The Maximum Family Benefit ranges between 150% and 180% of the Primary Insurance Amount.

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In other words, your Primary Insurance Amount is viewed as non-existant until you apply for a retirement benefit.

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Then it plugs your AIME into a formula that figures out your full retirement benefit, called your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA).

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Likewise, if the deceased spouse would have been older than Full Retirement age when the Survivor Benefit is applied for, there is an increase applied to the Primary Insurance Amount.

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If the deceased spouse would have been younger than Full Retirement Age when the surviving spouse is filing for benefits, the First Factor is reduced from the Primary Insurance Amount.

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This benefit is equal to 100% of the benefit that the decedent-spouse was receiving at his or her death, or the Primary Insurance Amount on his or her record, if he or she was not currently receiving benefits at death.

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The way that the maximum benefit for a particular year is calculated is based upon the maximum wage base for the year, as well as the applicable COLAs that would apply after the PIA ( Primary Insurance Amount) has been calculated for that individual.

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