Memorandum containing this or a similar provision: |
D3 |
Allow divorced aged spouses and divorced surviving spouses married 5 to 9 years to get
benefits based on the former spouse's account. Divorced aged and surviving spouses would
receive 50% of the applicable current-law PIA percentage if married 5 years, 60% of the
applicable PIA percentage if married 6 years, ..., 90% of the applicable PIA percentage
if married 9 years. This benefit would be available to divorced spouses on the rolls at
the beginning of 2025 and those becoming eligible after 2024.
Summary measures and graphs
(PDF version)
Detailed single year tables (PDF version) Memorandum containing this or a similar provision: |
D4 |
Establish an alternative benefit for a surviving spouse. For the surviving spouse,
the alternative benefit would equal 75 percent of the sum of the survivor's own worker
benefit and the deceased worker's PIA (including any actuarial reductions or delayed
retirement credits). If the deceased worker died before becoming entitled, use the
age 62 actuarial reduction if deceased before age 62, or the applicable actuarial
reduction/DRC for entitlement at the age of death if deceased after 62. The alternative
benefit would not exceed the PIA of a hypothetical earner who earns the SSA average
wage index (AWI) every year, and who becomes eligible for retired-worker benefits
in the same year in which the deceased worker became entitled to worker benefits
or died (if before entitlement). The alternative benefit would be paid only if more
than the current-law benefit. This benefit would be available to surviving spouses
on the rolls at the beginning of 2025 and those becoming eligible after 2024.
Summary measures and graphs
(PDF version)
Detailed single year tables (PDF version) Memoranda containing this or a similar provision: |
D5 |
Limit the spousal benefit to that received by the spouse of the 75th percentile
career-average worker, beginning with retired workers newly eligible in 2030. For
future cohorts, this limit would be indexed for inflation annually using chain
weighted CPI-U. The provision affects divorced spouses and young spouses (retired
workers) but not spouses of disabled workers.
Summary measures and graphs
(PDF version)
Detailed single year tables (PDF version) Memoranda containing this or a similar provision: |
D6 |
For spouses and children of retired and disabled workers becoming newly eligible
beginning in 2030 and phased in for 2030 through 2039, limit their auxiliary benefit
to one-half of the PIA for a hypothetical worker with earnings equal to the national
average wage index (AWI) each year.
Summary measures and graphs
(PDF version)
Detailed single year tables (PDF version) Memorandum containing this or a similar provision: |
D7 |
Beginning in January 2026, require full time school enrollment as a
condition of eligibility for child benefits at age 15 up to 18.
Summary measures and graphs
(PDF version)
Detailed single year tables (PDF version) Memorandum containing this or a similar provision: |
D8 |
Beginning in 2024, continue benefits for children of disabled, retired, or
deceased workers until age 26 if the child is in high school, college or
vocational school.
Summary measures and graphs
(PDF version)
Detailed single year tables (PDF version) Memoranda containing this or a similar provision: |
D9 |
Provide for pro-rata benefit payment for the month of death of a beneficiary,
rather than no payment for month of death. For situations where an auxiliary
beneficiary is changed from one type of benefit to another upon the death of
the worker, benefits for the month of the worker's death would be determined
on a pro-rata basis. This provision would apply for deaths in 2024 or later.
Summary measures and graphs
(PDF version)
Detailed single year tables (PDF version) Memorandum containing this or a similar provision: |