Annual Statistical Supplement, 2003

Appendix D: Computing a Retired-Worker Benefit

Overview

This section provides instructions and a worksheet for computing a retired-worker benefit. The worksheet can be used for persons born in 1928 through 1941—that is, those who attained age 62 in 2003 or earlier and were under age 75 at the end of 2003. The worksheet assumes that the worker had no prior period of entitlement to disability benefits and also did not work after becoming entitled to retired-worker benefits.

The worksheet describes the various steps used in computing a benefit. The steps are based on the following Social Security program goals.

Clarifying the Worksheet Procedure

Step 1 - Determining the Number of Computation Years

For persons who attain age 62 prior to 1991, the number of years used in the benefit computation equals the number of years after 1950 up to the year of attainment of age 62, minus 5 years. For workers who attain age 62 in 1991 or later, the number of computation years is 35.

Step 2 - Wage Indexing of Earnings

The following description and examples are provided for persons who wish to compute the index factors and indexed earnings. The indexing year is the second year prior to attainment of age 62. However, beneficiaries born on January 1 are deemed to have attained age 62 in the prior year, and consequently, the applicable indexing year, factors, and bend points are those for that year.

The average wage for the indexing year is divided by the average wage in each prior year to obtain the factor for each prior year. For example, a person attains age 62 in 2003. The indexing year is 2001. The average annual wage for 2001 was $32,921.92. The average annual wage for 1990 was $21,027.98. The amount, $32,921.92 divided by $21,027.98, yields a factor of 1.5656245.

The worker's actual earnings covered under Social Security in that year, up to the maximum earnings creditable, are multiplied by the indexing factor to obtain the indexed earnings. For example, actual covered earnings of $10,000 in 1990, multiplied by 1.5656245, result in indexed earnings of $15,656.25; actual earnings of $51,300 (the maximum creditable) result in indexed earnings of $80,316.54.

Step 3 - Computing the Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME)

After the earnings in each year have been indexed, they are used in computing average indexed monthly earnings. The years of highest indexed earnings corresponding to the number of computation years are selected and totaled. This total is then divided by the number of months in the computation years. The result, rounded to the nearest lower dollar, is the average indexed monthly earnings.

For example, for a person attaining age 62 in 2003, the highest 35 years of indexed earnings are used. If the sum of these earnings equals $400,000, the AIME is $952 ($400,000 divided by 420 = $952.38, rounded to $952).

Step 4 - Computing the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA)

The PIA, the amount from which all Social Security benefits payable on a worker's earnings record are based, is computed by applying a formula to the AIME. The formula consists of brackets in which 3 percentages are applied to amounts of AIME. The dollar amounts defining the brackets are called bend points, and the bend points are different for each calendar year of attainment of age 62. The PIA is rounded to the nearest lower ten cents.

For retired workers who attained age 62 in 2003, the bend points are $606 and $3,653. Thus the formula is 90 percent of the first $606 of AIME; plus 32 percent of next $3,047 of AIME; plus 15 percent of AIME above $3,653. The following are examples of PIA computations for such workers with different AIME amounts.

Example 1 - AIME of $300
PIA is $270
Based on: 90 percent of $300

Example 2 - AIME of $952
PIA is $656.12 rounded to $656.10
Based on: 90 percent of $606 ($545.40); plus 32 percent of $346 ($110.72)

Example 3 - AIME of $3,700
PIA is $1,527.49 rounded to $1,527.40
Based on: 90 percent of $606 ($545.40); plus 32 percent of $3,047 ($975.04); plus 15 percent of $47 ($7.05)

The above calculations are applicable to workers who attain age 62 in 2003. For workers who attained age 62 in prior years, the bend points will be different and the PIA must be increased to reflect cost-of-living adjustments between the year of attainment of age 62 and the year 2003. Worksheet 2 shows cost-of-living increase factors for 1979 through 2002. After the PIA is calculated for the year of attainment of age 62, cost-of-living increases are applied for each year through 2002. The result is the current 2003 PIA.

For example, a worker who attained age 62 in 2000 would receive cost-of-living adjustments for the years 2000–2002. The adjustments are cumulative, with each step rounded to the next lower dime. If the age 62 PIA was $500, the cost-of-living adjustments would be:

2000: $500 multiplied by 1.035 = $517.50
2001: $517.50 multiplied by 1.026 = $530.90
2002: $530.90 multiplied by 1.014 = $538.30
$538.30 would be the PIA effective December 2002.

Step 5 - Computation of the Monthly Benefit

The full PIA is payable to a worker who retires at age 65. However, beginning in the year 2000, the full retirement age, scheduled to be gradually raised to age 67 for workers attaining age 62 in 2022, began to be phased in. Workers can still retire as early as age 62, but the monthly benefit is reduced by 5/9 of 1 percent for each of the first 36 months of entitlement immediately preceding the full retirement age plus 5/12 of 1 percent for each of up to 24 earlier months. Workers attaining age 62 in 2003 have their benefits computed based on the full retirement age of 65 and 8 months. See Table 2.A17.1 to determine the full retirement age based on the year of birth as well as the reduction factors. For individuals electing benefits at exactly age 62 in the year 2003, the maximum reduction is 23 1/3 percent.

For example, in 2003 a worker with a PIA of $500 would receive $383.33 at age 62. The PIA is reduced by $116.67, reflecting a reduction rate of 5/9 of 1 percent for each of 36 months and a rate of 5/12 of 1 percent for each of 8 months for a total reduction of 23 1/3 percent. After reduction of the PIA by $116.67, the benefit amount is rounded down to the nearest lower dollar.

Instructions for computing a retired-worker benefit (only for workers attaining age 62 in years 1990–2003)
STEP 1.—Determining the Number of Computation Years
1 Year of birth. (If your birthday is January 1, enter prior year.)  
2 Age "62" has been entered. 62
3 Add lines 1 and 2 to obtain year of attainment of age 62 (year of eligibility).  
4 Year of attainment of age 22. If 1951 or earlier, enter 1951 (If your birthday is January 1, enter prior year.)  
5 Subtract line 4 from line 3 (elapsed years).  
6 "5" (drop-out years) has been entered. 5
7 Subtract line 6 from line 5 (computation years—maximum 35).  
STEP 2.—Indexing of Earnings (Use Worksheet 1 for Steps 2 and 3.)
8 Enter in column 2 your earnings in each year 1951 through 2002. If none, enter "0."  
9 Column 3 contains the maximum earnings creditable under Social Security for each year.  
10 Enter in column 4 the lower amount from columns 2 or 3 for each year.  
11 Enter in column 5 the indexing factors applicable to the year you attained age 62 (line 3) from Table 2.A8.
(This table contains the indexing factors for persons attaining age 62 during the period 1990–2003.)
 
12 Multiply column 4 by column 5 and enter results in column 6 in dollars and cents. These are your indexed earnings.  
STEP 3.—Computing the Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME)
13 Enter the number of computation years from line 7.  
14 Place an "X" in column 7 next to the highest indexed earnings corresponding with the number of computation years from line 13.  
15 Add all individual indexed earnings marked with an "X."  
16 Multiply line 13 (computation years) by 12 to obtain the number of months in the computation period.  
17 Divide line 15 by line 16.  
18 Round the result in line 17 to next lower dollar. This is your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME).  
STEP 4.—Computing the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) (Use Worksheet 2 for Step 4.)
19 Enter first bend point from Worksheet 2 based on year of attainment of age 62, or prior year if birthday is January 1.  
20 Enter second bend point from Worksheet 2.  
21 If your AIME (obtained in line 18) is equal to or less than line 19, complete lines 22–24; If greater than line 19 but less than or equal to line 20, complete lines 25–30; If greater than line 20, complete lines 31–37.  
22 Enter your AIME from line 18.  
23 "0.9" has been entered. If you receive a pension based on noncovered employment see Table 2.A11.1. 0.9
24 Multiply line 22 by line 23 and round to next lower dime to obtain your PIA at age 62. Continue with line 38.  
25 Enter your AIME from line 18.  
26 Multiply line 19 by 0.9. If you receive a pension based on noncovered employment see Table 2.A11.1.  
27 Subtract line 19 from line 25.  
28 "0.32" has been entered. 0.32
29 Multiply line 27 by line 28.  
30 Add lines 26 and 29 and round to next lower dime to obtain your PIA at age 62. Continue with line 38.  
31 Enter your AIME from line 18.  
32 Multiply line 19 by 0.9. If you receive a pension based on noncovered employment see Table 2.A11.1.  
33 Subtract line 19 from line 20 and multiply by 0.32.  
34 Subtract line 20 from line 31.  
35 "0.15" has been entered. 0.15
36 Multiply line 34 by line 35.  
37 Add lines 32, 33, and 36 and round to next lower dime to obtain your PIA at age 62. Continue with line 38.  
38 If you attained age 62 in 2003, skip to line 44. Otherwise you will need to adjust your PIA to reflect cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) from the year you attained age 62 through 2002 by using lines 39–43 and Worksheet 2.  
39 Enter year of attainment of age 62 from line 3.  
40 Place an "X" corresponding to the year you attained age 62 in column 5, Worksheet 2.  
41 Place an "X" in column 5 (Worksheet 2) next to each subsequent year through 2002.  
42 Enter your age 62 PIA from either line 24, 30, or 37—here and in the first row of Worksheet 2.  
43 Beginning with first year marked, multiply your age 62 PIA by the corresponding factor (column 4), round to lower dime, and enter in column 6. The resulting PIA is then multiplied by the next factor and is again rounded to lower dime. Continue this process through 2002. Enter this last figure, which is your current PIA.  
STEP 5.—Computing the Monthly Benefit
44 Enter your current PIA from either line 24, 30, 37, or 43.  
45 Using Table 2.A17.1, determine your full retirement age and enter here.  
46 If you retired at your full retirement age round PIA from line 44 to next lower dollar to obtain your monthly benefit.  
47 If you retired before the full retirement age enter your age at retirement including year and months.  
48 Subtract line 47 from line 45 and convert the result to months to determine the total number of reduction months.  
49 If line 48 is greater than 36 subtract 36 and enter the number here.  
50 "0.0055556" (the decimal equivalent of 5/9 of 1 percent—the monthly reduction factor for the first 36 months) has been entered. 0.0055556
51 "0.0041667" (the decimal equivalent of 5/12 of 1 percent—the monthly reduction factor for months above 36) has been entered. 0.0041667
52 Multiply line 48 (but not more than 36) by line 50 to obtain the percentage reduction for the first 36 months.  
53 Multiply line 49 by line 51 to obtain the percentage reduction for months in excess of 36.  
54 Add lines 52 and 53 to obtain the total percentage reduction.  
55 Multiply line 44 by line 54 to obtain the amount of benefit reduction.  
56 Subtract line 55 from line 44 and round to next lower dollar to obtain your monthly benefit.  
Worksheet 1: Indexing of earnings
Year Your
earnings
Maximum
taxable
earnings
(dollars)
Lower of
columns
2 or 3
Indexing
factor
Column 4
times
column 5
Highest
indexed
earnings
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1951   3,600        
1952   3,600        
1953   3,600        
1954   3,600        
1955   4,200        
1956   4,200        
1957   4,200        
1958   4,200        
1959   4,800        
1960   4,800        
1961   4,800        
1962   4,800        
1963   4,800        
1964   4,800        
1965   4,800        
1966   6,600        
1967   6,600        
1968   7,800        
1969   7,800        
1970   7,800        
1971   7,800        
1972   9,000        
1973   10,800        
1974   13,200        
1975   14,100        
1976   15,300        
1977   16,500        
1978   17,700        
1979   22,900        
1980   25,900        
1981   29,700        
1982   32,400        
1983   35,700        
1984   37,800        
1985   39,600        
1986   42,000        
1987   43,800        
1988   45,000        
1989   48,000        
1990   51,300        
1991   53,400        
1992   55,500        
1993   57,600        
1994   60,600        
1995   61,200        
1996   62,700        
1997   65,400        
1998   68,400        
1999   72,600        
2000   76,200        
2001   80,400        
2002   84,900        
Worksheet 2: Computing the primary insurance amount (PIA) for workers retiring after age 62
Year 1st bend point
(dollars)
2nd bend point
(dollars)
Cost-of-living
increase
(percent)
Cost-of-living
factor
Years
aged 62
or older
PIA
(dollars)
  1 2 3 4 5 6
Age 62 PIA:  
1979 180 1,085 9.9 1.099    
1980 194 1,171 14.3 1.143    
1981 211 1,274 11.2 1.112    
1982 230 1,388 7.4 1.074    
1983 254 1,528 3.5 1.035    
1984 267 1,612 3.5 1.035    
1985 280 1,691 3.1 1.031    
1986 297 1,790 1.3 1.013    
1987 310 1,866 4.2 1.042    
1988 319 1,922 4.0 1.040    
1989 339 2,044 4.7 1.047    
1990 356 2,145 5.4 1.054    
1991 370 2,230 3.7 1.037    
1992 387 2,333 3.0 1.030    
1993 401 2,420 2.6 1.026    
1994 422 2,545 2.8 1.028    
1995 426 2,567 2.6 1.026    
1996 437 2,635 2.9 1.029    
1997 455 2,741 2.1 1.021    
1998 477 2,875 1.3 1.013    
1999 505 3,043 2.5 a 1.025    
2000 531 3,202 3.5 1.035    
2001 561 3,381 2.6 1.026    
2002 592 3,567 1.4 1.014    
2003 606 3,653 . . . . . .    
a. The December 1999 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) was originally determined to be 2.4 percent, based on the consumer price index (CPI). The underlying CPI was later recomputed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics; a 2.5 percent COLA would have been consistent with the recomputed CPI. Pursuant to P.L. 106-554, benefits were calculated and paid in August 2001 and later as if the December 1999 COLA had been 2.5 percent. Affected beneficiaries received a one-time payment to cover the shortfall that occurred before August 2001.
NOTE: . . . = not applicable.

CONTACT: Joseph Bondar (410)965-0162 or Curt Pauzenga (410) 965-7210.