Source: https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.03/handbook-0338.html
Retrieved 2026-10-02 (page text as rendered in a browser; ssa.gov refuses non-browser clients).

Skip to main content
An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
...
...
Social Security
X
Benefits
BY PHASE
Prepare
Apply
Manage benefits
BY TYPE
Retirement
Disability
Survivor
Family
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
Benefits overview
Medicare
Plan for Medicare
Sign up for Medicare
Request to lower IRMAA
Apply for Part D Extra Help
Manage Medicare benefits
Card & record
Number & card
Personal record
Español
Sign in
Menu
Social Security Handbook
338.Amount of Child's Insurance Benefit338.1How is the child's monthly benefit amount determined?A child's monthly benefit rate is:     One-half the insured parent's primary insurance amount
if the parent is entitled to disability or retirement insurance benefits
(see §302); orThree-fourths of the parent's primary insurance amount
if the parent is dead.338.2When is the child's benefit amount less?The benefit paid to a child may be less if:The “family maximum” applies and the
benefit rate must be reduced (see §§731-732); orA disabled “child” is entitled to disability
or retirement insurance benefits on his or her own Social Security
record. In this case, only the amount by which the child's monthly
benefit rate exceeds the retirement or disability insurance benefit
is paid as the child's insurance benefit.(See §§733-737 for the effect of simultaneous entitlement to other Social Security
benefits on the child's insurance benefit.)Last Revised: Jun. 30, 2004
Support
Contact us
FAQs
Find an office
Forms
Publications
Report fraud
Languages
Español
Other languages
Plain language
Services for
Employers & businesses
Government agencies
Other groups
Representatives
About
Careers
Chief actuary data
Communications
Financial reports
Initiatives
Research & policy
Social Security Administration
SSA.gov
An official website of the Social Security Administration
About SSA
Accessibility statement
Civil rights and compliance
FOIA requests
Privacy policy
Performance reports
Office of the Inspector General
System status
Looking for U.S. government information and services? Visit USA.gov
