There is a limit on the amount of benefits that can be paid each month on a person's earnings record. The purpose of this ceiling is to assure that a family will not get considerably more in benefits after a worker retires, becomes disabled, or dies than the family had in earnings when the worker was employed.

When benefits for a family would otherwise exceed the maximum amount payable, the benefits for all members, except the worker, are reduced proportionately to bring the total within the limit. As one child (auxiliary) turns age 18 and is no longer in a secondary school (high school), benefits to the other children will usually increase up to the family maximum. However, the remaining children on the record are each only entitled to no more than 50% of the number holder's benefit, and that percentage will not increase.