What-Benefits.com

what is the formula for calculating social security benefits

by Amira Lehner Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
image

The Social Security benefits formula used to determine your primary insurance amount is:

  • 90% of average indexed monthly earnings (AIME) up to a first bend point. ...
  • 32% of AIME between a first and second bend point
  • 15% of AIME above the second bend point

If 2022 were the year of eligibility, we would divide the national average wage index for 2020 (55,628.60) by the national average wage index for each year prior to 2020 in which the worker had earnings and multiply each such ratio by the worker's earnings.

Full Answer

How to calculate your projected Social Security benefit?

  • For every dollar of average indexed monthly earnings up to $926, you’ll get 90 cents per month in benefits.
  • For every dollar of average indexed monthly earnings between $927 and $5,583 you’ll get $.32 cents per month in benefits.
  • For every dollar of average indexed monthly earnings beyond $5,583 you’ll get $.15 cents per month in benefits.

How do I determine my social security benefit?

Try refreshing the page. Today's Social Security column addresses questions about how Social Security spousal benefits are calculated, whether it's necessary to file in January to get a given year's COLA and what effects of benefits rates not paying taxes can have.

How do you determine your Social Security benefit amount?

  • For earnings that fall within the first band, you multiply by 90%. That is the first part of your benefit.
  • For earnings that fall within the second band, you multiply by 32%. That is the second part of your benefit.
  • For earnings that are greater than the maximum of the second band, you multiply by 15%. This is the third part of your benefit.

How do you estimate Social Security benefits?

You can use your account to request a replacement Social Security benefits card, check the status of an existing application, estimate how many future benefits you’ll receive or manage the ones you are already getting. One of the most important reasons ...

image

Is Social Security based on the last 5 years of work?

A: Your Social Security payment is based on your best 35 years of work. And, whether we like it or not, if you don't have 35 years of work, the Social Security Administration (SSA) still uses 35 years and posts zeros for the missing years, says Andy Landis, author of Social Security: The Inside Story, 2016 Edition.

How much Social Security will I get if I make 60000 a year?

That adds up to $2,096.48 as a monthly benefit if you retire at full retirement age. Put another way, Social Security will replace about 42% of your past $60,000 salary. That's a lot better than the roughly 26% figure for those making $120,000 per year.

Is it better to take Social Security at 62 or 67?

The short answer is yes. Retirees who begin collecting Social Security at 62 instead of at the full retirement age (67 for those born in 1960 or later) can expect their monthly benefits to be 30% lower. So, delaying claiming until 67 will result in a larger monthly check.

How much Social Security will I get if I make $75000 a year?

about $28,300 annuallyIf you earn $75,000 per year, you can expect to receive $2,358 per month -- or about $28,300 annually -- from Social Security.

Primary Insurance Amount

The basic Social Security benefit is called the primary insurance amount (PIA). Typically the PIA is a function of average indexed monthly earnings (AIME). We determine the PIA by applying a PIA formula to AIME. The formula we use depends on the year of first eligibility (the year a person attains age 62 in retirement cases).

Benefit Based on PIA and Age

The amount of retirement benefits paid depends on a person's age when he or she begins receiving benefits. We reduce benefits taken before a person's normal (or full) retirement age and we increase benefits taken after normal retirement age.

Two Other Methods

Two other methods for computing a PIA have limited applicability. Relatively few new beneficiaries qualify for these two other methods.

How to calculate Social Security benefits?

Your Social Security benefit is based on your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME). You can calculate this by looking at your annual income each year. Make sure you only include the portion of your income that was subject to Social Security tax.

How much does the SSA withhold?

If you make more than $45,360 in 2018 after filing a claim for Social Security benefits, SSA withholds $1 in benefits for every $3 you earn in excess of this higher limit.

How many years do you have to work to get Social Security?

Add up your income for the 35 highest years. Social Security benefits are based on your average earnings for 35 years of work. If you haven't worked for at least 35 years, Social Security will average in zeroes for as many years as you are short. If you've worked more than 35 years, choose the 35 years in which you earned the most income.

How much will Social Security be reduced if you retire early?

However, if you claim your benefit before you reach full retirement, your benefits will be reduced by 30 percent.

What is the age of full retirement?

1. Determine your normal retirement age (NRA). Your NRA, also called "full retirement age," is based on the year you were born, but varies generally from 65 to 67. This is the age at which you will receive your full benefit amount. If you file a claim for Social Security benefits before this age, you'll get less money.

Is Social Security taxable if spouse is still working?

This is also true if your spouse is still working, since Social Security benefits are also taxable. Decide whether you plan to keep working. If you don't intend to completely quit working after you file your claim for Social Security benefits, the SSA may withhold some of your benefits.

Benefit Calculators

The best way to start planning for your future is by creating a my Social Security account online. With my Social Security, you can verify your earnings, get your Social Security Statement, and much more – all from the comfort of your home or office.

Online Benefits Calculator

These tools can be accurate but require access to your official earnings record in our database. The simplest way to do that is by creating or logging in to your my Social Security account. The other way is to answer a series of questions to prove your identity.

Additional Online Tools

Find your full retirement age and learn how your monthly benefits may be reduced if you retire before your full retirement age.

What percentage of a spouse's Social Security benefit is a PIA?

If you're married, the PIA will also figure in any benefit amount that your spouse would be due, generally 50 percent of your PIA if the spouse turns on the tap at full retirement age. The PIA is also the basis of a survivor's benefit and a child's benefit.

What is the effect of Social Security on lower income earners?

The effect of these calculations is that a Social Security benefit "replaces" more of the income of lower-wage earners than it does for higher-wage earners. The effect is to help level the playing field in retirement between workers of different income levels.

How many years of work do you have to work to get Social Security?

It starts with Social Security examining your earnings history — with an emphasis on the money you earned during your 35 highest-paid years. That means that if you worked 40 years, Social Security would use your highest-paid 35 years in its calculations and ignore the other five.

What is PIA in Social Security?

The next step is to calculate your all-important primary insurance amount (PIA).

Is Social Security an earned benefit?

The first is that a Social Security benefit is an earned benefit. It's not a freebie. We Americans earn our benefits by working for many years and paying the Social Security tax in each of those years. That tax is 6.2 percent of your wages up to a ceiling ($127,200 in 2017).

Is there a limit to how high a salary can go on Social Security?

There are limits to how high it can go, however, because wages above the ceiling aren't subject to Social Security tax and aren't counted in your benefit calculation. OK, now that we know the rules of the retirement road, let's see how Social Security figures out the dollars and cents that become your monthly benefit.

What is the benefit estimate?

Benefit estimates depend on your date of birth and on your earnings history. For security, the "Quick Calculator" does not access your earnings record; instead, it will estimate your earnings based on information you provide. So benefit estimates made by the Quick Calculator are rough. Although the "Quick Calculator" makes an initial assumption ...

How old do you have to be to file for Social Security?

You must be at least age 22 to use the form at right. Lack of a substantial earnings history will cause retirement benefit estimates to be unreliable. Enter your date of birth ( month / day / year format) / /. Enter earnings in the current year: $. Your annual earnings must be earnings covered by Social Security.

How old do you have to be to use Quick Calculator?

You must be at least age 22 to use the form at right.

image
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9