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FOM1 1050 Survivor Family Groups Revised June 15, 2023 Page 1 of 10

1050.5 General

This chapter explains how the Social Security Administration (SSA) family maximum 

affects survivor family groups, when the maximum is involved, and how to determine 

individual rates.

1050.10 Application of the SSA Family Maximum

1050.10.1 When Two Beneficiaries Will Produce Maximum Rates

A. Two 75% Shares – The SSA family maximum may be involved when there are 

two beneficiaries classified as follows: 

• Two Children; 

• One Mother/Father or Surviving Divorced Mother/Father and One Child; 

• Or Two Parents. 

Although the maximum may be reached, there is no reduction because the 

maximum will not be exceeded.

B. One 75% Share and One 100% Share – The SSA family maximum may be 

involved when there are two beneficiaries classified as follows: 

• One Aged, Disabled or Remarried Widow(er) and One Child. 

A reduction will be necessary. A surviving divorced spouse (aged or disabled) is 

not considered in computing the SSA family maximum, and the surviving 

divorced spouse’s annuity rate is not reduced for the SSA family maximum. In 

cases with a legal widow(er) in the same family group as a deemed widow(er), 

the legal widow(er) is not considered in computing the SSA family maximum and 

the legal widow(er)’s annuity rate is not reduced for the SSA family maximum. 

1050.10.2 When Three Beneficiaries Will Produce Maximum Rates

Three beneficiaries will always produce maximum rates and a reduction will almost 

always be necessary. However, a surviving divorced spouse (aged or disabled) is not

considered in computing the SSA family maximum, and the surviving divorced spouse’s 

annuity rate is not reduced for the SSA family maximum. Additionally, in cases with a 

legal widow(er) in the same family group as a deemed widow(er), the legal widow(er) is 

not considered in computing the SSA family maximum and the legal widow(er)’s annuity 

rate is not reduced for the SSA family maximum.
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FOM1 1050 Survivor Family Groups Revised June 15, 2023 Page 2 of 10

1050.15 Determining Beneficiary's Share of The Maximum

1050.15.1 Original Rate

The original rate (i.e., the beneficiary's unreduced share of the PIA) is the following 

percentage of the tier I PIA:

Beneficiary % Share

Widow(er) - Aged or Disabled 100%

Widow(er) - Mother or Father 75%

Remarried Widow 100%

Surviving Divorced Spouse* 100%*

Divorced Young Mother 75%

Child 75%

One Parent 82 1⁄2%

Two Parents 75%

*Surviving Divorced Spouses are not considered in the family maximum computation 

but are entitled to 100% of the PIA when computing their unreduced Tier I rate.

1050.15.2 Reduced for Maximum Rate

Use the following charts to determine the beneficiary's reduced for maximum rate (i.e., 

the beneficiary's share of the SSA family maximum):

Family Composition 100% Share 75% Share

1-100% Share and 1-75% Shares .57143 .42857

1-100% Share and 2-75% Shares .40000 .30000

1-100% Share and 3-75% Shares .30769 .23077

1-100% Share and 4-75% Shares .25000 .18750

1-100% Share and 5-75% Shares .21053 .15789
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FOM1 1050 Survivor Family Groups Revised June 15, 2023 Page 3 of 10

Family Composition Each

3-75% Shares .33333

4-75% Shares .25000

5-75% Shares .20000

6-75% Shares .16667

1050.15.3 Determining the Maximum When the Widow(er) is Entitled to the ALT 

PIA

These charts cannot be used if a widow(er) is entitled to the ALT PIA. When the ALT 

PIA applies, the widow(er)’s tier 1 is computed using a PIA that is higher than the death 

PIA used for the other payees. 

Even though the ALT PIA is greater than the death PIA, individual shares are computed 

using the family maximum computed for the death PIA. Therefore, the maximum will 

generally apply if a widow(er) entitled to an ALT PIA and any beneficiary, other than a 

surviving divorced spouse, is payable.

Example: There is a widow and initial child payable:

• Death PIA $ 1214.10

• ALT PIA 1622.30

• Widow(er)’s full share 1622.30

• Child’s full share: 910.50

• Family max: 2476.50

• Total shares: 2532.80 (ALT PIA, 1622.30 plus child’s full share, 

 910.50)

• Widow’s adjusted: 

share

1586.20 (1622.30/2532.80 times 2476.50)

• Child’s adjusted 

share:

890.20 (910.50/2532.80 times 2476.50) 
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FOM1 1050 Survivor Family Groups Revised June 15, 2023 Page 4 of 10

1050.15.4 Parisi Redistribution of the Family Maximum

In L-00-26, the Office of General Counsel determined that we must change the 

calculation of an individual’s share of the family maximum if the following conditions are 

met:

• The tier one family maximum applies; and,

• At least one, but not all, family member who is included in the maximum is 

entitled to a social security or railroad employee benefit.

The annuitant who is not dually entitled is a Parisi member. The dually entitled 

annuitant is non-Parisi.

The redistribution of the family maximum to the Parisi member is effective on the later of 

August 2000, the OBD or the effective date of entitlement to the SS or railroad 

employee benefit.

Calculation 

The Parisi redistribution is calculated as follows:

1. The social security benefit, railroad employee benefit or statutory share of the 

maximum, if lower, of all non-Parisi class members are added together.

2. The total is divided by the number of Parisi class members. Round the result 

down to the dime.

3. The amount in step 2 is added to the Parisi class member’s share of the family 

maximum. The redistributed share of the maximum cannot be greater than the 

statutory share of the PIA.

EXAMPLE:

The payees are an aged widow and two disabled children.

August 2000 PIA $ 681.90

August 2000 Max 1098.60

Widow’s share of the Max 439.40

Widow’s SS benefit 708.00

Disabled children’s share of the Max 329.50
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The disabled children are the Parisi members. To compute their redistributed 

share of the maximum:

• Add $219.70 (the lower of the widow’s share of the family maximum or 

SS benefit divided by 2) to $329.50 (each disabled child’s share of the 

max) 

• Compare the total, $549.20, to the statutory share of the PIA, $511.40.

• The lower amount, $511.40, is payable.

The rate of the non-Parisi member does not change.

NOTE: If the Parisi class member is entitled to a WIMA, it must be recomputed 

based on the new share of the family maximum

REAP does not perform the Parisi calculation. If the applicant is a Parisi class member, 

the REAP estimate will be understated.

1050.15.5 Section 202(j) Redistribution of the Family Maximum

Section 202(j) of the Social Security Act protects an annuitant who is already receiving 

an annuity when a new applicant becomes entitled to an annuity prior to the new 

applicant’s month of filing if the existing annuitant’s annuity rates would be reduced 

under the family maximum. The new applicants would be the late filers. See POMS 

RS 00615.760 for more information from the Social Security Administration.

202(j) protects existing annuitants from overpayments by reducing the late filer’s Tier I 

and/or Tier II benefits to the difference between benefits actually paid to the existing 

annuitants and the remainder of the Tier I and/or Tier II family maximum (or Tier II 

family minimum if applicable). 

202(j) reductions apply to the late filer starting on their OBD and cease in the month in 

which the application was filed.

NOTE: If the late filer is a widow(er) that is entitled to a dual annuity restored amount 

under the 1974 Railroad Retirement Act, a Spouse Minimum Guarantee, or a 

Widow(er)’s Initial Minimum Amount (WIMA), compute the restored amount using 

fictional rates without 202(j) applied. See FOM1 1045.10.2 for more information on dual 

annuities, restored amounts, WIMA, and the spouse minimum guarantee.

202(j) does not apply in any cases where there is no break in entitlement for the late 

filer, such as in the following cases; 

• Spouse to Widow(er) conversion, 

• Child to Student conversion, 

• Child or Student to Disabled Child conversion, and 

• Young Parent to Widow(er) or Disabled Widow(er) conversion. 
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Calculation 

The shares payable to the late filer under 202(j) is computed as follows:

1. Add together the monthly Tier I amounts payable to the annuitants in current pay 

status for each date break during the 202(j) period. 

2. Subtract the amount computed in Step 1 from the Tier I family maximum, if the 

difference is:

a. Greater than the statutory Tier I share payable to the late filer - Statutory 

Tier I share is payable to late filer, 202(j) does not apply in this case.

b. Less than the statutory Tier I share payable but greater than 0 - This is the 

Tier I share payable to the late filer under 202(j).

c. Zero or a negative amount– 202(j) applies, but no Tier I is payable during 

the 202(j) period.

3. Repeat these steps using Tier II amounts. 

NOTE: If the annuitant(s) in current pay status are receiving shares adjusted for 

the Tier II family minimum (i.e. one or two children), use the Tier II family 

minimum in step 2 instead of the Tier II family maximum. See FOM 1050.20 

below for more information on the Tier II family minimum and maximum.

Tier I Example:

A Young Mother (not receiving a WIMA increase) and Child are in current pay 

status. A Disabled Child files on April 5, 2022 and has their OBD retroactively set

to November 1, 2021. The period between the Disabled Child’s OBD and the 

month in which the application was filed for the Disabled Child (November 1-

March 31st) is the 202(j) period. Full shares of Tier II will be paid to each 

annuitant in this case as the Tier II family maximum is not reached (see FOM1 

1050.20 below). 

Datebreak PIA Tier I 

Family 

Maximum

Monthly Tier I 

Paid to Mother

Monthly Tier I 

Paid to Child

Monthly Tier I Share 

Payable to Late Filer 

(Disabled Child)

November

2021 

(OBD for D)

1756.20 3205.50 1756.20 X 75% = 

1317.15

1317.00 after 

rounding

1317.00

(Same share 

as Mother) 

3205.50 – (1317+1317) 

= 571.50 

571.00 after rounding

December 

2021

1859.80 3394.60 1394.00 1394.00 3394.60 – (1394+1394) 

= 606.60

606.00 after rounding
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Datebreak PIA Tier I 

Family 

Maximum

Monthly Tier I 

Paid to Mother

Monthly Tier I 

Paid to Child

Monthly Tier I Share 

Payable to Late Filer 

(Disabled Child)

April 2022

(Month of 

Filing for D) 

1859.80 3394.60 Normal Tier I Family Max rules apply at month of filing and 

202(j) reductions stop:

3394.60/3 = 1131.53 = 1131.00 for each M, C, and D after 

rounding

Tier II Example:

A single Child has been in current pay status for several years. A second child 

files on February 23rd, 2019 and has their OBD retroactively set to October 1st, 

2018. The period between the second child’s OBD and month of filing (October 

1st – January 31st) is the 202(j) period. Full shares of Tier I will be paid to both 

annuitant in this case as the Tier I family maximum is not reached (see FOM1 

1050.10 above). NOTE: The example below shows 202(j) being applied using 

the Tier II minimum. 202(j) can also be applied to family groups meeting the Tier 

II maximum, i.e. a Widow(er) with 2 children and a late filing child.

Datebreak Employee 

Tier II

Tier II Family 

Minimum

Monthly Tier 

II Paid to 

First Child

Monthly Tier II Share 

Payable to Late Filer 

(Second Child)

October 1st 2018

(OBD for Second 

Child)

991.81 991.81 x 

35%=

347.14

347.14 347.14 – 347.14 = 

0.00

December 2018 1000.74 1000.74 x 

35% = 

350.26 

350.26 350.26 – 350.26 = 

0.00

February 2019 

(Month of filing for 

Second Child)

1000.74 350.26 Normal Tier II Family Minimum rules 

apply at month of filing and 202(j) 

reductions stop:

350.26 / 2 = 175.13 for Each Child
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1050.20 Tier II Minimum And Maximum

If the employee was not awarded a retirement annuity before 10-1-81 and died after 9-

30-81, the survivor Tier II is computed based on the "high 60" Tier II amount which 

would have been payable to the employee in the month of death (after any reduction for 

W/F, but before any age reduction). After 9-30-86, all initial survivor computations will 

be based on the employee's "high 60" Tier II.

The minimum 1981 Amendment Tier II a family would receive is 35%; the maximum is 

80%.

If the employee was awarded an RR Act annuity or died before 10-1-81, and the 

survivor annuity is awarded before 10-1-86, the survivor Tier II is equal to 30% of the 

original or reduced for maximum Tier I rate.

1050.25 Determining Beneficiary's 1981 Amendment Tier II Share

1050.25.1 Widow(er)'s Share

The aged, disabled or young widow(er)'s share is the following percentage of the 

employee's "high 60" tier II:

Family Composition Widow(er)'s Share

Widow(er) and 0 Children 50%

Widow(er) and 1 Child 50%

Widow(er) and 2 Children 50%

Widow(er) and 3 Children 42.105%

Widow(er) and 4 Children 36.364%

Widow(er) and 5 Children 32.000%

Widow(er) and 6 Children 28.572%

1050.25.2 Child's Share

The child's share is the following percentage of the employee's "high 60" tier II:
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Family Composition Child's Share

Widow(er) and 1 Child 15%

Widow(er) and 2 Children 15%

Widow(er) and 3 Children 12.632%

Widow(er) and 4 Children 10.909%

Widow(er) and 5 Children 9.6%

Widow(er) and 6 Children 8.571%

1 Child 35%

2 Children 17.5%

3 Children 15%

4 Children 15%

5 Children 15%

6 Children 13.33%

1050.25.3 Parent's Share

A parent's share is 35% of the employee's "high 60" tier II whether there are one or two 

parents. A parent cannot qualify for a tier II when the employee was survived by a 

widow(er) or a child who could ever qualify for an annuity.