Social Security Benefit Calculator User's Guide 
 
Social Security Benefit Calculator 

The Social Security Benefit Calculator calculates the Social Security benefit for an old-age, survivor, or 

disability claim, given the characteristics of a particular worker (such as birth date, past earnings, and type of 

benefit). It also produces the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), Maximum Family Benefit (MFB), the actuarial 

reduction or increment factor (for early or delayed retirement), and the Monthly Benefit Amount (MBA). 

The Calculator can produce a benefit for any historical case from the first Social Security benefit paid (1940). 

It can also produce a projected benefit estimate, based on standard or user-specified assumptions, through 

2095. All amendments to the law, and automatic adjustments, through 2023 are taken into account. 

Although we have tried to be as accurate as possible, this is not the same program as is used for official Social 

Security calculations and it may produce results that differ from an official calculation. In particular, for 

primary benefits, we have made approximations for pre-1965 benefits and for the frozen minimum PIA, and 

we only partially take account of disability non-exclusion calculations. In addition, the calculator is not set up 

to estimate dependent or survivor benefits in situations where the dependent or survivor also receives 

benefits based on their own record, or survivor benefits where the benefit is affected by the worker's retired 

worker benefit prior to death. Based on experience to date, the Calculator matches the official calculations 

very well, with most differences due to late posting of earnings to the earnings record, or different 

assumptions for projected benefits. 

The source program is not copyrighted. Distribution is encouraged, with acknowledgment to the Social 

Security Administration, Office of the Chief Actuary. 

Social Security Benefit Calculator Help Index 

Welcome

How To ... 

 Install/uninstall on Windows.

 Install/uninstall on a Mac.

 Enter data for a new case.

 Estimate a normal retirement benefit.

 Understand the structure of a ".pia" file

Menus 

 File menu

 Edit menu

 View menu

 Forms menu

 Properties menu

 Help menu

Description of generated report 

 General report information

 Pages in report

Sample cases 

 Sample case 1

 Sample case 2
 Sample case 3

 Sample case 4

 Sample case 5

 Sample case 6

 Sample case 7

 Sample case 8

 Sample case 9

 Sample case 10

 Sample case 11

 Sample case 12

 Sample case 13

 Sample case 14

 Sample case 15

 Sample case 16

 Sample case 17

 Sample case 18

 Sample case 19

 Sample case 20

 Sample case 21

 Sample case 22

 Sample case 23

 Sample case 24

 Sample case 25

 Sample case 26

 Sample case 27

 Sample case 28

 Sample case 29

Registry entries 

 Social Security Benefit Calculator and the Registry

For developers only 

 Input data from a file

 Source code

Contacting the Social Security Administration 

 Technical support

 Personal assistance

 Other resources

 
How to... 

Install/uninstall on Windows 

The downloadable files are stored in an InstallShield file. See download.html for information on downloading. 

After downloading the program, install it by executing the downloaded file. The InstallShield dialog boxes will 

guide you through the installation process. When it is finished, you will have a folder named Calculator with 

32 files: 

 anypia32.exe - the benefit calculator; 

 anypia32.chm - help information; 

 readme.txt - last-minute information; and 

 29 sample calculation files (with extensions of .pia). 

The default location for the folder is in a folder named SSA, inside your Program Files folder. There will also 

be an entry in your Start Menu and an alias on your desktop for the benefit calculator. To start the program, 

choose it from the Start Menu, or click the alias on the desktop. 

To uninstall the calculator, select Settings, Control Panel from the Start Menu. Choose Add/Remove 

Programs. Highlight Social Security Benefit Calculator and click on the Add/Remove button. 

Install/uninstall on a Mac 

The downloadable files are stored in a disk image (.dmg) format. Download Anypia.dmg and expand it, which 

will create a disk image on your computer. Then run the Anypia.app program inside the disk image, which will 

prompt you to select a folder where you want the calculator installed. This creates a folder named Benefit 

Calculator in the folder you select. It contains 31 files and 2 subfolders: 

 Anypia - the benefit estimate program; 

 readme.txt - last-minute information; 

 29 sample calculation files (with extensions of .pia); 

 subfolder html containing about 400 help files in html format, divided among 11 subfolders; and 

 subfolder images containing 17 .gif images used in the html files. 

Start the calculator by double-clicking on Anypia. A desktop alias can be created for Anypia using the usual 

facilities available in the MacOS. Start your browsing of the help files with main_index.html in the html

subfolder. 

To uninstall the calculator, drag the Benefit Calculator folder to the trashcan. 

Entering data for a new case 

To enter data for a new case, choose Forms from the main menu. There will be about ten menu items listed. 

Some will be grayed out, meaning that they do not currently apply to the case being entered. Start at the top 

of the list of forms and choose each one that is not grayed out. A form will pop up each time you make a 

choice from the list of menu items. Enter the appropriate data in each box and click on OK. 

If you make a mistake, a warning box will pop up and describe the error. When you click OK in the warning 

box, you will be returned to the form to correct your error. 

After you have gone down the list of forms and entered all your data, choose File from the main menu. Select 

Calculate Estimate to calculate the Social Security benefit. The results will appear on the screen. (You may 

have to scroll down the screen to see all of the results.) 

To print the results, choose File from the main menu and select Print. 
Estimate a normal retirement benefit 

To get a standard retirement benefit estimate using the calculator, you need to enter information on the 

program's forms, which you access from the forms menu. Do the following: 

1. Enter your birthdate on the worker information form and any other information here you want to 

show up on your estimate. 

2. Enter the date at which you want to start receiving benefits in the entitlement date blank on the 

supplemental worker form and enter the years in which you will enter your earnings. You should 

include estimated future earnings. 

3. Go to the annual earnings form and enter all your earnings. 

4. If you wish, go to the assumptions form and select the set of future economic assumptions you wish 

to use in estimating your benefit. 

5. If you earned less than 40 quarters of coverage (QCs) after 1977, enter the number of QCs you 

earned before 1978 on the summary QCs form so that the calculator will know you are fully insured. 

6. Select calculate estimate on the file menu. 

Your benefit estimate will be on the first page of output, and is labeled "Benefit after rounding." 

File structure 

The file created when you choose "Save" or "Save As" from the File menu is stored in a file with a name 

ending in ".pia". Normally you do not need to view the file directly; you would choose "Open" from the File 

menu to read the file back into the Social Security Benefit Calculator. 

In some cases you may want to view or edit a ".pia" file. The file is stored as ASCII text, where each line 

begins with a 2-digit line number. The rest of each line depends on the line number, as follows: 

Line number Position Description 

01 3-11 Social Security number

12 

Sex

 0 for male 

 1 for female 

13-14 Month of birth

15-16 Day of birth

17-20 Year of birth

02 3-4 Month of death

5-6 Day of death

7-10 Year of death

03 3 

Type of benefit

 1 for old age 

 2 for survivor 

 3 for disability 
4-5 Month of entitlement

6-9 Year of entitlement

04 3-4 Month of benefit

5-8 Year of benefit

06 3-6 First year of earnings

7-10 Last year of earnings

07 3 

Type of backward projection

 0 for no backward projection 

 1 for projection related to average wage increase 

 2 for projection by a constant percentage 

4-9 Backward projection percentage

10-13 Last year of earnings in backward projection period

08 3 

Type of forward projection

 0 for no forward projection 

 1 for projection related to average wage increase 

 2 for projection by a constant percentage 

4-9 Forward projection percentage

10-13 First year of earnings in forward projection period

09 3-4 Month of onset for most recent period of disability

5-6 Day of onset for most recent period of disability

7-10 Year of onset for most recent period of disability

11-12 Month of entitlement for most recent period of disability

13-16 Year of entitlement for most recent period of disability

17-18 Month of first month of waiting period for most recent period of disability

19-22 Year of first month of waiting period for most recent period of disability

23-24 Month of cessation for most recent period of disability

25-28 Year of cessation for most recent period of disability

29-38 PIA at cessation of most recent period of disability (Optional) 

39-48 MFB at cessation of most recent period of disability (Optional) 

10 3-4 Month of onset for second most recent period of disability
5-6 Day of onset for second most recent period of disability

7-10 Year of onset for second most recent period of disability

11-12 Month of entitlement for second most recent period of disability

13-16 Year of entitlement for second most recent period of disability

17-18 Month of first month of waiting period for second most recent period of 

disability

19-22 Year of first month of waiting period for second most recent period of 

disability

23-24 Month of cessation for second most recent period of disability

25-28 Year of cessation for second most recent period of disability

29-38 PIA at cessation of second most recent period of disability (Optional) 

39-48 MFB at cessation of second most recent period of disability (Optional) 

11 3-4 Beginning month of first period of military service

5-8 Beginning year of first period of military service

9-10 Ending month of first period of military service

11-14 Ending year of first period of military service

15-26 Beginning and ending dates of second period of military service

... Beginning and ending dates of third through 15th periods of military service

12 3-12 Monthly noncovered pension

13-14 Month of entitlement to noncovered pension

15-18 Year of entitlement to noncovered pension

13 3 Totalization indicator (1 if totalization applies, 0 otherwise) 

14 3 Blindness indicator (1 if worker is blind, 0 otherwise) 

15 3 Deemed insured indicator (1 if deemed insured provision applies) 0 

otherwise 

16 3-37 Number holder's name

17 3-37 First line of number holder's address

18 3-37 Second line of number holder's address

19 3-37 Third line of number holder's address
20 * 

Type of earnings with 1 position for each year from first year in line 6, or 

year in line 7 if specified, to last year in line 6, or year in line 8 if specified 

 0 for entered earnings 

 1 for maximum 

 2 for high 

 3 for average 

 4 for low 

21 * 

Type of taxes, with 1 position for each year in period specified in line 6 

 0 for employee taxes 

 1 for self-employed taxes 

Earnings on lines 22-29 are for same years for which type of earnings were specified on line 20. Each earnings 

amount takes 11 positions, with two decimal places and leading blanks if required, e.g. " 100000.00" for 

$100,000.00 in earnings. 

22 * First 10 years of OASDI earnings

23 * Second 10 years of OASDI earnings

24 * Third 10 years of OASDI earnings

25 * Fourth 10 years of OASDI earnings

26 * Fifth 10 years of OASDI earnings

27 * Sixth 10 years of OASDI earnings

28 * Seventh 10 years of OASDI earnings

29 * Eighth 10 years of OASDI earnings

Earnings on lines 30-37 are for period starting with maximum of 1983 and first year specified on line 6 and 

ending with last year on line 6. Each earnings amount takes 11 positions, with two decimal places and leading 

blanks if required, e.g. " 100000.00" for $100,000.00 in earnings. 

30 * First 10 years of HI earnings

31 * Second 10 years of HI earnings

32 * Third 10 years of HI earnings

33 * Fourth 10 years of HI earnings

34 * Fifth 10 years of HI earnings

35 * Sixth 10 years of HI earnings

36 * Seventh 10 years of HI earnings

37 * Eighth 10 years of HI earnings

38 3-12 Monthly noncovered pension after removal of military reservist pension 
39 3-4 Month of old-age entitlement prior to most recent disability 

5-8 Year of old-age entitlement prior to most recent disability 

9-10 Month of old-age termination prior to most recent disability 

11-14 Year of old-age termination prior to most recent disability 

40 3-6 First year of benefit increase projection 

7 Benefit increase assumption indicator

8 Average wage increase assumption indicator

9 

Maximum wage base projection indicator

 1 for automatic projection 

 2 for ad hoc bases 

Benefit increases on lines 41-44 start in year specified on line 40 and end in year specified on line 3 (or line 4 

if specified). Each increase takes 4 positions, with one decimal place and leading blanks if required, e.g. " 4.0" 

for a 4-percent benefit increase. 

41 3-6 First benefit increase

7-10 Second benefit increase

... Third through 20th benefit increase

42 3-82 21st through 40th benefit increase

43 3-82 41st through 60th benefit increase

44 3-82 61st through 80th benefit increase

Catch-up increases on lines 45-54 start two years after year specified on line 40. Each increase takes 4 

positions, with one decimal place and leading blanks if required, e.g. " 4.0" for a 4-percent benefit increase. 

45 3-6 First catch-up benefit increase for year of eligibility specified on line 40

7-10 Second catch-up benefit increase for year of eligibility specified on line 40

11-14 Third catch-up benefit increase for year of eligibility specified on line 40

15-18 Fourth catch-up benefit increase for year of eligibility specified on line 40

19-22 Fifth catch-up benefit increase for year of eligibility specified on line 40

23-26 Sixth catch-up benefit increase for year of eligibility specified on line 40

27-30 Seventh catch-up benefit increase for year of eligibility specified on line 40

31-34 Eighth catch-up benefit increase for year of eligibility specified on line 40

46 3-34 8 catch-up benefit increases for next year of eligibility after year used in line 
45

47 3-34 8 catch-up benefit increases for next year of eligibility after year used in line 

46

48 3-34 8 catch-up benefit increases for next year of eligibility after year used in line 

47

49 3-34 8 catch-up benefit increases for next year of eligibility after year used in line 

48

50 3-34 8 catch-up benefit increases for next year of eligibility after year used in line 

49

51 3-34 8 catch-up benefit increases for next year of eligibility after year used in line 

50

52 3-34 8 catch-up benefit increases for next year of eligibility after year used in line 

51

53 3-34 8 catch-up benefit increases for next year of eligibility after year used in line 

52

54 3-34 8 catch-up benefit increases for next year of eligibility after year used in line 

53

55 3-67 Title of benefit increase assumptions

Average wage increases on lines 56-59 start in year before year specified on line 40 and end in year specified 

on line 3 (or line 4 if specified). Each increase takes 6 positions, with three decimal places and leading blanks 

if required, e.g. " 4.000" for a 4-percent average wage increase. 

56 3-8 First average wage increase

9-14 Second average wage increase

... Third through 20th average wage increase

57 3-122 21st through 40th average wage increase

58 3-122 41st through 60th average wage increase

59 3-122 61st through 80th average wage increase

60 3-67 Title of average wage increase assumptions

Maximum OASDI wage bases on lines 61-64 start in year after year specified on line 40 and end in year 

specified on line 3 (or line 4 if specified). Each wage base takes 11 positions, with two decimal places and 

leading blanks if required, e.g. " 1000000.00" for a $1,000,000.00 wage base. 

61 3-13 First OASDI wage base

14-24 Second OASDI wage base
... Third through 20th OASDI wage bases

62 3-222 21st through 40th OASDI wage bases

63 3-222 41st through 60th OASDI wage bases

64 3-222 61st through 80th OASDI wage bases

Maximum old-law wage bases on lines 65-68 start in year after year specified on line 40 and end in year 

specified on line 3 (or line 4 if specified). Each wage base takes 11 positions, with two decimal places and 

leading blanks if required, e.g. " 1000000.00" for a $1,000,000.00 wage base. 

65 3-13 First old-law wage base

14-24 Second old-law wage base

... Third through 20th old-law wage bases

66 3-222 21st through 40th old-law wage bases

67 3-222 41st through 60th old-law wage bases

68 3-222 61st through 80th old-law wage bases

69 3 

First family member's major beneficiary identification code (bic) 

 A - primary (old-age or disability) 

 B - wife or husband (young or aged) 

 C - child (minor, student, or disabled) 

 D - aged widow(er) 

 E - mother or father 

 F - parent 

 T - transitionally insured 

 U - transitionally uninsured 

 W - disabled widow(er) 

4 

First family member's minor beneficiary identification code (bic) 

 If major bic is B, then: 

 blank - aged wife or husband 

 2 - young wife or husband 

 6 - divorced aged wife or husband 

 If major bic is D, then: 

 blank - aged widow(er) 

 6 - surviving divorced wife or husband 

 If major bic is W, then: 

 blank - disabled widow(er) 

 6 - surviving disabled divorced wife or husband 

5-6 First family member's month of birth

7-8 First family member's day of birth

9-12 First family member's year of birth
13-14 First family member's month of entitlement

15-18 First family member's year of entitlement

19-20 Widow(er)'s month of disability onset (if major bic is W) 

21-22 Widow(er)'s day of disability onset (if major bic is W) 

23-26 Widow(er)'s year of disability onset (if major bic is W) 

70 3-26 Data for second family member, as in line 69 

71 3-26 Data for third family member, as in line 69 

72 3-26 Data for fourth family member, as in line 69 

73 3-26 Data for fifth family member, as in line 69 

74 3-26 Data for sixth family member, as in line 69 

75 3-26 Data for seventh family member, as in line 69 

76 3-26 Data for eighth family member, as in line 69 

77 3-26 Data for ninth family member, as in line 69 

78 3-26 Data for 10th family member, as in line 69 

79 3-26 Data for 11th family member, as in line 69 

80 3-26 Data for 12th family member, as in line 69 

81 3-26 Data for 13th family member, as in line 69 

82 3-26 Data for 14th family member, as in line 69 

83 3-26 Data for 15th family member, as in line 69 

84 3-4 Total railroad quarters of coverage, 1937-1950

5-15 Total railroad earnings, 1937-1950

85 3-6 First year of railroad earnings 

7-10 Last year of railroad earnings 

86 3-29 Annual railroad quarters of coverage, with 1 position for each year from 

1951 to 1977 

87 3-112 First 10 years of railroad earnings

88 3-112 Second 10 years of railroad earnings

89 3-112 Third 10 years of railroad earnings
90 3-112 Fourth 10 years of railroad earnings

91 3-112 Fifth 10 years of railroad earnings

92 3-112 Sixth 10 years of railroad earnings

93 3-112 Seventh 10 years of railroad earnings

94 3-112 Eighth 10 years of railroad earnings

95 3-5 Total quarters of coverage, 1937-1977

6-8 Total quarters of coverage, 1951-1977

96 * Annual quarters of coverage, with 1 position for each year from first year in 

line 6 to earlier of last year in line 6 or 1977 (0-4) 

97 * 

Annual indicator for childcare year, with 1 position for each year from first 

year in line 6 to last year in line 6 

 0 for non-childcare year 

 1 for childcare year 

 
Menus 

File menu commands 

The File menu offers the following commands: 

 New: Creates a new document. 

 Open: Opens an existing document. 

 Save: Saves an opened document using the same file name. 

 Save As: Saves an opened document to a specified file name. 

 Calculate Estimate: Calculate benefit estimate using the current data. 

 Page Setup: Review or update top and left margins, and font size, of printed report. 

 Print: Prints a document. 

 Print Preview: Displays the document on the screen as it would appear printed. 

 Print Setup: Selects a printer and printer connection. 

 Exit: Exits the Social Security Benefit Calculator. 

New command (File menu) 

Use this command to create a new case in the Social Security Benefit Calculator. 

You can open an existing document with the Open command. 

Shortcuts 

Toolbar: 

Keys:CTRL+N 

Open command (File menu) 

Use this command to open an existing document. 

You can start a new case with the New command. 

Shortcuts 

Toolbar: 

Keys:CTRL+O 

File Open dialog box 

The following options allow you to specify which file to open: 

File Name 

Type or select the filename you want to open. This box lists files with the extension you select in the List Files 

of Type box. 

List Files of Type 

Select the type of file you want to open. All cases used in the Social Security Benefit Calculator should be in 

files with an extension of ".pia". 
Drives 

Select the drive in which in the Social Security Benefit Calculator stores the file that you want to open. 

Directories 

Select the directory in which in the Social Security Benefit Calculator stores the file that you want to open. 

Network... 

Choose this button to connect to a network location, assigning it a new drive letter. 

Save command (File menu) 

Use this command to save the active document to its current name and directory. When you save a 

document for the first time, this program displays the Save As dialog box so you can name your document. If 

you want to change the name and directory of an existing document before you save it, choose the Save As 

command. 

Shortcuts 

Toolbar: 

Keys:CTRL+S 

Save As command (File menu) 

Use this command to save and name the active document. This program displays the Save As dialog box so 

you can name your document. 

To save a document with its existing name and directory, use the Save command. 

File Save As dialog box 

The following options allow you to specify the name and location of the file you're about to save: 

File Name 

Type a new filename to save a document with a different name. A filename can contain up to eight 

characters and an extension of up to three characters. The Social Security Benefit Calculator adds the 

extension you specify in the Save File As Type box (currently always ".pia"). 

Drives 

Select the drive in which you want to store the document. 

Directories 

Select the directory in which you want to store the document. 

Network... 

Choose this button to connect to a network location, assigning it a new drive letter. 

Calculate Estimate 
When you choose "Calculate Estimate" from the File menu item, the benefit is computed for the case for 

which data has been entered. The results are presented on the screen. You can print out the results by 

choosing Print from the File menu item. 

Page Setup command (File menu) 

The "Page Setup" menu choice allows you to set the printed report length, the top and left margins, and the 

point size. The dialog box has the following entries: 

 Top margin: Top margin for a printed report. 

 Left margin: Left margin for a printed report. 

 Font size: Font size in points for a printed report. 

After you have modified the report length, margins, or font size, the new values are saved in the Registry. 

Press Cancel to exit from the dialog box without saving any new values to the Registry. 

Top margin (Page Setup dialog) 

Enter an amount from 0 to 2 inches. The exact margin that appears on your printed output may vary slightly 

from the amount entered here, depending on how much margin your printer adds. 

Left margin (Page Setup dialog) 

Enter an amount from 0 to 2 inches. The exact margin that appears on your printed output may vary slightly 

from the amount entered here, depending on how much margin your printer adds. 

Font size (Page Setup dialog) 

Enter the font size in points for the printed report. A font size of 10 is recommended, but this may vary for 

different printers. 

Print command (File menu) 

Use this command to print a document. This command presents a Print dialog box, where you may specify 

the range of pages to be printed, the number of copies, the destination printer, and other printer setup 

options. 

Shortcuts 

Toolbar: 

Keys:CTRL+P 

Print dialog box 

The following options allow you to specify how the document should be printed: 

Printer 

This is the active printer and printer connection. Choose the Setup option to change the printer and printer 

connection. 

Setup 
Displays a Print Setup dialog box, so you can select a printer and printer connection. 

Print Range 

Specify the pages you want to print: 

 All: Prints the entire document. 

 Selection: Prints the currently selected text. 

 Pages: Prints the range of pages you specify in the From and To boxes. 

Copies 

Specify the number of copies you want to print for the above page range. 

Collate Copies 

Prints copies in page number order, instead of separated multiple copies of each page. 

Print Quality 

Select the quality of the printing. Generally, lower quality printing takes less time to produce. 

Print Progress dialog 

The Printing dialog box is shown during the time that the Social Security Benefit Calculator is sending output 

to the printer. The page number indicates the progress of the printing. 

To abort printing, choose Cancel. 

Print Preview command (File menu) 

Use this command to display the active document as it would appear when printed. When you choose this 

command, the main window will be replaced with a print preview window in which one or two pages will be 

displayed in their printed format. The print preview toolbar offers you options to view either one or two 

pages at a time; move back and forth through the document; zoom in and out of pages; and initiate a print 

job. 

Print Preview toolbar 

The print preview toolbar offers you the following options: 

Print 

Bring up the print dialog box, to start a print job. 

Next Page 

Preview the next printed page. 

Prev Page 

Preview the previous printed page. 

One Page / Two Page 

Preview one or two printed pages at a time. 
Zoom In 

Take a closer look at the printed page. 

Zoom Out 

Take a larger look at the printed page. 

Close 

Return from print preview to the editing window. 

Print Setup command (File menu) 

Use this command to select a printer and a printer connection. This command presents a Print Setup dialog 

box, where you specify the printer and its connection. 

Print Setup dialog box 

The following options allow you to select the destination printer and its connection. 

Printer 

Select the printer you want to use. Choose the Default Printer; or choose the Specific Printer option and 

select one of the current installed printers shown in the box. You install printers and configure ports using the 

Windows Control Panel. 

Orientation 

Choose Portrait or Landscape. 

Paper Size 

Select the size of paper that the document is to be printed on. 

Paper Source 

Some printers offer multiple trays for different paper sources. Specify the tray here. 

Options 

Displays a dialog box where you can make additional choices about printing, specific to the type of printer 

you have selected. 

Network... 

Choose this button to connect to a network location, assigning it a new drive letter. 

1, 2, 3, 4 command (File menu) 

Use the numbers and filenames listed at the bottom of the File menu to open the last four cases you closed. 

Choose the number that corresponds with the document you want to open. 

Exit command (File menu) 
Use this command to end your Social Security Benefit Calculator session. You can also use the Close 

command on the application Control menu. This program prompts you to save documents with unsaved 

changes. 

Shortcuts 

Mouse:Double-click the application's Control menu button. 

Keys:ALT+F4 

Edit menu commands 

The Edit menu offers the following commands: 

 Undo: Reverse previous editing operation. 

 Cut: Deletes data from the document and moves it to the clipboard. 

 Copy: Copies data from the document to the clipboard. 

 Paste: Pastes data from the clipboard into the document. 

Undo/Can't Undo command (Edit menu) 

(Not currently implemented.) 

Cut command (Edit menu) 

(Not currently implemented.) 

Copy command (Edit menu) 

(Not currently implemented.) 

Paste command (Edit menu) 

(Not currently implemented.) 

View menu commands 

The View menu offers the following commands: 

 Toolbar: Shows or hides the toolbar. 

 Status Bar: Shows or hides the status bar. 

 Screen settings: Review or update font size for screen output. 

Toolbar command (View menu) 

Use this command to display and hide the Toolbar, which includes buttons for some of the most common 

commands in this program, such as File Open. A check mark appears next to the menu item when the Toolbar 

is displayed. 

See Toolbar for help on using the toolbar. 
Toolbar 

The toolbar is displayed across the top of the application window, below the menu bar. The toolbar provides 

quick mouse access to many tools used in the Social Security Benefit Calculator. 

To hide or display the Toolbar, choose Toolbar from the View menu (ALT, V, T). 

ClickTo 

Open a new case. 

Open an existing case. The Social Security Benefit Calculator displays the Open dialog box, in which you 

can locate and open the desired file. 

Save the active case with its current name. If you have not named the document, the Social Security 

Benefit Calculator displays the Save As dialog box. 

Print the active case. 

 (Not currently implemented.) 

 (Not currently implemented.) 

 (Not currently implemented.) 

 (Not currently implemented.) 

Status Bar command (View menu) 

Use this command to display and hide the Status Bar, which describes the action to be executed by the 

selected menu item or depressed toolbar button, and keyboard latch state. A check mark appears next to the 

menu item when the Status Bar is displayed. 

See Status Bar for help on using the status bar. 

Status Bar 

The status bar is displayed at the bottom of the Social Security Benefit Calculator window. To display or hide 

the status bar, use the Status Bar command in the View menu. 

The left area of the status bar describes actions of menu items as you use the arrow keys to navigate through 

menus. This area similarly shows messages that describe the actions of toolbar buttons as you depress them, 

before releasing them. If after viewing the description of the toolbar button command you wish not to 

execute the command, then release the mouse button while the pointer is off the toolbar button. 

The right areas of the status bar indicate which of the following keys are latched down: 

Indicator Description 
CAP: The Caps Lock key is latched down. 

NUM: The Num Lock key is latched down. 

SCRL: The Scroll Lock key is latched down. 

Font command (View menu) 

The "Font" menu choice allows you to set the point size for screen output. The dialog box has the following 

entry: 

 Font size: Font size in points for screen output. 

After you have modified the screen font size, the new value is saved in the Registry. Press Cancel to exit from 

the dialog box without saving any new values to the Registry. 

Font size (Font dialog) 

Enter the font size in points for the screen output. A font size of 12 is recommended, but this may vary for 

different monitors. 

Forms menu commands 

The Forms menu offers the following commands: 

 Worker Info: Basic worker information. 

 Supplemental Worker Info: Supplemental worker information. 

 Disability Info: Disability information. 

 Family Members: Family member information. 

 Military Service: Military service dates. 

 Summary QCs: Total quarters of coverage up to 1977. 

 Assumptions: Assumptions about future benefit increases, average wage increases, and wage bases. 

 Benefit Increases: Annual future benefit increases entered by user. 

 Catch-up Increases: Future catch-up benefit increases entered by user. 

 Average Wage Increases: Annual future average wage increases entered by user. 

 Wage Bases: Annual future present law and old law wage bases entered by user. 

 Annual Earnings Info: Earnings information for each year. 

Basic worker information 

The basic worker information form has the following entries: 

 Name: Name of person with Social Security earnings. 

 Social Security Number: Social Security number of person with Social Security earnings. 

 Date of birth: Date of birth of person with Social Security earnings. 

 Date of death: Worker’s date of death. 

 Address: Address of beneficiary. 

 Totalization: Indicator for totalization benefit. 

 No regular Social Security earnings: Indicator for no regular Social Security earnings (must have some 

railroad earnings or military service). 

 Railroad earnings: Indicator for some railroad earnings. 

 Military service: Indicator for some military service. 

 Medicare-only earnings: Indicator for Medicare-only earnings in some years. 

 Blindness: Indicator for statutory blindness where disability applies. 

 Deemed insured: Indicator for deemed insured status provision applicable in old-age case. 
 Sex of worker: Sex of worker (female or male). 

 Type of benefit: Type of benefit (old-age, survivor, or disability). 

 Number of family members: Number of family members (other than worker). 

Name of worker (Worker Info form) 

Enter the worker's name. The name and Social Security number will be printed on each page of output. 

Social Security number (Worker Info form) 

Enter the worker's Social Security number, using the three boxes. Three digits go in the first box, two in the 

second, and four in the third. 

The name and Social Security number will be printed on each page of output. 

Date of birth of worker (Worker Info form) 

Enter the month (1-12), day (1-31), and year (4 digits) of birth of the worker, separated by slashes. Even if you 

are calculating the benefit for an auxiliary or survivor beneficiary, you should enter the worker's date of birth. 

You may notice some odd results for workers born on the first day of the month, and particularly on the first 

day of January. This is because the Social Security law is written in terms of "attainment" of a certain age, and 

an age is "attained" on the day before a birthday. 

Date of death (Worker Info form) 

This field is available if you choose survivor as the type of benefit. Enter the month (1-12), day (1-31), and 

year (4 digits) of death, separated by slashes. The date of death must not be after the date of entitlement of 

any family member (entered in the Family Members form), or an error message will appear. 

Address of worker (Worker Info form) 

Enter the worker's address, using up to three lines. 

Totalization benefit (Worker Info form) 

Check the radio button if you are requesting a totalization benefit. However, be aware that even if you are 

not eligible for totalization benefits, the program will calculate a hypothetical benefit which is generally 

greater than the non-totalization benefit which would actually be payable. Therefore, do not select the 

totalization button if you are not eligible for totalization. 

If you check this button, you must enter annual earnings and quarters of coverage, beginning with the first 

year of earnings (even if before 1950). The figures must be accurate to produce an accurate totalization 

benefit. 

No regular Social Security earnings (Worker 

Info form) 

Most earnings used to compute a Social Security benefit are "regular" earnings; that is, employer/employee 

(FICA) or self-employment (SECA) taxes were paid on them. However, there are two other types of earnings 

or credits which may be added to regular earnings to compute a benefit: 1) railroad earnings, and 2) military 

service wage credits. 
It is also possible that a worker would have no regular earnings, and would have only railroad earnings 

and/or military service wage credits. In that case, check this box. Note that if you check this box, you must 

also check one of the next two boxes: railroad earnings and military service. 

Railroad earnings (Worker Info form) 

The Railroad Retirement system developed out of the private pension systems established by the various 

railroads. It set up a system of benefits (annuities) for railroad employees and their dependents and 

survivors. Railroad employees and their employers do not pay Social Security taxes on their railroad earnings, 

but the railroad retirement system has been coordinated with the Social Security system to provide a total 

system of retirement, auxiliary, survivor, and disability benefits payable on the basis of an individual’s work in 

the railroad industry and in employment and self-employment covered by Social Security. 

Railroad compensation can be used as covered earnings when computing a Social Security benefit if the 

worker had less than 10 years of railroad service. If railroad earnings are applicable, check this box. Enter the 

first and last years of railroad earnings in the boxes provided. The annual earnings form will then have an 

entry for railroad earnings for each year in the period specified. 

Periods of military service (Worker Info form) 

Military service wage credits are given to certain people with military earnings. Check this box if there are any 

applicable periods of military service. Enter the number of distinct periods of military service (up to 15) in the 

box provided. 

Medicare-only earnings (Worker Info form) 

There are two types of cases where a worker may pay Medicare taxes on earnings on which Social Security 

taxes are not paid: 1) since 1983, some categories of employees (such as some Federal, State, and local 

government employees) have been covered by Medicare and not by Social Security, and 2) since 1991, the 

maximum earnings taxed for Medicare have been higher than the maximum taxed for Social Security. 

Workers earning more than the Social Security maximum paid Medicare tax only on earnings above the Social 

Security maximum, up to the Medicare maximum (through 1993), or on all earnings (since 1994). 

Earnings taxed by Medicare and not by Social Security do not affect the Social Security benefit calculation. 

However, if you wish to calculate Social Security and Medicare taxes accurately, you should enter any 

earnings taxed by Medicare only. 

Check the radio button for the first type of worker, in which case you will be able to enter the Medicare 

earnings in the Annual Earnings Info form. You do not need to check the button for the second type of 

worker, since you can enter the full amount of earnings, including earnings above the Social Security base, in 

the Annual Earnings Info form. If you prefer, you can check the button for the second type of worker, enter 

earnings up to the Social Security wage base as Social Security earnings, and enter the excess earnings above 

the Social Security base as Medicare earnings. 

Blindness indicator (Worker Info form) 

A statutorily blind worker does not need to meet the "20/40" or "special insured status" test in order to be 

insured for disability benefits. The worker does need to be fully insured in the quarter he/she becomes 

disabled, or at some time thereafter. 

Deemed insured status (Worker Info form) 
Certain employees of nonprofit employers which were extended coverage effective January 1, 1984 because 

of the 1983 amendments can be deemed to be fully insured with fewer quarters of coverage than are 

ordinarily required, if they are earned after 1983. The number of quarters of coverage required is shown in 

the following table: 

Worker Who, on January 1, 1984 is: The Number of Quarters of Coverage 

Required is: 

Age 60 or over (born on or before January 2, 1924) 6 

Age 59 or over but less than age 60 (born January 3, 1924 through 

January 2, 1925) 8 

Age 58 or over but less than age 59 (born January 3, 1925 through 

January 2, 1926) 12 

Age 57 or over but less than age 58 (born January 3, 1926 through 

January 2, 1927) 16 

Age 55 or over but less than age 57 (born January 3, 1927 through 

January 2, 1929) 20 

Sex of worker (Worker Info form) 

Choose Female or Male for the sex of the worker. The sex of the worker does not matter for current and 

future retirees, but it does matter for some historical cases. 

Type of benefit (Worker Info form) 

Choose one of the following: 

 Old-age: Old-age benefit (for a fully insured worker beginning at about age 62 or later). 

 Survivor: For a survivor of a deceased fully insured worker. 

 Disability: For a disabled disability insured worker under full retirement age. 

For more information about the types of benefits available under Social Security, see the OASDI Digest. 

Old-age benefit (Worker Info form) 

To be entitled to old-age benefits, a claimant must be fully insured, have attained age 62, and have filed an 

application for benefits. An application is not required if the claimant is entitled to disability insurance 

benefits for the month before the month in which he or she reaches full retirement age. 

Disability benefit (Worker Info form) 

To be entitled to disability insurance benefits, a claimant must meet the disability insured status tests, have 

filed an application, and be disabled. Disability insurance benefits are payable only after a waiting period of 5 

full calendar months of disability. However, if an individual was previously entitled to a disability insurance 

benefit within the 5 years before the month his/her current disability began, no waiting period is required. 

Survivor benefit (Worker Info form) 

Types of survivor benefits: 
 Child: Child beneficiary. 

 Mother or Father: Parent of a child beneficiary. 

 Disabled widow(er): Disabled widow(er) (aged 50-59). 

 Divorced disabled widow(er): Divorced disabled widow(er) (aged 50-59). 

 Aged widow(er): Aged widow(er) (aged 60 or over). 

 Divorced aged widow(er): Divorced aged widow(er) (aged 60 or over). 

Number of family members (Worker Info 

form) 

The possible entries in this field depend on your choice of type of benefit: 

 If you choose old-age or disability as the type of benefit, you can calculate benefits for family 

members (spouse and/or children), in addition to the worker's benefit. Enter the number of family 

members other than the worker. Possible values are 0 to 15. 

 If you choose survivor as the type of benefit, you must calculate one or more benefits for family 

members (surviving spouse, surviving disabled spouse, and/or children), since there is no primary 

benefit. Enter the number of surviving family members. Possible values are 1 to 15. 

Supplemental worker information 

The supplemental worker information form is available if you specified old-age, survivor, or disability as the 

type of benefit in the basic worker information form. The supplemental worker information form has the 

following entries: 

 Date of entitlement: Date of entitlement to benefit. 

 Calculate benefit after initial entitlement: Calculate benefit after initial entitlement. 

 Date of benefit: Date for which benefit is being calculated. 

 First year of specified earnings: First year of specified earnings (before earnings are projected 

backward). 

 Last year of specified earnings: Last year of specified earnings (before earnings are projected 

forward). 

 Type of backward projection: Type of projection used to project earnings backwards. 

 First year of earnings in backward projection period: Year to which earnings are projected backward. 

 Backward projection percentage factor: Percentage factor used when projecting earnings backwards. 

 Type of forward projection: Type of projection used to project earnings forwards. 

 Last year of earnings in forward projection period: Year to which earnings are projected forward. 

 Forward projection percentage factor: Percentage factor used when projecting earnings forwards. 

 Amount of monthly noncovered pension: Amount of monthly noncovered pension. 

 Date of entitlement for noncovered pension: Date of entitlement for noncovered pension. 

 Number of periods of disability: Number of periods of disability that this worker had. 

Date of entitlement (Supplemental Worker 

Info form) 

Enter the month (1-12) and year (4 digits) of initial entitlement, separated by a slash. This is the month that 

old-age or disability benefits started. The year of entitlement must be between 1940 and 2080, inclusive. This 

will also be the date of the benefit, if you specified that the benefit was to be calculated as of initial 

entitlement. 
For old-age benefits, the month and year of entitlement cannot be before age 62 and 1 month unless the 

date of birth is on the first or second day of the month, in which case the initial month of entitlement can be 

as early as the month of the 62nd birthday. 

This field is not available when calculating survivor benefits. Instead, the date of entitlement is entered for 

each survivor in the Family Members form. 

For more information on date of entitlement, see the OASDI Digest. 

Calculate benefit after initial entitlement 

(Supplemental Worker Info form) 

This box is available in an old-age or disability case, where the worker starts receiving a benefit at initial 

entitlement, and you might want to know the amount of the benefit at a later date. Do not check this box if 

you want a benefit at initial entitlement; check it for a benefit after initial entitlement. The actuarial 

reduction or delayed retirement credit will be calculated as of the date of initial entitlement. For example, if 

someone is retiring at age 62 in March 1999, and you want to estimate the benefit as of March 1999, enter a 

date of entitlement of March 1999 and do not check this box. If you want to know what the benefit will be in 

March 2002 (at age 65), after benefits have been received for 3 years, leave March 1999 as the date of 

entitlement, check this box, and enter March 2002 as the date of benefit. In either case, the benefit estimate 

will reflect 3 years of reduction. If you want to know what the benefit would be if retirement were delayed 

until March 2002, enter March 2002 as the date of entitlement and do not check this box. In that case, the 

benefit estimate will not reflect any reduction for age. 

In most cases, the calculated PIA (the full benefit before reduction or increment for age) does not depend on 

how long the beneficiary has been receiving a benefit. In the benefit estimate program, there is only one 

place where the initial entitlement date affects the PIA: the DI 1-for-5 dropout year rule applies only if initial 

entitlement was after June 1980. In addition to the PIA, the MFB is affected by the DI maximum family 

benefit only if initial entitlement was after that same date. 

The actual benefit payable, on the other hand, is affected by the date of initial entitlement in most cases. For 

example, if you want an old-age benefit at age 65, but initial entitlement was at age 62, the benefit will be 

affected by three years of reduction. 

This box is unavailable in a survivor case. Instead, you must enter the date of benefit in this form, and the 

date of entitlement of each survivor in in the Family Members form. 

Date of benefit (Supplemental Worker Info 

form) 

This field is available if you specified that the benefit was to be calculated at a date after initial entitlement 

(see Calculate benefit after initial entitlement). Enter the month (1-12) and year (4 digits) for which the 

benefit is to be calculated, separated by a slash. The date of the benefit must not be before the date of initial 

entitlement. 

First year of specified earnings (Supplemental 

Worker Info form) 
If you are not projecting earnings backwards, enter the first year for which the worker had any earnings. The 

year must be less than 2080. It must be no less than the year of birth, or 1937, if later. Because of a program 

limitation, if the year of birth is greater than 1936, then the first year of earnings must be at least 1951. 

If you are projecting earnings backwards, enter the first year for which you wish to enter earnings. Earnings 

prior to that year will be projected backwards. 

If there are any pre-1951 earnings, you can usually enter 1950 and enter the total pre-1951 earnings for 

1950. However, in the following two cases, you should enter the actual first year of earnings, even if less than 

1950: 

 the applicable old-start calculation is prior to the simplified 1967 old-start, or 

 the type of earnings is Maximum, Average, or Low for any year prior to 1951. 

Last year of specified earnings (Supplemental 

Worker Info form) 

If you are not projecting earnings forwards, enter the last year for which the worker had any earnings. This 

must be greater than or equal to the first year of specified earnings, and no more than 2080. A maximum of 

80 years of earnings is allowed. You can enter a year after the entitlement date, but any earnings after the 

last allowable year will be ignored in the benefit computation. 

If you are projecting earnings forwards, enter the last year for which you wish to enter earnings. Earnings 

after that year will be projected forwards. 

Type of backward projection (Supplemental 

Worker Info form) 

These three radio buttons allow you to project earnings backwards. The choices are: 

 no backward projection, or 

 by the percentage increase in average wages for each year, plus a constant salary scale percentage, 

or 

 by a constant percentage. 

No backward earnings projection 

(Supplemental Worker Info form) 

If you do not know the actual earnings for all years, you may want to enter earnings for some years and 

project earnings prior to the first year entered and/or after the last year entered. The benefit calculated with 

projected earnings will of course be only approximate, to the extent that the projected earnings differ from 

the actual earnings for those years. 

Check this button if you do not want to project earnings prior to the first year of entered earnings. 

Backward projection in line with average wage 

increases (Supplemental Worker Info form) 

Earnings may be projected backward by one of two methods: 
 by the percentage increase in average wages for each year, plus a constant salary scale percentage, 

or 

 by a constant percentage. 

Choose "In line with average wage increases" to project backward by a percentage related to the growth in 

average wages, or "Constant percentage increase" to project backward by a constant percentage. 

Check this button if you want to project earnings prior to the first year of entered earnings in line with 

average wage increases. You can then specify the years for which earnings are projected backward, and the 

percentage to be added to the average wage increase. 

Backward projection by a constant percentage 

(Supplemental Worker Info form) 

Earnings may be projected backward by one of two methods: 

 by the percentage increase in average wages for each year, plus a constant salary scale percentage, 

or 

 by a constant percentage. 

Choose "In line with average wage increases" to project backward by a percentage related to the growth in 

average wages, or "Constant percentage increase" to project backward by a constant percentage. 

Check this button if you want to project earnings prior to the first year of entered earnings by a constant 

percentage. You can then specify the years for which earnings are projected backward, and the constant 

percentage. 

First year of earnings in backwards projection 

period (Supplemental Worker Info form) 

This prompt is available if you are projecting earnings backwards. Enter the first year of the backward 

projection period (the first year of earnings, after earnings are projected backwards). This must be less than 

or equal to the first year of specified earnings. 

Backward projection percentage factor 

(Supplemental Worker Info form) 

This prompt is available if you are projecting earnings backwards. The meaning of the value entered at this 

prompt depends on the type of backward projection: 

 If you chose "In line with average wage increases", this is the percentage increase to be added to the 

percentage increase in average wages in each year. 

 If you chose "Constant percentage increase", this is the constant percentage increase used to project 

backwards. 

Type of forward projection (Supplemental 

Worker Info form) 

These three radio buttons allow you to projecting earnings forwards. The choices are: 
 no forward projection, or 

 by the percentage increase in average wages for each year, plus a constant salary scale percentage, 

or 

 by a constant percentage. 

No forward earnings projection (Supplemental 

Worker Info form) 

If you do not know the actual earnings for all years, you may want to enter earnings for some years and 

project earnings prior to the first year entered and/or after the last year entered. The benefit calculated with 

projected earnings will of course be only approximate, to the extent that the projected earnings differ from 

the actual earnings for those years. 

Check the box if you want to project earnings after the last year of entered earnings. The Supplemental 

Worker Info form will ask you for the years for which earnings are projected forward, and for the type of 

projection. 

Forward projection in line with average wage 

increases (Supplemental Worker Info form) 

Earnings may be projected forward by one of two methods: 

 by the percentage increase in average wages for each year, plus a constant salary scale percentage, 

or 

 by a constant percentage. 

Choose "In line with average wage increases" to project forward by a percentage related to the growth in 

average wages, or "Constant percentage increase" to project forward by a constant percentage. 

Check this button if you want to project earnings after the last year of entered earnings in line with average 

wage increases. You can then specify the years for which earnings are projected forward, and the percentage 

to be added to the average wage increase. 

Forward projection by a constant percentage 

(Supplemental Worker Info form) 

This button is available if you are projecting earnings forwards. Earnings may be projected forward by one of 

two methods: 

 by the percentage increase in average wages for each year, plus a constant salary scale percentage, 

or 

 by a constant percentage. 

Choose "In line with average wage increases" to project forward by a percentage related to the growth in 

average wages, or "Constant percentage increase" to project forward by a constant percentage. 

Check this button if you want to project earnings after the last year of entered earnings by a constant 

percentage. You can then specify the years for which earnings are projected forward, and the constant 

percentage. 
Last year of earnings in forward projection 

period (Supplemental Worker Info form) 

This prompt is available if you are projecting earnings forwards. Enter the last year of the forward projection 

period (the last year of earnings, after earnings are projected forwards). This must be greater than or equal to 

the last year of specified earnings. 

Forward projection percentage factor 

(Supplemental Worker Info form) 

This prompt is available if you are projecting earnings forwards. The meaning of the value entered at this 

prompt depends on the type of forward projection: 

 If you chose "In line with average wage increases", this is the percentage increase to be added to the 

percentage increase in average wages in each year. 

 If you chose "Constant percentage increase", this is the constant percentage increase used to project 

forwards. 

Amount of monthly noncovered pension 

A modified benefit formula (the Windfall Elimination Provision, or WEP) generally is used to compute benefits 

for persons entitled to both a pension based on employment after 1956 not covered by Social Security and a 

Social Security retirement or disability benefit. However, the difference between the Social Security benefit 

computed under the modified formula and the Social Security benefit under the regular formula cannot be 

greater than one-half the amount of the noncovered pension for the first month of entitlement for both the 

pension and the Social Security benefit. 

For Federal workers who elected into FERS and thus are entitled to a pension split between the CSRS and 

FERS retirement systems, only that part of the pension attributable to the CSRS is a noncovered pension. 

This field is not available if you are preparing a survivor benefit; survivor benefits are not affected by a 

noncovered pension. 

For more information about the Windfall Elimination Provision, see the OASDI Digest. 

Date of entitlement for noncovered pension 

(Supplemental Worker Info form) 

A modified benefit formula (the Windfall Elimination Provision, or WEP) generally is used to compute benefits 

for persons entitled to both a pension based on employment after 1956 not covered by Social Security and a 

Social Security retirement or disability benefit. See Amount of monthly noncovered pension for the field to 

enter the amount of pension. 

The WEP is effective beginning with the first month for which the worker is entitled to both the Social 

Security benefit and the noncovered pension. Enter the month (1-12) and year (4 digits), separated by a 

slash, when the worker is first entitled to the noncovered pension. This field is ignored if the amount of 

noncovered pension is 0. 

This field is not available if you are preparing a survivor benefit; survivor benefits are not affected by a 

noncovered pension. 
For more information about the Windfall Elimination Provision, see the OASDI Digest. 

Number of periods of disability (Supplemental 

Worker Info form) 

This program can handle up to 2 periods of disability when calculating a benefit. For an old-age or survivor 

case, enter 0, 1, or 2. For a disability case, there must be at least 1 period of disability (for the current 

benefit). Enter 1 or 2. 

Disability information 

The disability information form is available if you are requesting a disability case, or if you specified that there 

was a prior disability in an old-age or survivor case. The disability information form has the following entries: 

Most recent period of disability: 

 Date of onset: Date of onset of most recent disability. 

 Date of entitlement: Date of entitlement of most recent disability. 

 Date of cessation: Date of cessation of most recent disability. 

 First month of waiting period: First month of waiting period of most recent disability. 

 PIA at cessation: PIA at cessation of most recent disability. 

 MFB at cessation: MFB at cessation of most recent disability. 

Next most recent period of disability: 

 Date of onset: Date of onset of next most recent disability. 

 Date of entitlement: Date of entitlement of next most recent disability. 

 Date of cessation: Date of cessation of next most recent disability. 

 First month of waiting period: First month of waiting period of next most recent disability. 

 PIA at cessation: PIA at cessation of next most recent disability. 

 MFB at cessation: MFB at cessation of next most recent disability. 

Date of onset - most recent disability 

(Disability Info form) 

This field is available if you are requesting a disability case, or if you specified that there was a prior disability 

in an old-age or survivor case. Enter the month (1-12), day (1-31), and year (4 digits) of disability onset, 

separated by slashes. The date of onset must not be after the date of entitlement, or an error message will 

appear. 

Date of entitlement - most recent disability 

(Disability Info form) 

This field is available if you are requesting a disability case, or if you specified that there was a prior disability 

in an old-age or survivor case. The date of prior disability entitlement affects the applicability of the DI 1-for-5 

dropout year rule, as explained under Date of benefit (Worker Info form). Enter the month (1-12) and year (4 

digits) of entitlement to disability benefits, separated by a slash. 
Date of cessation - most recent disability 

(Disability Info form) 

This field is available if you specified that there was a prior disability in an old-age or survivor case. The date 

of cessation is the earliest of the following: 

 the month in which the worker dies; 

 the month the worker attains normal retirement age (currently age 65); or 

 the third month after the month the disability ceases. 

The date of cessation affects the number of years which may be excluded from the benefit computation. 

Enter the month (1-12) and year (4 digits) of cessation to disability benefits, separated by a slash. 

First month of waiting period - most recent 

disability (Disability Info form) 

This field is available if you are requesting a disability case, or if you specified that there was a prior disability 

in an old-age or survivor case. In general, there is a 5-month waiting period between the disability onset date 

and the date of entitlement to a disability benefit. The waiting period starts with the first full month of 

disability, which is the month after the month of onset unless onset is on the first day of the month. You do 

not need to have a full 5-month waiting period for this program to furnish a computation. Enter the month 

(1-12) and year (4 digits) of the first month of the waiting period, separated by a slash. 

PIA at cessation - most recent disability 

(Disability Info form) 

This field is available if you specified that there was a prior disability in an old-age or survivor case. Enter the 

PIA at the date of cessation of the prior period of disability. This may become the minimum PIA for the 

current entitlement, based on the disability guarantee calculation. 

MFB at cessation - most recent disability 

(Disability Info form) 

This field is available if you specified that there was a prior disability in an old-age or survivor case. Enter the 

MFB at the date of cessation of the prior period of disability. This may become the minimum MFB for the 

current entitlement, based on the disability guarantee calculation. 

Date of onset - next most recent disability 

(Disability Info form) 

This field is available if you specified that there were two periods of disability. Enter the month (1-12), day (1-

31), and year (4 digits) of next most recent disability onset, separated by slashes. This date of onset must be 

before the following date of onset, or an error message will appear. 
Date of entitlement - next most recent 

disability (Disability Info form) 

This field is available if you specified that there were two periods of disability. The date of prior disability 

entitlement affects the applicability of the DI 1-for-5 dropout year rule, as explained under Date of benefit 

(Worker Info form). Enter the month (1-12) and year (4 digits) of entitlement to disability benefits for this 

disability onset, separated by a slash. 

Date of cessation - next most recent disability 

(Disability Info form) 

This field is available if you specified that there were two periods of disability. The date of cessation is the 

third month after the month the disability ceases. 

The date of cessation affects the number of years which may be excluded from the benefit computation. 

Enter the month (1-12) and year (4 digits) of cessation to disability benefits for this disability onset, separated 

by a slash. 

First month of waiting period - next most 

recent disability (Disability Info form) 

This field is available if you specified that there were two periods of disability. In general, there is a 5-month 

waiting period between the disability onset date and the date of entitlement to a disability benefit. The 

waiting period starts with the first full month of disability, which is the month after the month of onset unless 

onset is on the first day of the month. You do not need to have a full 5 month waiting period for this program 

to furnish a computation. Enter the month (1-12) and year (4 digits) of the first month of the waiting period, 

separated by a slash. 

PIA at cessation - next most recent disability 

(Disability Info form) 

This field is available if you specified that there were two periods of disability. Enter the PIA at the date of 

cessation of the prior period of disability. This may become the minimum PIA for the most recent disability 

benefit, which in turn could affect the PIA for the current entitlement, based on the disability guarantee 

calculation. 

MFB at cessation - next most recent disability 

(Disability Info form) 

This field is available if you specified that there were two periods of disability. Enter the MFB at the date of 

cessation of the prior period of disability. This may become the minimum MFB for the most recent disability 

benefit, which in turn could affect the MFB for the current entitlement, based on the disability guarantee 

calculation. 
Family Member Information 

The family member information form has the following entries: 

 Date of birth: Family member’s date of birth. 

 Date of entitlement: Family member’s date of entitlement. 

 Type of survivor: Type of survivor (child, mother/father, aged, or disabled). 

 Type of life beneficiary: Type of life beneficiary (child, young spouse, or aged spouse). 

 Widow(er)’s date of disability onset: Widow(er)’s date of disability onset. 

 Previous Family Member: Go to previous family member. 

 Next Family Member: Go to next family member. 

Family member's date of birth (Family 

Member form) 

Enter the month (1-12), day (1-31), and year (4 digits) of birth, separated by slashes, of this family member. 

Family member's date of entitlement (Family 

Member form) 

Enter the month (1-12) and year (4 digits) of initial entitlement, separated by a slash, for this family member. 

This is the month that the auxiliary or survivor benefits started for this family member. The year of 

entitlement must be between 1940 and 2080, inclusive. 

Note that the date of benefit in the Supplemental Worker Info form must be at or after the latest date of 

entitlement for a family member. For instance, if a worker becomes entitled to an old-age benefit in January 

2003 and the spouse becomes entitled to a spouse benefit in January 2004, you cannot estimate the spouse 

benefit with a date of benefit prior to January 2004. Here are some acceptable and not acceptable 

alternatives in this case: 

 OK: A worker benefit with entitlement as of January 2003, with a benefit date of January 2003, with 

no family members. 

 OK: A worker benefit with entitlement as of January 2003, with a benefit date of January 2004, with 

no family members. 

 OK: A worker benefit with entitlement as of January 2003, with a benefit date of January 2004, with 

a spouse entitled in January 2004. 

 OK: A worker benefit with entitlement as of January 2003, with a benefit date of January 2005, with 

a spouse entitled in January 2004. 

 Not OK: A worker benefit with entitlement as of January 2003, with a benefit date of January 2003, 

with a spouse entitled in January 2004. 

To enter a benefit date that is later than the worker's date of entitlement, click the button for Calculate 

benefit after initial entitlement in the Supplemental Worker Info form, then enter a date of benefit in the 

Date of benefit box. 

Type of survivor (Family Members form) 

This set of buttons is available if the type of benefit is survivor. The type of survivor affects the benefit of 

some survivors where entitlement is 1985 or later, because starting in that year, the re-indexed widow(er) 

guarantee calculation applies, but only to aged or disabled widow(er) survivors. Choose one of the following: 
 Child: Child beneficiary. 

 Mother or Father: Parent of a child beneficiary. 

 Disabled widow(er): Disabled widow(er) (aged 50-59). 

 Divorced disabled widow(er): Divorced disabled widow(er) (aged 50-59). 

 Aged widow(er): Aged widow(er) (aged 60 or over). 

 Divorced aged widow(er): Divorced aged widow(er) (aged 60 or over). 

For more information on survivor benefits, see the OASDI Digest. 

Child survivor (Family Member form) 

To be entitled to surviving child's benefits, an individual must have filed an application for child's benefits and 

must be: 

 the child of a worker who died fully or currently insured; 

 dependent upon that worker; 

 unmarried; and 

 under age 18, or if age 18 or over, be 1) under a disability which began before age 22, or 2) a fulltime elementary or secondary school student under age 19. 

A child entitled to surviving child's benefits will be entitled to a monthly benefit effective with the first month 

in which all of the above requirements are met during any part of that month. 

For more information on child survivor benefits, see the OASDI Digest. 

Mother or father beneficiary (Family Member 

form) 

To be entitled to mother or father benefits, a claimant must: 

 be the widow(er) of a worker who died fully or currently insured; 

 not be married; 

 have filed an application for mother's or father's insurance benefits (no application is required if the 

claimant was entitled to spouse's benefits for the month before the month the worker died); 

 not be entitled to widow(er) insurance benefits; 

 not be entitled to an old-age benefit equal to or exceeding the amount of the unadjusted 

mother's/father's benefit; and 

 have in care a child of the deceased worker entitled to a child's insurance benefit. The child must be 

under age 16 or be entitled as a disabled child. 

For more information on mother or father benefits, see the OASDI Digest. 

Disabled widow(er) (Family Member form) 

To be entitled to benefits as the disabled widow(er) of a person who died fully insured, a claimant must: 

 be the widow or widower of the insured; 

 have attained age 50 but not age 60 and be disabled; 

 be unmarried, unless the marriage occurs after age 50 and in or after the month the widow(er) 

became disabled; 

 have been married to the insured for not less than 9 months immediately prior to the day the 

insured died, unless death was accidental or certain other exceptions; 

 have filed an application, or be entitled to spouse or mother or father benefits in the month before 

entitlement to a widow or widower benefit. 
For more information on disabled widow(er) benefits, see the OASDI Digest. 

Divorced disabled widow(er) (Family Member 

form) 

To be entitled to benefits as the surviving divorced disabled spouse, a claimant must meet the conditions for 

a disabled widow(er) and: 

 be finally divorced from the deceased, and 

 have been married to the deceased for 10 years immediately before the date the final divorce 

became effective. 

For more information on divorced disabled widow(er) benefits, see the OASDI Digest. 

Aged widow(er) (Family Member form) 

To be entitled to benefits as the nondisabled widow(er) of a person who died fully insured, a claimant must: 

 be the widow or widower of the insured; 

 have attained age 60; 

 be unmarried, unless the marriage occurs after age 60; 

 have been married to the insured for not less than 9 months immediately prior to the day the 

insured died, unless death was accidental or certain other exceptions; 

 have filed an application, or be entitled to spouse or mother or father benefits in the month before 

entitlement to a widow or widower benefit; 

 not be entitled to an old-age benefit which exceeds the full widow(er)'s benefit. 

For more information on aged widow(er) benefits, see the OASDI Digest. 

Divorced aged widow(er) (Family Member 

form) 

To be entitled to benefits as the surviving divorced nondisabled spouse, a claimant must meet the conditions 

for a nondisabled widow(er) and: 

 be finally divorced from the deceased, and 

 have been married to the deceased for 10 years immediately before the date the final divorce 

became effective. 

For more information on divorced aged widow(er) benefits, see the OASDI Digest. 

Type of life beneficiary (Family Members 

form) 

This set of buttons is available if the type of benefit is old-age or disability. Choose one of the following: 

 Child: Child beneficiary. 

 Young wife or husband: Parent of a child beneficiary. 

 Aged spouse: Aged spouse (aged 62 or over). 

 Divorced aged spouse: Divorced aged spouse (aged 62 or over). 

For more information on life benefits, see the OASDI Digest. 
Child life beneficiary (Family Member form) 

To be entitled to child's benefits as the child of an old-age or disability beneficiary, an individual must have 

filed an application for child's benefits and must be: 

 dependent upon that beneficiary; 

 unmarried; and 

 under age 18, or if age 18 or over, be 1) under a disability which began before age 22, or 2) a fulltime elementary or secondary school student under age 19. 

A child entitled to child's benefits on the record of a living worker will be entitled to a monthly benefit 

effective with the first month in which all of the above requirements are met throughout the entire month. 

For more information on child life benefits, see the OASDI Digest. 

Young wife or husband beneficiary (Family 

Member form) 

To be entitled to benefits as the wife or husband of an insured person who is entitled to old-age or disability 

benefits, where the claimant for the spouse benefits has in care an eligible child throughout the month of 

entitlement, that claimant must: 

 be the spouse of the insured; 

 have filed an application; 

 not be entitled to an old-age or disability benefit based on a PIA that is equal to or greater than the 

full wife's or husband's benefit. 

In addition to the requirements above, there is a duration of marriage requirement. A claimant must either: 

 have been married to the worker at least one year; or 

 be the natural parent, along with the worker, of a child; or 

 have been entitled or potentially entitled, in the month before marriage, to certain dependent's or 

survivor's benefits. 

For more information on young wife or husband benefits, see the OASDI Digest. 

Aged wife or husband (Family Member form) 

To be entitled to benefits as the wife or husband of an insured person who is entitled to old-age or disability 

benefits, where the claimant for the spouse benefits does not have in care an eligible child throughout the 

month of entitlement, that claimant must: 

 be the spouse of the insured; 

 have attained age 62; 

 have filed an application; 

 not be entitled to an old-age or disability benefit based on a PIA that is equal to or greater than the 

full wife's or husband's benefit. 

In addition to the requirements above, there is a duration of marriage requirement. A claimant must either: 

 have been married to the worker at least one year; or 

 be the natural parent, along with the worker, of a child; or 

 have been entitled or potentially entitled, in the month before marriage, to certain dependent's or 

survivor's benefits. 

For more information on aged wife or husband benefits, see the OASDI Digest. 
Divorced aged wife or husband (Family 

Member form) 

To be entitled to benefits as the divorced wife or husband of an insured person who is entitled to old-age or 

disability benefits, a claimant must: 

 be the divorced spouse of the insured; 

 have been married to the insured for at least 10 years immediately before the divorce became final; 

 have attained age 62; 

 have filed an application; and 

 not be entitled to an old-age or disability benefit based on a PIA that is equal to or greater than the 

full wife's or husband's benefit. 

A divorced spouse's benefit may be paid to the former spouse of an insured worker (i.e. the worker is not yet 

entitled) if the claimant meets the requirements above and has been divorced from the insured person for at 

least two years. 

For more information on divorced aged wife or husband benefits, see the OASDI Digest. 

Widow(er)'s date of disability onset (Family 

Member form) 

This field is available if you are requesting a survivor case with a disabled widow(er) as the type of survivor. 

Enter the month (1-12), day (1-31), and year (4 digits) of disability onset, separated by slashes. The date of 

onset must not be after the date of entitlement, or an error message will appear. 

The widow(er)'s date of onset, if applicable, affects the amount of the re-indexed widow(er) guarantee PIA, 

and the amount of reduction or increment applied to the PIA to produce the benefit payable. 

Previous family member (Family Member 

form) 

Click on this button when the information is correct for the family member displayed and you want to go 

back and review information for a prior family member. If you are already viewing information for the first 

family member, clicking this button has no effect. 

Next family member (Family Member form) 

Click on this button when the information is correct for the family member displayed and you want to 

proceed to the next family member. If you are already viewing information for the last family member, 

clicking this button has no effect. 

Military service dates 

This form is available if you checked the Has military service check box and entered a positive figure for the 

number of periods of military service. Enter the beginning and ending dates of up to 15 periods of military 

service, in order. 

Each date must be of the form "mo/year" (month and year separated by a slash), i.e. "1/1951" for January 

1951. The year must be 4 digits. You must enter valid dates for all available boxes. If you find that you have 
fewer periods of military service than you specified in the Worker Info form, you must go back and change 

the figure entered there. 

The earliest possible date of military service is September 1940 (9/1940) and the latest is December 2001 

(12/2001) (see Military service wage credits). 

Summary quarters of coverage information 

This form is available if the worker's earnings start before 1978, when earnings records at the Social Security 

Administration were updated quarterly. 

In 1978 and later, there are no quarterly records; quarters of coverage are simply calculated by dividing 

annual earnings by the amount required for a quarter of coverage, with a maximum of 4 such quarters of 

coverage. Before 1978, earnings had to actually be earned in a specific calendar quarter for that quarter to be 

a quarter of coverage. Therefore, this benefit calculator cannot determine quarters of coverage from annual 

earnings alone before 1978. 

Usually it is sufficient to enter the total number of quarters of coverage prior to 1978 as a lump sum. For 

instance, simply entering the total number of pre-1978 quarters of coverage is sufficient for any old-age 

benefit, a survivor benefit where death occurred after 1980, or a disability benefit where disability occurred 

after 1987. Here are some cases where you do need to enter annual quarters of coverage prior to 1978: 

 you checked the totalization button, or 

 you chose survivor as the type of benefit and death occurred prior to 1981, or 

 you chose disability as the type of benefit and disability occurred prior to 1988, or 

 you checked the military service button, or 

 you checked the railroad earnings button where such earnings occurred prior to 1978. 

The summary quarters of coverage form has the following entries: 

 Pre-1978 quarters of coverage: Enter as a lump-sum total

 Pre-1978 quarters of coverage: Enter annual figures

 Number of quarters of coverage, 1937-1977 inclusive

 Number of quarters of coverage, 1951-1977 inclusive

Enter as a lump-sum total (Summary QCs 

form) 

Check this button if you want to enter pre-1978 quarters of coverage as a lump-sum total. This is usually 

allowable, but see Summary quarters of coverage information for cases where you should enter annual 

figures. 

Enter annual figures (Summary QCs form) 

Check this button if you want to enter annual pre-1978 quarters of coverage. It is usually sufficient to enter 

pre-1978 quarters of coverage as a lump-sum total, but see Summary quarters of coverage information for 

cases where you should enter annual figures. 

Quarters of coverage, 1937-1977 (Summary 

QCs form) 
This field is available if the worker had any earnings prior to 1978, and you chose to enter the number of pre1978 quarters of coverage as a lump-sum total. Enter the number of quarters of coverage earned in the years 

up to and including 1977. If unknown, estimate the number of quarters of coverage from the annual 

earnings. You may enter 0, in which case the program may determine that the worker does not meet fullyinsured status, but will calculate a theoretical benefit even if uninsured. It is never necessary to enter a 

number greater than 40, since that is the maximum number of quarters needed for a retirement or survivor 

benefit. 

In some cases, entering pre-1978 quarters of coverage simply as a lump-sum total may produce an incorrect 

insured status. For more details, see Summary quarters of coverage information. 

Quarters of coverage, 1951-1977 (Summary 

QCs form) 

This field is available if the worker had any earnings prior to 1951 and the worker attained age 22 after 1950. 

This figure must be less than or equal to the figure entered for Number of quarters of coverage, 1937-1977 

inclusive. It should be as accurate as possible, because otherwise one of the calculation methods may be 

applied incorrectly. 

In some cases, entering pre-1978 quarters of coverage simply as a lump-sum total may produce an incorrect 

insured status. For more details, see Summary quarters of coverage information. 

Assumptions 

The assumptions form has the following entries: 

 Benefit increase assumptions: Choice of five benefit increase assumption sets. 

 Title of benefit increase assumptions: Title of benefit increase assumptions when figures are entered 

by user. 

 Catch-up benefit increase assumptions: Allow or not allow projected catch-up benefit increases. 

 Average wage increase assumptions: Choice of five average wage increase assumption sets. 

 Title of average wage increase assumptions: Title of average wage increase assumptions when 

figures are entered by user. 

 Type of projected wage bases: Automatic or ad hoc projected wage bases. 

Benefit increase assumptions (Assumptions 

form) 

Choose one of the five sets of assumptions to specify what values to use for unknown future benefit 

increases. 

 Alternative I: Alternative I set of assumptions from the most recent Trustees Report. 

 Alternative II: Alternative II set of assumptions from the most recent Trustees Report. 

 Alternative III: Alternative III set of assumptions from the most recent Trustees Report. 

 No future increases: No benefit increases after the last known increase. 

 Other: User-specified benefit increase for each projected year. 

The stored assumptions for the first three selections are initially set to those from the latest Report of the 

Board of Trustees of the OASI and DI Trust Funds (Trustees Report). These assumptions vary for each year in 

the future for each alternative assumption, until the benefit increases reach their ultimate level in about the 

tenth year of projection. 
Choose the fourth selection if you do not want any future benefit increases. This is the recommended 

assumption for projecting future benefits. You can compare a benefit estimate with no future inflation to 

your current income and expenses for retirement planning. 

Alternative I benefit increase assumptions 

(Assumptions form) 

The stored benefit increases for this selection are initially set to those from alternative I (optimistic) in the 

latest Report of the Board of Trustees of the OASI and DI Trust Funds (Trustees Report). These assumptions 

vary for each year in the future, until the benefit increases reach their ultimate level of 3.0 percent in about 

the tenth year of projection. 

Alternative II benefit increase assumptions 

(Assumptions form) 

The stored benefit increases for this selection are initially set to those from alternative II (intermediate) in the 

latest Report of the Board of Trustees of the OASI and DI Trust Funds (Trustees Report). These assumptions 

vary for each year in the future, until the benefit increases reach their ultimate level of 2.4 percent in about 

the tenth year of projection. 

Alternative III benefit increase assumptions 

(Assumptions form) 

The stored benefit increases for this selection are initially set to those from alternative III (pessimistic) in the 

latest Report of the Board of Trustees of the OASI and DI Trust Funds (Trustees Report). These assumptions 

vary for each year in the future, until the benefit increases reach their ultimate level of 1.8 percent in about 

the tenth year of projection. 

No future benefit increases (Assumptions 

form) 

The stored benefit increases for this selection are initially set to zero for all years after the last known benefit 

increase. This is the recommended assumption for projecting future benefits. You can compare a benefit 

estimate with no future inflation to your current income and expenses for retirement planning. 

Other benefit increase assumptions 

(Assumptions form) 

Choose this selection if you want to enter your own set of benefit increase assumptions. The values can be 

entered for December of each year of the next 10 years in the future, and can vary for each of those years. 

One value can be entered to apply to all years after the first 10. 
Title of benefit increase assumptions 

(Assumptions form) 

This field is available if you chose "Other" benefit increase assumptions. The title will appear on the printed 

output. 

Catch-up benefit increase assumptions 

(Assumptions form) 

Under the "stabilizer" provision of the Social Security law, a benefit increase may be reduced from what it 

otherwise would be, in conditions of low trust fund ratios. If a benefit increase is reduced, "catch-up" benefit 

increases may be paid in later years to beneficiaries affected by the initial benefit reduction. (None of the 

three Trustees Report alternatives have any catch-up benefit increases.) 

The program will assume that there are no future catch-up benefit increases unless you check this box. It is 

available only if you choose "Other" benefit increases. 

Average wage increase assumptions 

(Assumptions form) 

Choose one of the five sets of assumptions to specify what values to use for unknown future average wage 

increases. The projected PIA formula and MFB formula "bend points", and the amount required for a quarter 

of coverage, will automatically be projected in step with the projected average wages. 

 Alternative I: Alternative I set of assumptions from the most recent Trustees Report. 

 Alternative II: Alternative II set of assumptions from the most recent Trustees Report. 

 Alternative III: Alternative III set of assumptions from the most recent Trustees Report. 

 No future increases: No average wage increases after the last known average wage. 

 Other: User-specified average wage increase for each projected year. 

The stored assumptions for the first three selections are initially set to those from the latest Report of the 

Board of Trustees of the OASI and DI Trust Funds. These assumptions vary for each year in the future for each 

alternative assumption, until the average wage increases reach their ultimate level in about the tenth year of 

projection. 

Choose the fourth selection if you do not want any future average wage increases. This is the recommended 

assumption for projecting future benefits. You can compare a benefit estimate with no future inflation to 

your current income and expenses for retirement planning. 

Alternative I average wage increase 

assumptions (Assumptions form) 

The stored average wage increases for this selection are initially set to those from alternative I (optimistic) in 

the latest Report of the Board of Trustees of the OASI and DI Trust Funds (Trustees Report). These 

assumptions vary for each year in the future, with the average wage increases having an average annual level 

of about 4.8 percent after the first ten years. 
Alternative II average wage increase 

assumptions (Assumptions form) 

The stored average wage increases for this selection are initially set to those from alternative II 

(intermediate) in the latest Report of the Board of Trustees of the OASI and DI Trust Funds (Trustees Report). 

These assumptions vary for each year in the future, with the average wage increases having an average 

annual level of about 3.6 percent after the first ten years. 

Alternative III average wage increase 

assumptions (Assumptions form) 

The stored average wage increases for this selection are initially set to those from alternative III (pessimistic) 

in the latest Report of the Board of Trustees of the OASI and DI Trust Funds (Trustees Report). These 

assumptions vary for each year in the future, with the average wage increases having an average annual level 

of about 2.4 percent after the first ten years. 

No future average wage increases 

(Assumptions form) 

The stored average wage increases for this selection are initially set to zero for all years after the last known 

average wage. This is the recommended assumption for projecting future benefits. You can compare a 

benefit estimate with no future inflation to your current income and expenses for retirement planning. 

Other average wage increase assumptions 

(Assumptions form) 

Choose this selection if you want to enter your own set of average wage increase assumptions. The values 

can be entered for each of the next 10 years in the future, and can vary for each of those years. One value 

can be entered to apply to all years after the first 10. 

Title of average wage increase assumptions 

(Assumptions form) 

This field is available if you chose "Other" average wage increase assumptions. The title will appear on the 

printed output. 

Type of projected wage bases (Assumptions 

form) 

This box containing two radio buttons is available if you are requesting a benefit estimate at a date after the 

last known maximum earnings base. Choose "Automatic" if you want the wage base to increase in 

accordance with the automatic provisions of the law. The wage base increases in step with the projected 
average wages (with a 2-year lag), except that the wage base does not change if there is no benefit increase 

for that year. Choose "Ad hoc" if you want to enter your own wage bases. 

Projected benefit increases 

This form is available if you chose "Other" for the set of benefit increase assumptions. You must provide the 

projected benefit increase for each year in the 15-year period beginning with the year after the last known 

benefit increase. You must also provide an ultimate benefit increase which is assumed to be effective for 

each year after the specified 15-year period. 

Projected ultimate benefit increase (Benefit 

Increases form) 

Enter the ultimate benefit increase. It will apply for all years after the 15 specified years. See Projected 

benefit increases for more information. 

Catch-up increases 

This form is available if you checked the catch-up benefit increase selection button. You are able to provide 

catch-up benefit increases for 8 calendar years, for 10 possible years of eligibility. Only values for one year of 

eligibility at a time are shown; by clicking on Previous year of eligibility or Next year of eligibility, you are able 

to view and change the values for each year of eligibility from the current year through the current year plus 

9. 

Year of eligibility (Catch-up Increases form) 

The year of eligibility is the earlier of the year of attainment of age 62 or the year of disability onset, if any. In 

a survivor case, it is the year of death, if earlier than the year determined in the preceding sentence. 

Previous year of eligibility (Catch-up Increases 

form) 

Click on this button when the information is correct for the year of eligibility displayed and you want to go 

back and review information for a prior year of eligibility. If you are already viewing information for the 

earliest year available, clicking this button has no effect. 

Next year of eligibility (Catch-up Increases 

form) 

Click on this button when the information is correct for the year of eligibility displayed and you want to 

proceed to the next year of eligibility. If you are already viewing information for the last year available, 

clicking this button has no effect. 

Projected average wage increases 

This form is available if you chose "Other" for the set of average wage increase assumptions. You must 

provide the projected average wage percentage increase for each year in the 16-year period beginning with 
the year after the last known average wage. You must also provide an ultimate average wage percentage 

increase which is assumed to be effective for each year after the specified 16-year period. The average wage 

percentage increases are applied cumulatively to the last known average wage to produce projected average 

wages. 

Projected ultimate average wage increase 

(Average Wage Increases form) 

Enter the ultimate average wage percentage increase. It will apply for all years after the 16 specified years. 

See Projected average wage increases for more information. 

Wage bases form 

The wage base form is available if you selected "Ad hoc" as the type of projected wage bases in the 

assumptions form. The wage base form has the following entries: 

 Present law wage base: Present law OASDI wage base. 

 Old-law wage base: Old-law wage base. 

 Previous year: Button to jump to previous year. 

 Next year: Button to jump to next year. 

You are able to provide present law wage bases and old-law wage bases for each year after the year of the 

last known wage base. 

Wage base (Wage Bases form) 

The OASDI wage base limits the earnings on which OASDI taxes are paid and on which OASDI benefits are 

based. Under present law, it increases in proportion to the average wage, but is rounded to a multiple of 

$300. You may enter any value for the wage base, between $0 and $9,999,999. 

Old-law wage base (Wage Bases form) 

The old-law OASDI wage base is necessary in the calculation of the special-minimum PIA. It increases in the 

same manner as the regular wage base. You may enter any value for the old-law wage base, between $0 and 

$9,999,999. 

Previous year (Wage Bases form) 

Click on this button when the information is correct for the year displayed and you want to go back and 

review information for a prior year. If you are already viewing information for the earliest year entered, 

clicking this button has no effect. 

Next year (Wage Bases form) 

Click on this button when the information is correct for the year displayed and you want to proceed to the 

next year. If you are already viewing information for the last year entered, clicking this button has no effect. 

Earnings information 

The earnings information form has the following entries: 

 Year: Year for which information is being entered. 
 Type of earnings: Type of earnings (entered, maximum, high, average, or low). 

 Amount of earnings: Amount of earnings. 

 Type of taxes: Type of taxes (employee or self-employed). 

 Medicare earnings: Amount of Medicare earnings. 

 Quarters of coverage: Quarters of coverage. 

 Previous year: Button to jump to previous year. 

 Next year: Button to jump to next year. 

Year of earnings (Earnings Info form) 

The year displayed in this field changes as you press the "Previous Year" or "Next Year" button. You may also 

choose a year by scrolling down the drop-down list box. In any case, choices in the remainder of the form 

apply to the displayed year. 

After all values are correct, you must press "Previous Year", "Next Year", or "OK" for the data to be accepted. 

Do not enter another year directly before pressing one of those buttons; your data will be lost. 

Type of earnings (Earnings Info form) 

This box allows you to choose to enter the amount of earnings, or to specify one of four earnings levels 

stored in the program: maximum, high, average, or low. 

 Entered: Enter the amount of earnings. 

 Maximum Earnings: are the maximum covered in that year. 

 High Earnings: are 160 percent of average. 

 Average Earnings: are equal to the Social Security average wage. 

 Low Earnings: are 45 percent of average. 

Entered earnings (Earnings Info form) 

Click this button if you want to enter the amount of earnings for the specified year. 

Amount of earnings (Earnings Info form) 

This field is available if you chose "Entered" as the type of earnings. Enter the earnings for the year shown at 

the top of the form. Possible values are $0 to $9,999,999.99. If there are any pre-1951 earnings, and you 

entered 1950 as the first year of earnings, enter the total pre-1951 earnings for 1950. 

Press the "Next Year" button when all entries are correct and there are more years to enter. Press the "OK" 

button when all years are entered. 

Maximum earnings (Earnings Info form) 

Click this button if you want the amount of earnings for the specified year to be equal to the wage base for 

that year, as shown in the button text. 

High earnings (Earnings Info form) 

Click this button if you want the amount of earnings for the specified year to be equal to 160 percent of the 

Social Security average wage for that year, as shown in the button text. 

Average earnings (Earnings form) 
Click this button if you want the amount of earnings for the specified year to be equal to the Social Security 

average wage for that year, as shown in the button text. 

Low earnings (Earnings Info form) 

Click this button if you want the amount of earnings for the specified year to be equal to 45 percent of the 

Social Security average wage for that year, as shown in the button text. 

Type of taxes (Earnings Info form) 

This box with two radio buttons allows you to choose the type of taxes paid on the earnings for each year. 

Choose "Employee" for employee taxes, or "Self-employed" for self-employed taxes. If both kinds of taxes 

were paid in one year, choose the one with the greater amount of earnings taxed. 

Medicare earnings (Earnings Info form) 

This field is available if you checked the button for Some years have Medicare-only earnings. Enter the 

amount of Medicare-only earnings. Possible values are $0 to $9,999,999.99. 

Quarters of coverage (Earnings Info form) 

This field is available for years prior to 1978 if you selected Enter annual figures for pre-1978 quarters of 

coverage. (It is not available for years 1978 and later because quarters of coverage are calculated from 

annual earnings beginning in 1978.) 

If this field is not available for years prior to 1978, total pre-1978 quarters of coverage should be entered in 

the Summary QCs form. 

Possible values are 0 to 4. 

Childcare years (Earnings Info form) 

Check this box if this is a childcare year. A childcare year is a year in which the worker was living with a child 

substantially throughout the year, and the child was under age 3 during at least part of the year. The child 

must be the child of the worker or of the worker's spouse. In addition, the childcare indicator is not 

considered unless there were no earnings in that year. 

The childcare years are not considered in the computation of the benefit unless the worker was entitled to a 

disability benefit starting in July 1980 or later, and he/she had less than 3 dropout years. 

Railroad earnings (Earnings Info form) 

This field is available if you checked the button for Has railroad earnings, and the year shown is between the 

years specified for railroad earnings. Enter the amount of railroad earnings. Possible values are $0 to 

$9,999,999.99. 

Railroad quarters of coverage (Earnings Info 

form) 

This field is available if you checked the button for Has railroad earnings, the year shown is between the 

years specified for railroad earnings, and the year is less than 1978. Enter the number of railroad quarters of 

coverage. Possible values are 0 to 4. 
Previous year (Earnings Info form) 

Click on this button when the information is correct for the year displayed and you want to go back and 

review information for a prior year. If you are already viewing information for the earliest year entered, 

clicking this button has no effect. 

Next year (Earnings Info form) 

Click on this button when the information is correct for the year displayed and you want to proceed to the 

next year. If you are already viewing information for the last year entered, clicking this button has no effect. 

Properties menu commands 

The Properties menu offers the following commands: 

 Computation Year: Review or update computation year (current year). 

 Historical Amounts: Review: Review historical amounts (benefit increases, average wages, wage 

bases). 

 Historical Amounts: Modify: Modify historical amounts (benefit increases, average wages, wage 

bases). 

 Historical Amounts: Update: Add another year of data for historical amounts (benefit increase, 

average wage, wage bases). 

 Historical Amounts: Restore Defaults: Clear saved historical amounts from the Registry. 

 Benefit Increases: Set 1: Review or update amounts in first set of stored projected benefit increases. 

 Benefit Increases: Set 2: Review or update amounts in second set of stored projected benefit 

increases. 

 Benefit Increases: Set 3: Review or update amounts in third set of stored projected benefit increases. 

 Benefit Increases: Set 4: Review or update amounts in fourth set of stored projected benefit 

increases. 

 Catch-up Increases: Set 1: Review or update amounts in first set of stored projected catch-up benefit 

increases. 

 Catch-up Increases: Set 2: Review or update amounts in second set of stored projected catch-up 

benefit increases. 

 Catch-up Increases: Set 3: Review or update amounts in third set of stored projected catch-up 

benefit increases. 

 Catch-up Increases: Set 4: Review or update amounts in fourth set of stored projected catch-up 

benefit increases. 

 Average Wage increases: Set 1: Review or update amounts in first set of stored projected average 

wage increases. 

 Average Wage increases: Set 2: Review or update amounts in second set of stored projected average 

wage increases. 

 Average Wage increases: Set 3: Review or update amounts in third set of stored projected average 

wage increases. 

 Average Wage increases: Set 4: Review or update amounts in fourth set of stored projected average 

wage increases. 

Computation Year form 

The computation year form has an entry for the computation year. 
After you have updated the computation year, the new value is saved in the Registry. Press Cancel to exit 

from the form without saving the new value to the Registry. Press "Restore default" to remove any value 

previously stored in the Registry, and change the entry in the form to the current computation year (2024 in 

the current version of the Calculator). 

Computation year 

The Social Security Benefit Calculator is distributed with the computation year set to the latest year for which 

data is available (currently 2024). This means that benefit increases through December 2023 and benefit 

formulas through 2024 are known and available to the program. Requests for benefit computations which 

require program amounts beyond those values will necessitate the user entering assumptions about those 

future amounts. 

In general, you do not need to choose an earlier computation year. However, you can choose an earlier 

computation year if you need to reproduce a result produced in an earlier year. For instance, if you estimated 

a future benefit using the 2023.1 version of the detailed calculator and you have now updated to the 2024.1 

version, you would have to change the computation year to 2023 in order to reproduce your earlier results. 

You can update the computation year as new benefit calculation parameters become available. The new 

calculation parameters should be entered into the program by selecting "Historical amounts" from the 

Properties menu item. After the calculation parameters are entered and saved, the computation year can be 

updated. 

Historical amounts: review 

The "Historical amounts - review" menu choice allows you to review the historical average wage series, 

benefit increases, and wage bases. Amounts for the following series will appear on the screen for one year at 

a time, beginning with 1979: 

 the benefit increase, 

 the average wage (indexing) series, 

 the Social Security wage base, and 

 the Social Security old-law wage base (ignoring the 1979-81 ad hoc increases). 

Press "Next Year" to see each year up to the current computation year. Press "OK" when you are finished. 

Historical amounts: modify 

The "Historical amounts - modify" menu choice allows you to modify values in the historical average wage 

series, benefit increases, and wage bases that have been entered via the Historical amounts - update menu 

item. This selection is not available if you have not entered any values via that menu item. The form has the 

following entries: 

 Benefit increase: Benefit increase percentage for December of the prior year. 

 Average wage: Average wage amount for the second preceding year. 

 Social Security wage base: Social Security wage base for the specified year. 

 Old-law wage base: Old-law wage base for the specified year. 

 Previous year: Button to jump to previous year. 

 Next year: Button to jump to next year. 

After you have modified any of the four new historical amounts for any of the available years, the new values 

are saved in the Registry. Press Cancel to exit from the form without saving any new values to the Registry. 

Historical amounts: update 
The "Historical amounts - update" menu choice allows you to update the historical average wage series, 

benefit increases, and wage bases. Values can be entered for the year after the current computation year. 

The form has the following entries: 

 Benefit increase: Benefit increase percentage for December of the prior year. 

 Average wage: Average wage amount for the second preceding year. 

 Social Security wage base: Social Security wage base for the specified year. 

 Old-law wage base: Old-law wage base for the specified year. 

When the data becomes available, you should enter the value for each of the four series. Normally, this 

would be done around November 1, when the benefit increase for December and the average wage and 

wage base for the next year are announced. 

After you have added the four new historical amounts, the new values are saved in the Registry. Press Cancel 

to exit from the form without saving any new values to the Registry. 

Historical amounts: restore defaults 

The "Historical amounts - Restore Defaults" menu choice allows you to delete values in the historical average 

wage series, benefit increases, and wage bases that have been entered via the Historical amounts - update

menu item, and/or modified via the Historical amounts - modify menu item. This selection is not available if 

you have not entered any values via those menu items. The form has an OK button to continue with the 

restoration of defaults, or a Cancel button to return without restoring the defaults. 

Benefit increase 

The benefit increase applies to any benefit based on a year of eligibility that is the same as, or earlier than, 

the year of the benefit increase. It is equal to the increase in the Consumer Price Index from the third quarter 

(July, August, and September) of the prior year to the third quarter of the current year, rounded to the 

nearest 0.1 percent. 

Average wage 

The average wage is used for indexing an earnings record in the computation of an Average Indexed Monthly 

Earnings (AIME). It also is used in the determination of the benefit formula bend points and other Social 

Security parameters. It is based on the average of all W-2 earnings reported to the Social Security 

Administration. 

Wage base 

The Social Security wage base limits the earnings on which Social Security taxes are paid and on which Social 

Security benefits are based. It increases in proportion to the average wage, but is rounded to a multiple of 

$300. It is announced at the same time as the average wage. 

Old-law wage base 

The old-law Social Security wage base is necessary in the calculation of the special-minimum PIA. It increases 

in the same manner as the regular wage base. It is announced at the same time as the average wage, 

although some announcements may fail to mention the old-law wage base. 

Benefit increases: set 1 
The first set of stored projected benefit increases is initially set to the alternative I (optimistic) set in the most 

recent Trustees Report (2023 for this version of the program). See Stored benefit increases for information 

on how to change the stored values. 

Benefit increases: set 2 

The second set of stored projected benefit increases is initially set to the alternative II (intermediate) set in 

the most recent Trustees Report (2023 for this version of the program). See Stored benefit increases for 

information on how to change the stored values. 

Benefit increases: set 3 

The third set of stored projected benefit increases is initially set to the alternative III (pessimistic) set in the 

most recent Trustees Report (2023 for this version of the program). See Stored benefit increases for 

information on how to change the stored values. 

Benefit increases: set 4 

The fourth set of stored projected benefit increases is initially set to all zeroes. See Stored benefit increases

for information on how to change the stored values. 

Stored benefit increases 

There are four sets of stored benefit increases, with values initially set to the values used in the most recent 

Trustees Report (for sets 1 to 3) or zero (for set 4). The form selected by choosing one of the four submenus 

from Benefit Increases under the Properties menu allows you to change the stored benefit increases. There 

are 15 entries for the first 15 projected years and a final entry for all years after the fifteenth projected year. 

There is also a checkbox to allow for catch-up benefit increases to be associated with this set of benefit 

increases. If the box is not checked, all catch-up benefit increases will be zero for this set. There is also a box 

allowing for the editing of the title of this set of benefit increases. 

After you have edited the benefit increases and title, the new values are saved in the Registry. Press Cancel to 

exit from the form without saving any new values to the Registry. Press "Restore defaults" to remove any 

values previously stored in the Registry, and change the entries in the form to the original values stored in 

the Calculator. 

Stored benefit increase label (Stored Benefit 

Increases form) 

This shows which set of projected benefit increases is being presented to you. See Stored benefit increases

for more information. 

Projected ultimate benefit increase (Stored 

Benefit Increases form) 

Enter the ultimate benefit increase. It will apply for all years after the 15 specified years. See Stored benefit 

increases for more information. 
Title of stored benefit increase assumptions 

(Stored Benefit Increases form) 

Enter the title for this set of benefit increase assumptions. 

Catch-up benefit increases (Stored Benefit 

Increases form) 

Check this button if you want to allow catch-up benefit increases for this stored set of projected benefit 

increases. None of the stored sets of assumptions allow catch-up benefit increases on initial installation. See 

Stored benefit increases for more information. 

Catch-up increases: set 1 

The first set of stored projected catch-up benefit increases is initially set to the alternative I (optimistic) set in 

the most recent Trustees Report (2023 for this version of the program); these are all zeroes. See Stored 

catch-up increases for information on how to change the stored values. 

Catch-up increases: set 2 

The second set of stored projected catch-up benefit increases is initially set to the alternative II 

(intermediate) set in the most recent Trustees Report (2023 for this version of the program); these are all 

zeroes. See Stored catch-up increases for information on how to change the stored values. 

Catch-up increases: set 3 

The third set of stored projected catch-up benefit increases is initially set to the alternative III (pessimistic) 

set in the most recent Trustees Report (2023 for this version of the program); these are all zeroes. See Stored 

catch-up increases for information on how to change the stored values. 

Catch-up increases: set 4 

The fourth set of stored projected catch-up benefit increases is initially set to all zeroes. See Stored catch-up 

increases for information on how to change the stored values. 

Stored catch-up increases 

Under the "stabilizer" provision of the Social Security law, a benefit increase may be reduced from what it 

otherwise would be, in conditions of low trust fund ratios. If a benefit increase is reduced, "catch-up" benefit 

increases may be paid in later years to beneficiaries affected by the initial benefit reduction. (None of the 

three Trustees Report alternatives have any catch-up benefit increases.) 

There are four sets of stored catch-up benefit increases, with values initially set to zero. The form selected by 

choosing one of the four submenus from Catch-up Increases under the Properties menu allows you to change 

the stored catch-up benefit increases. You are able to provide catch-up benefit increases for 8 calendar years, 

for 10 possible years of eligibility. Only values for one year of eligibility at a time are shown; by clicking on 

Previous year of eligibility or Next year of eligibility, you are able to view and change the values for each year 

of eligibility from the current year through the current year plus 9. 
After you have edited the catch-up benefit increases, the new values are saved in the Registry. Press Cancel 

to exit from the form without saving any new values to the Registry. Press "Restore defaults" to remove any 

values previously stored in the Registry, and change the entries in the form to zero. 

Stored catch-up increase label (Stored Catchup Increases form) 

This shows which set of projected catch-up increases is being presented to you. See Stored catch-up 

increases for more information. 

Stored catch-up increase year of eligibility 

(Stored Catch-up Increases form) 

This shows which year of eligibility of projected catch-up increases is being presented to you. See Stored 

catch-up increases for more information. 

Previous year of eligibility (Stored Catch-up 

Increases form) 

Click on this button when the information is correct for the year of eligibility displayed and you want to go 

back and review information for a prior year of eligibility. If you are already viewing information for the 

earliest year available, clicking this button has no effect. 

Next year of eligibility (Stored Catch-up 

Increases form) 

Click on this button when the information is correct for the year of eligibility displayed and you want to 

proceed to the next year of eligibility. If you are already viewing information for the last year available, 

clicking this button has no effect. 

Average wage increases: set 1 

The first set of stored projected average wage increases is initially set to the alternative I (optimistic) set in 

the most recent Trustees Report (2023 for this version of the program). See Stored average wage increases

for information on how to change the stored values. 

Average wage increases: set 2 

The second set of stored projected average wage increases is initially set to the alternative II (intermediate) 

set in the most recent Trustees Report (2023 for this version of the program). See Stored average wage 

increases for information on how to change the stored values. 

Average wage increases: set 3 
The third set of stored projected average wage increases is initially set to the alternative III (pessimistic) set in 

the most recent Trustees Report (2023 for this version of the program). See Stored average wage increases

for information on how to change the stored values. 

Average wage increases: set 4 

The fourth set of stored projected average wage increases is initially set to all zeroes. See Stored average 

wage increases for information on how to change the stored values. 

Stored average wage increases 

There are four sets of stored average wage increases, with values initially set to the values used in the most 

recent Trustees Report (for sets 1 to 3) or zero (for set 4). The form selected by choosing one of the four 

submenus from Average Wage Increases under the Properties menu allows you to change the stored average 

wage increases. There are 16 entries for the most recent historical year and the first 15 projected years, and 

a final entry for all years after the fifteenth projected year. There is also a box allowing for the editing of the 

title of this set of average wage increases. 

After you have edited the average wage increases and title, the new values are saved in the Registry. Press 

Cancel to exit from the form without saving any new values to the Registry. Press "Restore defaults" to 

remove any values previously stored in the Registry, and change the entries in the form to the original values 

stored in the Calculator. 

Stored average wage increase label (Stored 

Average Wage Increases form) 

This shows which set of projected average wage increases is being presented to you. See Stored average 

wage increases for more information. 

Projected ultimate average wage increase 

(Stored Average Wage Increases form) 

Enter the ultimate average wage percentage increase. It will apply for all years after the 16 specified years. 

See Stored average wage increases for more information. 

Title of stored average wage increase 

assumptions (Stored average wage increases 

form) 

Enter the title for this set of average wage increase assumptions. 

Help menu commands 

The Help menu offers the following commands, which provide you assistance with this application: 

 Help Topics: Offers you an index to topics on which you can get help. 

 About Calculator: Displays the version number of this Social Security Benefit Calculator. 
Context Help command 

Use the Context Help command to obtain help on some portion of the Social Security Benefit Calculator. 

When you choose the Toolbar's Context Help button, the mouse pointer will change to an arrow and 

question mark. Then click somewhere in the Social Security Benefit Calculator window, such as another 

Toolbar button. The Help topic will be shown for the item you clicked. 

Shortcut 

Keys:SHIFT+F1 

Help topics command (Help menu) 

Use this command to display the opening screen of Help. From the opening screen, you can jump to step-bystep instructions for using the Social Security Benefit Calculator and various types of reference information. 

Once you open Help, you can click the Contents button whenever you want to return to the opening screen. 

About command (Help menu) 

Use this command to display the version number of your copy of the Social Security Benefit Calculator. 

 
Description of generated report 

General report information 

The generated report from the Social Security Benefit Calculator appears in the main viewing window. What 

appears depends on whether or not the current case has been run (by choosing File, Calculate Estimate). If 

the case has been run, the generated report of the Social Security Benefit Calculator consists of a summary 

page of results for the worker, a table of earnings, a page showing insured status, a page of results for family 

members (if any), one or two pages of detailed results for each trial PIA calculation, and a page of estimated 

taxes. If the case has not yet been run, output consists of only part of the summary page of results, showing 

input data. 

If you choose Print from the File main menu selection, you can print what currently appears in the main 

viewing window to any printer that has been set up under Windows or the MacOS. 

Pages in a report 

The pages that appear in a report vary depending on the characteristics of the case. The possible report 

pages are listed below: 

 a summary of results, 

 a table of earnings, 

 a summary of insured status, 

 results for family members, 

 results for the old-start method, 

 results for the new-start method, 

 results for the wage-indexed formula, 

 results for the transitional guarantee, 

 results for the special minimum, 

 results for the re-indexed widow(er) guarantee, 

 results for the frozen minimum, 

 results for the disability guarantee, 

 results for the childcare dropout year method

 results for the wage-indexed non-freeze method, and 

 a table of taxes paid. 

Summary of results 

This page presents the name, Social Security number, sex, and date of birth of the worker, the type of 

benefit, and the date of death or disability (if any). If this is an old-age or disability case, there is also the date 

of entitlement of the worker, the age at entitlement, the date of benefit, age of the worker at benefit date (if 

the benefit date is after entitlement date), and the full and early retirement ages of the worker. Also shown is 

the noncovered monthly pension (if any). 

If the case has been run, the PIA and MFB are shown for each of the eight computation methods that is 

applicable. A final summary shows the actual PIA (the highest from all of the applicable methods), along with 

its corresponding Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME) or Average Monthly Earnings (AME), and the 

MFB. 

If this is a life case (old-age or disability), there is also shown the early or delayed retirement factor, the 

calculated benefit after application of that factor, and the benefit after rounding down to the next lower 

dollar (if applicable). If the PIA involved a projection, the titles of the benefit increase and average wage 
increase assumptions are shown at the bottom of the page. If the worker does not have the appropriate 

insured status for the requested benefit, a paragraph is added explaining that the calculated benefit is 

theoretical. 

Table of earnings 

This page lists the annual earnings used in the PIA computations, the wage base in each year, the amount 

required for a quarter of coverage, and the number of quarters of coverage earned each year. The amount 

required for a quarter of coverage for years after 1978 equals the amount in 1978 ($250), multiplied by the 

ratio of average annual earnings in the second year prior to the given year to average annual earnings in 

1976. For this page and any following detail pages, there is a one-line warning message if the worker does 

not have the appropriate insured status. 

If this is a totalization benefit, there are two additional columns showing the relative earnings position and 

attributed earnings. These amounts are used to compute a theoretical PIA based on a full lifetime of 

earnings. The totalization benefit is based on a pro-rata share of the theoretical PIA. 

Insured status 

This page shows the number of quarters of coverage required for fully insured status, the number actually 

earned, and the resulting insured status. The number of quarters of coverage required for fully insured status 

equals the number of years after the year of attainment of age 21 (or 1950, if later) and before the year of 

eligibility (age 62 for old-age cases). If there were any periods of disability, the number of quarters of 

coverage required is reduced, but not below a minimum of 6 quarters. 

If you specified a totalization benefit, the worker must have at least 6 quarters, but be uninsured for regular 

benefits. The insured status printed on this page will reflect those requirements. 

If this is a disability case, there are additional lines showing the number of quarters required for disability 

insured status, the period over which they had to have been earned, the number actually earned, and the 

resulting disability insured status. (Fully insured status is also required for a disability case.) 

If this is a survivor case with a young survivor, there are additional lines showing the number of quarters 

required for currently insured status, the number actually earned, and the resulting currently insured status. 

(Fully insured status is not required if currently insured status is met in a young survivor case.) 

For more information on insured status requirements, see the OASDI Digest. 

Family members 

This page presents the results for each family member, if any. For each family member, there is a description 

of the type of beneficiary, the date of birth, the date of entitlement, the date of benefit (if later than the date 

of entitlement), the benefit factor, the full benefit (unreduced for MFB or reduction for age), the benefit after 

application of MFB, the number of months of reduction for age, the age reduction factor, the benefit after 

reduction for age, and the benefit after rounding. If this beneficiary is an aged spouse or widow(er), there is 

also the full retirement age. 

For more information on the types of family benefits available, see the OASDI Digest. 

Old-start method 

The old-start method is actually a group of various methods, only one of which could apply in any given case. 

One of the old-start methods applies if the worker has earnings prior to 1951, with the following exception: if 

the worker attains age 22 after 1950 and has 6 or more quarters of coverage after 1950, the old-start method 

does not apply. 
Earnings 

The first page shows actual earnings, imputed earnings, and the highest earnings. Earnings prior to 1951 are 

redistributed in the imputed earnings column, if the applicable method is the 1967, 1977, or 1990 simplified 

old-start method. (For earlier old-start methods, actual yearly earnings prior to 1951 must be used.) The 

imputed earnings column also shows that, for persons eligible in 1979 or later, earnings in the year of 

eligibility and later are not considered. The column of highest earnings shows those years selected for the 

AME. 

Calculation 

The second page shows the derivation of the primary insurance benefit (PIB), PIA, and MFB from the years of 

highest earnings. Since the old-start method first became "old-start" in 1950, it has been modified about 6 

times. The applicable method is the particular modification applicable to the case illustrated. The AME is the 

total of the highest earnings for the number of years equal to the number of old-start computation years, 

divided by the number of old-start computation years and by 12. The PIB is calculated from a formula which 

depends on the particular old-start method. The corresponding new-start AME is found from a conversion 

table, as is the PIA, before application of any benefit increases. 

Prior to the 1977 amendments, the MFB is also found from a conversion table. Under the 1977 (and 1990) 

amendments, the MFB is calculated as under the wage-indexed method: an MFB at eligibility is calculated by 

applying a formula to the PIA at eligibility. 

Under the 1977 amendments, where eligibility is in 1979 or later, benefit increases are applied beginning 

with the year of eligibility and continuing through the month of benefit. 

For more information on the old-start method, see the OASDI Digest. 

New-start method 

This method applies if the worker was eligible in 1978 or earlier. 

Earnings 

The first page shows the selection of earnings used in the AME calculation. All earnings after 1950 and before 

the year of old-age or disability entitlement are available for selection in the AME, with the following 

exception: For disability cases, only the usual disability freeze calculation is considered, so earnings after the 

year of disability onset and before the year of assumed or actual attainment of full retirement age are not 

considered. For survivor cases, earnings in the year of death are available for selection, even if the benefit 

date is in that same year. 

Calculation 

The second page shows the derivation of the PIA and MFB from the highest years of earnings. The number of 

computation years equals the number of elapsed years minus the number of dropout years. The AME equals 

the total of the highest earnings for the number of years equal to the number of computation years, divided 

by the number of computation years and by 12. 

For entitlements prior to June 1975, the PIA and MFB at benefit date are found directly in the applicable PIA

table. Beginning in June 1975, the program starts with the 1973 PIA table and applies benefit increases and 

wage base extensions up to the year of benefit. The PIA and MFB at benefit date are then found in the newly 

calculated PIA table. 

For more information on the new-start method, see the OASDI Digest. 
Wage-indexed formula 

This method applies if the worker is eligible in 1979 or later. 

Earnings 

The first page shows the indexation of earnings as a two-step process. First, actual earnings, limited to the 

wage base, are multiplied by average annual earnings from 2 years prior to the year of eligibility (for all years 

prior to and including the second year prior to the year of eligibility). Second, each resulting product is 

divided by average annual earnings in the year of actual earnings. The last column shows the selection of the 

computation years (the years with the highest indexed earnings). 

Calculation 

The second page shows the derivation of the PIA and MFB from the indexed earnings. The base year for 

indexing is two years prior to the year of eligibility. The number of computation years equals the number of 

elapsed years minus the number of dropout years. The AIME equals the total of the highest indexed earnings 

for the number of years equal to the number of computation years, divided by the number of computation 

years and by 12. The PIA formula bend points equal the bend points applicable to workers becoming eligible 

in 1979 ($180 and $1085), multiplied by the ratio of average annual earnings in the second year prior to the 

year of eligibility to average annual earnings in 1977. The result is rounded to the nearest dollar. The MFB

formula bend points are found similarly, starting from the 1979 bend points of $230, $332, and $433. 

The PIA at eligibility is the sum of a three-part formula: 

 90% of AIME up to and including the first bend point, plus 

 32% of AIME from the first bend point to the second bend point, plus 

 15% of AIME in excess of the second bend point. 

The result is rounded up (for eligibility in 1981 or earlier) or down (for eligibility in 1982 or later) to a multiple 

of a dime. 

If the worker has a noncovered pension, and is eligible in 1986 or later, the PIA at eligibility is recomputed to 

take account of the windfall elimination provision. The PIA at eligibility under this provision is computed as 

above, except that the 90% factor is replaced with a 40% factor. There are three exceptions to this rule: 

 If the worker is eligible prior to 1990, the replacement factor is greater than 40% (80% for 1986 

eligibles, 70% for 1987, 60% for 1988, and 50% for 1989). 

 If the worker has more than 25 years of coverage for entitlements in 1986-88, or more than 20 years 

of coverage for entitlements after 1988, the replacement factor is greater than 40%. During 1986-88, 

the replacement factor is 50% for 26 years of coverage, 60% for 27 years, 70% for 28 years, 80% for 

29 years, and 90% for 30 or more years. After 1988, the replacement factor is 45% for 21 years, 50% 

for 22 years, 55% for 23 years, 60% for 24 years, 65% for 25 years, 70% for 26 years, 75% for 27 

years, 80% for 28 years, 85% for 29 years, and 90% for 30 or more years. Years of coverage for this 

purpose are the same as those for the special minimum method, for years through 1990. After 1990, 

earnings are compared to one-quarter of the old-law wage base (rather than 15 percent of the oldlaw wage base, as for the special minimum method). 

 The reduction in PIA due to this provision can be no more than one-half of the noncovered pension. 

If more than one exception applies, the one that produces the least reduction in benefit is applied. 

For old-age and survivor benefits, the MFB at eligibility is normally the sum of a four-part formula: 

 150% of PIA up to and including the first bend point, plus 

 272% of PIA from the first bend point to the second bend point, plus 

 134% of PIA from the second bend point to the third bend point, plus 

 175% of PIA in excess of the third bend point. 
The result is rounded up or down to a multiple of a dime (as for the PIA at eligibility). 

For disability benefits where entitlement began after June 1980, the MFB at eligibility is the smaller of: 

 85% of the AIME, but not less than the basic PIA or the old-start guarantee PIA, or 

 150% of the worker's basic PIA or old-start guarantee PIA. 

Automatic benefit increases are applied, beginning with the one in the year of eligibility and continuing 

through the month of benefit. After each increase in PIA and MFB, the result is rounded up (for the June 1981 

increase or earlier) or down (for the June 1982 increase or later) to a multiple of a dime. 

For more information on the wage-indexed formula, see the OASDI Digest. 

Transitional guarantee 

This method applies for the calculation of an old-age benefit if the worker attains age 62 in 1979 to 1983, 

inclusive, and was not continuously disabled from prior to 1979. It also applies for survivor cases, if the 

worker attained age 62 in that same 5-year period and survived at least to the month of attainment of age 

62. 

Earnings 

The first page shows the selection of earnings used in the AME calculation. The same rules are followed as for 

the New-Start calculation (pre-1977 law), except that earnings in the year of attainment of age 62 and later 

cannot be used in the average. 

Calculation 

The second page shows the derivation of the PIA and MFB from the highest years of earnings. The number of 

computation years equals the number of elapsed years minus the number of dropout years. The AME equals 

the total of the highest earnings for the number of years equal to the number of computation years, divided 

by the number of computation years and by 12. The PIA as of the year of eligibility is found from the 

December 1978 PIA table (even if the year of eligibility is later than 1979). The MFB formula bend points are 

the ones applicable to the worker's year of eligibility, and the MFB at eligibility is found as in the wageindexed method. 

Automatic benefit increases are applied, beginning with the one in the year of eligibility and continuing 

through the month of benefit. After each increase in PIA and MFB, the result is rounded up (for the June 1981 

increase or earlier) or down (for the June 1982 increase or later) to a multiple of a dime. 

For more information on the transitional guarantee, see the OASDI Digest. 

Special minimum 

This method applies for benefits in 1973 or later. 

Earnings 

The first page shows the calculation of the number of years of coverage for special minimum purposes. 

Earnings in each year after 1950 and before 1979 are compared to one-quarter of the wage base for that 

year. Earnings after 1978 and before 1991 are compared to one-quarter of what the wage base would have 

been for that year had there not been ad hoc changes in the wage base in 1979-81 (the old-law base). 

Earnings after 1990 are compared to 15 percent of the old-law wage base. Each year for which earnings are 

at least equal to the required amount counts as a year of coverage. In addition, earnings prior to 1951 

contribute toward years of coverage, on the basis of 1 year of coverage for each $900 of cumulative earnings, 

up to a maximum of 14 years of coverage for pre-1951 earnings. 
Calculation 

The second page shows the derivation of the PIA and MFB from the number of years of coverage. The 

amount of PIA per year of coverage equals $11.50 for benefits in 1979 or later, before application of any 

automatic benefit increases. For months prior to 1979, the amount per year of coverage was $8.50 (prior to 

March 1974) or $9.00 (from March 1974 through December 1978). To compute the PIA, the amount per year 

is multiplied by the number of years greater than 10 but less than or equal to 30 (producing a maximum of 20 

countable years). The MFB, before application of any automatic benefit increases, is 150% of the PIA. 

For benefits in June 1979 or later, automatic benefit increases are applied beginning with the one for June 

1979 and continuing through the month of benefit. After each increase in PIA and MFB, the result is rounded 

up (for the June 1981 increase or earlier) or down (for the June 1982 increase or later) to a multiple of a 

dime. 

For more information on the special minimum, see the OASDI Digest. 

Re-indexed widow(er) guarantee 

This method applies in survivor cases where there is an aged or disabled widow(er) and the worker dies in 

1979 or later and before attaining age 62. In addition, if the worker dies before 1985, the widow(er) must be 

eligible in 1985 or later. The calculation is identical to the normal wage-indexed method, except that the year 

of eligibility is taken as the earlier of: 

 the worker's year of attainment of age 62, or 

 the widow(er)'s year of eligibility. 

For aged widow(er)s, the year of eligibility is the year of attainment of age 60; for disabled widow(er)s, it is 

the later of the year of attainment of age 50 or the year of the first month after the disability waiting period. 

Earnings 

The first page shows the indexation of earnings. 

Calculation 

The second page shows the derivation of the PIA and MFB from the indexed earnings. The format follows 

that of the second page of the wage-indexed formula output, except for the determination of the MFB. There 

is no separate MFB for the re-indexed widow(er) guarantee PIA, since the PIA applies only to the widow(er). 

If there are any other beneficiaries on the earnings record, the regular MFB (determined under one of the 

other methods) applies. 

For more information on the re-indexed widow(er) guarantee, see the OASDI Digest. 

Frozen minimum 

This method applies if the worker is eligible in 1979-81. However, it does not apply for a totalization benefit. 

Calculation 

The PIA at eligibility is $122, and the MFB at eligibility is $183. Benefit increases are applied beginning with 

the earlier of the year of entitlement or the year of attainment of age 65, and continue through the month of 

benefit. 

For more information on the frozen minimum, see the OASDI Digest. 

Disability guarantee 
This method applies if the worker is eligible in 1979 or later, and this is a disability case with more than one 

period of disability, or if this is an old-age or survivor case with a prior period of disability. 

Calculation 

The PIA at entitlement to the current benefit is equal to the PIA at cessation of the prior period of disability. 

In addition, if the cessation was within 12 months of the current entitlement, any intervening cost-of-living 

adjustments are applied to the prior PIA. 

For a disability benefit, or any benefit prior to January 1996, the MFB is simply the one at the date of 

cessation of the prior disability benefit. For old-age or survivors in 1996 or later, if the prior MFB was based 

on the disability maximum, the PIA at cessation must be deconverted back to the year of eligibility (by 

dividing out any cost-of-living adjustments), then that is used to compute a raw MFB, and that is converted 

forward (by applying cost-of-living adjustments) to the cessation date. 

For more information on the disability guarantee or the disability maximum, see the OASDI Digest. 

Childcare dropout year method 

This method is a specialization of the wage-indexed formula method, and so applies if the worker is eligible in 

1979 or later. In addition, it only applies in a disability case where entitlement was in June 1980 or later, or in 

an old-age case where there was a prior entitlement to a disability benefit, and that prior entitlement was in 

June 1980 or later and lasted to age 61. There must also be at least one childcare year. 

Earnings 

The first page shows the indexation of earnings in a manner identical to that for the wage-indexed formula

method. 

Calculation 

The second page shows the derivation of the PIA and MFB from the indexed earnings. The results are similar 

or identical to the results for the wage-indexed method. The only difference is that there may be childcare 

dropout years which are in addition to the normal number of dropout years. 

For more information on the childcare dropout year method, see the OASDI Digest. 

Wage-indexed non-freeze 

This method applies if the worker is eligible in 1979 or later, in either a disability benefit computation, or an 

old-age or survivor computation with a prior period of disability. In all non-freeze computations, the worker 

must be insured for benefits without considering the disability freeze period. This is a specialized version of 

the wage-indexed formula computation method, which ignores the disability freeze period in the PIA

computation. Several things are done differently in a non-freeze computation, depending on the type of 

benefit computation: 

 In a disability case, the year of eligibility is based on the start of the waiting period rather than the 

onset date. Earnings from within the freeze period that would normally be excluded can be used in 

the benefit computation. 

 In old-age and survivor cases, the freeze associated with the period of disability is ignored. All 

earnings are used and the eligibility year is what it would be in the absence of the freeze period. 

Note that the calculator currently only does the type of non-freeze computation most relevant to new 

beneficiaries. We intend to expand the calculator's capabilities to do non-freeze computations based on the 

new-start method and old-start method as we have time to research and add these computations. 
Calculation 

The wage-indexed non-freeze computation output pages show the earnings selection and the computation of 

the PIA from the AIME, similar to the wage-indexed formula output pages, with the slight differences 

mentioned above. See the Wage-indexed formula output description for an explanation of how the wageindexed formula computation works. 

Taxes paid 

The final page shows Social Security earnings, and taxes paid in each year for old-age and survivors insurance 

(OASI), disability insurance (DI), OASI and DI combined (OASDI), Medicare (HI), and OASI, DI, and HI combined 

(OASDHI). The appropriate employee or self-employed OASI or DI tax rate is applied to the Social Security 

earnings, and the Medicare rate is applied to the Medicare earnings (not shown) for each year. Note that the 

estimated taxes will be incorrect for years where there were both employee and self-employed earnings, or 

where earnings were estimated. 

 
Sample cases 

Sample cases 

The data for the sample cases is stored in files named sample*.pia, where "*" equals the number of the case. 

The results shown for each case were obtained with the computation year set to 2024. 

Sample case 1 

Shows effect of assumed future inflation on the benefit. Compare to sample case 2, where there is no future 

inflation. 

Description 

 Male old-age benefit, January 2032 

 born January 15, 1965 

 retired at age 67 (full retirement age) 

 maximum earnings 1986-2031 

 alternative II assumptions 

Result 

 PIA = $4,950.30 

 MBA = $4,950.00 

Sample case 2 

Shows effect of no assumed future inflation on the benefit. Compare to sample case 1, where there is 

assumed future inflation. 

Description 

 Male old-age benefit, January 2032 

 born January 15, 1965 

 retired at age 67 (full retirement age) 

 maximum earnings 1986-2031 

 no benefit increases after December 2023 

 no average wage change after 2022 

Result 

 PIA = $3,895.60 

 MBA = $3,895.00 

Sample case 3 

Shows special minimum PIA. 

Description 

 Male old-age benefit, June 1982 

 born January 2, 1920 

 retired at age 62 and 5 months 
 low earnings 1945-82 

Result 

 PIA = $345.10 

 MBA = $285.00 

Sample case 4 

Shows entered earnings, non-covered pension offset, retirement at exact age 62. Compare to sample case 

25, where the non-covered pension entitlement date is after the Social Security benefit entitlement date. 

Description 

 Male old-age benefit, September 2022 

 born September 2, 1960 

 retired at exact age 62 

 earnings of $2000 in 1981-90, $4000 in 1991-2000, $6000 in 2001-10, $8000 in 2011-20 

 monthly non-covered pension of $1500 starting September 2022 

Result 

 PIA = $290.00 

 MBA = $203.00 

Sample case 5 

Shows survivor calculation, re-indexed widow(er) guarantee PIA. 

Description 

 Aged widow benefit, September 2030 

 worker born September 10, 1965 

 died September 2017 

 widow born September 10, 1970 

 widow benefit started at age 60 

 earnings of $1000 in 1986-90, $2000 in 1991-2000, $3000 in 2001-2010, $4000 in 2011-17 

 alternative II assumptions 

Result 

 regular PIA = $438.10 

 re-indexed widow(er) guarantee PIA = $475.30 

 MBA = $339.00 

Sample case 6 

Shows full retirement age 67, previous disability onset, disability 1-for-5 dropout rule carried into retirement. 

Description 

 Male old-age benefit, January 2037 

 born January 5, 1970 (retired at age 67) 

 earnings 1986-95: $2412, $2412, $7132, $15,050, $16,125, $17,200, $18,275, $19,350, $19,350, 

$20,425 
 previous disability onset December 15, 1995 

 previous disability entitlement June 1996 

 previous disability cessation December 2036 

 no benefit increases after December 2023 

 no average wage change after 2022 

Result 

 PIA = $1,587.00 

 MBA = $1,587.00 

Sample case 7 

Shows special minimum PIA. 

Description 

 Male disability benefit, January 1978 

 born January 15, 1918 (retired at age 60) 

 earnings of $1000 in 1941-54, $1560 in 1955-65, $2000 in 1966-72 

 disability onset June 15, 1977 

 first month of waiting period July 1977 

Result 

 PIA = $180.00 

 MBA = $180.00 

Sample case 8 

Shows retirement age 67, benefit greater than $10,000. 

Description 

 Male old-age benefit, January 2057 

 born January 15, 1990 (retired at age 67) 

 maximum earnings 2012-2056 

 alternative II assumptions 

Result 

 PIA = $12,324.00 

 MBA = $12,324.00 

Sample case 9 

Shows re-indexed widow(er) guarantee PIA for disabled widow. 

Description 

 Disabled widow benefit, October 2014 

 worker born September 10, 1955 

 died September 2005 

 widow born September 10, 1959 

 widow disabled April 10, 2014 
 disabled widow benefit started at age 55 and 1 month 

 earnings of $1000 in 1976-80, $2000 in 1981-90, $3000 in 1991-2000, $4,000 in 2001-05 

Result 

 regular PIA = $381.50 

 re-indexed widow(er) guarantee PIA = $396.90 

 MBA = $283.00 

Sample case 10 

Shows user-selected assumptions, totalization benefit. 

Description 

 Male old-age benefit, February 2035 

 born January 29, 1973 (retired at age 62 and 1 month) 

 maximum earnings 2003-09 

 user-specified benefit increases after December 2023 

 user-specified average wage increases after 2022 

 totalization benefit 

Result 

 PIA = $1527.10 

 MBA = $1075.00 

Sample case 11 

Shows 1950 old-start PIA, annual earnings before 1951. 

Description 

 Male old-age benefit, January 1952 

 born January 15, 1887 (retired at age 65) 

 maximum earnings 1937-51 

Result 

 PIA = $68.50 

 MBA = $68.50 

Sample case 12 

Shows use of earnings after disability freeze ends at full retirement age, benefit after entitlement. 

Description 

 Male old-age benefit, January 1989 

 born March 22, 1922 

 retired at age 65 in March 1987 

 benefit at age 66 and 10 months 

 maximum earnings 1945-54, 1987-88 

 previous disability onset April 1, 1954 

 previous disability entitlement January 1960 
 previous disability cessation March 1987 

Result 

 PIA = $1,621.70 

 MBA = $1,621.00 

Sample case 13 

Shows 1990 old-start PIA, summed earnings before 1951. 

Description 

 Aged widow benefit, June 1992 

 worker born August 23, 1927 

 died March 1954 

 widow born January 5, 1929 

 earnings 1950-54 (see stored case) 

Result 

 PIA = $484.60 

 MBA = $440.00 

Sample case 14 

Shows special minimum PIA in disability case, using pre-1951 earnings, no dollar-down rounding. 

Description 

 Male disability benefit, January 1982 

 born October 29, 1924 

 earnings 1950-54, 1964-82 (see stored case) 

 disability onset March 15, 1981 

 first month of waiting period April 1981 

 originally entitled September 1981 

Result 

 PIA = $321.40 

 MBA = $321.40 

Sample case 15 

Shows prior period of disability in disability case. 

Description 

 Male disability benefit, December 1994 

 born July 15, 1931 

 earnings from 1950 to 1982 (see stored case) 

 disability onset December 27, 1982 

 first month of waiting period January 1983 

 originally entitled December 1983 

 prior disability onset May 5, 1976 
 first month of waiting period in prior disability June 1976 

 prior disability cessation December 1978 

Result 

 PIA = $599.70 

 MBA = $599.00 

Sample case 16 

Shows prior closed period of disability in old-age case. 

Description 

 Male old-age benefit, December 1994 

 born February 14, 1932 

 retired at age 62 and 1 month 

 benefit at age 62 and 10 months 

 earnings from 1950 to 1993 (see stored case) 

 prior disability onset November 15, 1969 

 prior disability entitlement June 1970 

 prior disability cessation February 1972 

Result 

 PIA = $928.90 

 MBA = $748.00 

Sample case 17 

Shows re-indexed widow(er) guarantee PIA, disability cessation at death, entitlement more than 12 months 

after death and after age 62. 

Description 

 Aged widow benefit, May 1996 

 worker born September 23, 1932 

 prior disability onset July 22, 1991 

 prior disability cessation August 1994 

 died September 15, 1994 

 widow born May 6, 1936 

 earnings 1952-92 (see stored case) 

Result 

 regular PIA = $688.00 

 re-indexed widow(er) guarantee PIA = $714.70 

 MBA = $511.00 

Sample case 18 

Shows projected earnings, 70 years of earnings, computation of benefit after initial entitlement. 

Description 
 Male old-age benefit, entitlement in March 2032 

 benefit computed in April 2050 

 born March 10, 1962 

 retired at age 70 and 0 months 

 benefit computed at age 88 and 1 month 

 earnings: $50,000 in 1996, projected backward by 1% constant decrease to 1980, projected forward 

with no increase to 2049 

 no benefit increases after December 2023 

 no average wage change after 2022 

Result 

 PIA = $3,301.30 

 MBA = $4,093.00 

Sample case 19 

Shows re-indexed widow(er) guarantee PIA where worker died in month of attainment of age 62, before day 

of attainment. 

Description 

 Aged widow benefit, October 2000 

 worker born November 8, 1934 

 prior disability onset January 15, 1981 

 prior disability cessation November 1996 

 died November 3, 1996 

 widow born October 15, 1940 

 maximum earnings, 1970-80 

Result 

 regular PIA = $790.30 

 re-indexed widow(er) guarantee PIA = $880.40 

 MBA = $629.00 

Sample case 20 

Shows years-of-coverage savings clause for non-covered pension offset. 

Description 

 Male old-age benefit, July 2014 

 born June 22, 1952 

 earnings 1966-79, 2002-2010 (see stored case) 

 monthly noncovered pension of $1500 starting June 2010 

Result 

 PIA = $1,235.80 

 MBA = $931.00 

Sample case 21 
Shows use of 4 projection parameters. 

Description 

 Male disability benefit, July 2033 

 born January 15, 1988 

 disability onset January 10, 2033 

 earnings: $60,000 in 2018, projected backward by 6% constant decrease to 2008, projected forward 

by 5% constant increase to 2032 

 user-specified benefit increases after December 2023: 3% 

 user-specified average wage increases after 2022: 4% 

Result 

 PIA = $3,797.00 

 MBA = $3,797.00 

Sample case 22 

Shows use of childcare years. 

Description 

 Female disability benefit, January 1999 

 born January 15, 1966 

 disability onset July 15, 1998 

 maximum earnings 1987-93 

 childcare years 1980-83 

Result 

 regular PIA = $1,468.00 

 childcare dropout year PIA = $1,567.00 

 MBA = $1,567.00 

Sample case 23 

Shows disallowance of delayed retirement credits if not fully insured. 

Description 

 Male old-age benefit, January 2001 

 born January 15, 1930 

 retired at age 71 

 Earnings of $5000 per year for 1991-2000 

Result 

 PIA = $134.20 

 MBA = $134.00 

Sample case 24 

Shows applicability of delayed retirement credits if eligible for totalization benefits. 
Description 

 Male old-age benefit, January 2002 

 born January 15, 1935 

 retired at age 67 

 Maximum earnings 1990-92 

 totalization benefit 

Result 

 PIA = $126.30 

 MBA = $141.00 

Sample case 25 

Shows entered earnings, non-applicability of non-covered pension offset, retirement at exact age 62. 

Compare to sample case 4, where the non-covered pension entitlement date is at or before the Social 

Security benefit entitlement date. (The benefit in this case would be reduced beginning in October 2022.) 

Description 

 Male old-age benefit, September 2022 

 born September 2, 1960 

 retired at exact age 62 

 earnings of $2000 in 1981-90, $4000 in 1991-2000, $6000 in 2001-10, $8000 in 2011-20 

 monthly non-covered pension of $1500 starting October 2022 

Result 

 PIA = $652.50 

 MBA = $456.00 

Sample case 26 

Shows the effect of the MFB on a disabled widow and two child survivor beneficiaries. 

Description 

 Survivor benefit, October 2001 

 worker born January 15, 1945 

 died March 2000 

 widow born January 15, 1950 

 widow disabled January 5, 2001 

 disabled widow benefit started October 2001 

 first child born February 15, 1990 

 child benefit started October 2001 

 second child born February 15, 1990 

 child benefit started October 2001 

 maximum earnings 1970-1998 

Result 

 PIA = $1672.10 

 re-indexed widow(er) guarantee PIA = $1706.10 
 MFB = $2,926.20 

 disabled widow MBA = $846.00 

 child MBA (two) = $870.00 

Sample case 27 

Shows the new-start method for a disability benefit with earnings after entitlement. This is the prior disability 

PIA for the disability guarantee computation in sample case 28. 

Description 

 Female disability benefit, March 1988 

 worker born January 15, 1942 

 disability onset January 15, 1967 

 first month of waiting period July 1972 

 earnings of $500 1965-69, $1000 1970-79, $2000 1980-84, $3000 1985-87 

Result 

 PIA = $440.30 

 MBA = $440.00 

Sample case 28 

Shows the disability guarantee method for a disability benefit with a prior period of disability. See sample 

case 27 for the computation of the previous disability cessation PIA. 

Description 

 Female disability benefit, January 1990 

 worker born January 15, 1942 

 disability onset January 1, 1990 

 previous disability onset January 15, 1967 

 previous disability entitlement January 1973 

 previous disability cessation April, 1988 

 previous disability cessation PIA $440.30 

 previous disability cessation MFB $673.20 

 earnings of $500 1965-69, $1000 1970-79, $2000 1980-84, $3000 1985-89 

Result 

 PIA = $440.30 

 MBA = $440.00 

Sample case 29 

Shows the wage-indexed non-freeze method for a disability benefit. Note that the non-freeze computation 

uses 2004, the year of the start of the waiting period, for the year of eligibility, and the worker's earnings in 

2003 and 2004, which are excluded from the normal wage-indexed formula computation, are used to 

compute the non-freeze AIME. 

Description 

 Male disability benefit, January 2005 
 worker born January 15, 1980 

 disability onset July 1, 1999 

 waiting period starts in August, 2004 

 low earnings 1998-2004 

Result 

 PIA = $794.00 

 MBA = $794.00 

 
Registry entries 

Social Security Benefit Calculator and the 

Registry 

The Registry system file contains information which is read by the Social Security Benefit Calculator when it 

starts. The Registry does not contain specific entries for this program when it is first installed; all necessary 

information is contained within the program itself. Thereafter, certain actions by the user may cause Registry 

entries to be created or updated. Once created, the Registry entries are located in HKEY_CURRENT_USER, 

Software, Social Security Administration, Anypia32. 

The Registry entries consist of sections. Any of the following sections may exist: 

 Recent File List: List of files most recently opened or saved. 

 Computation Year: Current year. 

 Historical Amounts for xxxx: Historical benefit increase, average wage, and wage bases for year xxxx. 

 Benefit Increases Set x: Stored projected benefit increases for set x (1, 2, 3, or 4). 

 Catch-up Increases Set x: Stored projected catch-up benefit increases for set x (1, 2, 3, or 4). 

 Average Wage Increases Set x: Stored projected average wage increases for set x (1, 2, 3, or 4). 

 Settings: Output report margins and font size, and screen settings. 

Recent File List section in the Registry 

The section of the Registry entitled Recent File List has one line for each of up to four of the most recently 

opened or saved files. Each line has a Name entry of Filex, where x is 1, 2, 3, or 4. The Data entry is the full 

pathname of the file that was opened or saved. These names are listed under the File menu when the Social 

Security Benefit Calculator is run. 

Computation Year section in the Registry 

The section of the Registry entitled Computation Year has one line with a Name entry of Year. The Data entry 

is a 4-digit year representing the current computation year. 

Historical Amounts for xxxx section in the 

Registry 

There can be sections in the Registry with titles of Historical Amounts for xxxx, where xxxx is any year after 

the default computation year (2024 in the current version). If there are any historical amounts sections in the 

Registry, there should be one section for each year beginning with the first possible year (2025 in the current 

version) and ending with the last year for which data has been entered. If there is a missing year, the benefit 

increase, average wage, and wage bases will be set to zero for that year. 

Each historical amounts section should have five lines. Each line has two parts (a Name entry and a Data 

entry): 

Name entry Data entry 

BenefitIncrease Benefit increase for December of year xxxx - 1. 
AverageWage Average wage for year xxxx - 2. 

WageBase OASDI wage base for year xxxx. 

OldLawWageBase Old law wage base for year xxxx. 

HiWageBase HI wage base for year xxxx. 

Benefit Increases Set x section in the Registry 

There can be up to four sections in the Registry with titles of Benefit Increases Set x, where x is 1, 2, 3, or 4. 

Each section should have 12 lines. Each line has two parts (a Name entry and a Data entry): 

Name entry Data entry 

Year1 Benefit increase in first projected year. 

Year2 Benefit increase in second projected year. 

... ... 

Year10 Benefit increase in tenth projected year. 

Year11 Benefit increase in eleventh and later projected years. 

Title Title of this set of benefit increases. 

Catch-up Increases Set x section in the Registry 

There can be up to four sections in the Registry with titles of Catch-up Increases Set x, where x is 1, 2, 3, or 4. 

Each section should have 80 lines. Each line has two parts (a Name entry and a Data entry): 

Name entry Data entry 

Year0Year2 Catch-up benefit increase for first year of eligibility, for 2 years after current year. 

Year0Year3 Catch-up benefit increase for first year of eligibility, for 3 years after current year. 

... ... 

Year0Year9 Catch-up benefit increase for first year of eligibility, for 9 years after current year. 

Year1Year2 Catch-up benefit increase for second year of eligibility, for 2 years after current year. 

... ... 

Year1Year9 Catch-up benefit increase for second year of eligibility, for 9 years after current year. 

... ... 

Year9Year9 Catch-up benefit increase for tenth year of eligibility, for 9 years after current year. 
Average Wage Increases Set x section in the 

Registry 

There can be up to four sections in the Registry with titles of Average Wage Increases Set x, where x is 1, 2, 

3, or 4. Each section should have 13 lines. Each line has two parts (a Name entry and a Data entry): 

Name entry Data entry 

Year1 Average wage increase in last historical year. 

Year2 Average wage increase in first projected year. 

... ... 

Year11 Average wage increase in tenth projected year. 

Year12 Average wage increase in eleventh and later projected years. 

Title Title of this set of average wage increases. 

Settings section in the Registry 

The section of the Registry entitled Settings has up to six lines. Each line has two parts (a Name entry and a 

Data entry): 

Name entry Data entry 

Left Margin Left margin of printed report, in inches. 

No Introduction Indicator for showing introductory dialog box (0 to show dialog, 1 to not show dialog). 

PrinterPoints Font size for printed output in points. 

ScreenPoints Font size for screen output in points. 

Top Margin Top margin of printed report, in inches. 

 
For developers only 

Input data from a file 

Input can be entered from a file by choosing File from the main menu and Open... from the pulldown menu. 

If the file was originally created by this program, then it will automatically be in the correct format to be read 

back into the program. It is possible to create a file with the required information, in the correct format, 

outside of this program (for instance, in another program running against a database of worker information). 

However, the file created must be in exactly the correct format or this program will detect an error and stop. 

See File structure for a description of the required file structure. 

Source code 

The source code for the Social Security Benefit Calculator is downloadable from the Social Security 

Administration web site). Go to http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/anypia/source.html for more information about 

the source code and instructions on downloading it. 

 
Glossary 

AIME 

Average Indexed Monthly Earnings. The amount of earnings used in determining the PIA for most workers 

who attain age 62, become disabled, or die after 1978. A worker's actual past earnings are adjusted by 

changes in the average wage index, in order to bring them up to their approximately equivalent value at the 

time of retirement or other eligibility for benefits. 

AME 

Average Monthly Earnings. The amount of earnings used in determining the PIA for most workers who attain 

age 62, become disabled, or die before 1979. A worker's actual past earnings are summed over the 

appropriate number of years, then divided by the number of months in those years. 

MBA 

Monthly benefit amount. A beneficiary's monthly benefit amount is based on the PIA, but may be reduced or 

increased for various reasons. For aged beneficiaries (old-age, spouse, or widow(er)), actuarial reduction 

applies for receipt before full retirement age. For old-age beneficiaries, delayed retirement credit applies for 

receipt after full retirement age. For auxiliary beneficiaries (spouse or child), a benefit factor applies to the 

PIA. 

MFB 

Maximum Family Benefit. The maximum monthly amount that can be paid on a worker's earnings record. 

Whenever the total of the individual monthly benefits payable to all the beneficiaries entitled on one 

earnings record exceeds the maximum, each dependent's or survivor's benefit is proportionately reduced to 

bring the total within the maximum. Benefits payable to divorced spouses or surviving divorced spouses are 

not reduced under the family maximum provision. 

Military service wage credits 

Credits recognizing that military personnel receive wages in kind (such as food and shelter) in addition to 

their basic pay and other cash payments. Noncontributory wage credits of $160 were provided for each 

month of active military service from September 16, 1940, through December 31, 1956. For years after 1956, 

the basic pay of military personnel is covered under the Social Security program on a contributory basis. In 

addition to the contributory credits for basic pay, noncontributory wage credits of $300 were granted for 

each calendar quarter, from January 1957 through December 1977, in which a person received pay for 

military service. Noncontributory wage credits of $100 were granted for each $300 of military wages, up to a 

maximum credit of $1200 per calendar year, from January 1978 through December 2001. 

PIA 

Primary Insurance Amount. The monthly amount payable to a retired worker who begins to receive benefits 

at full retirement age or (generally) to a disabled worker. This amount, which is related to the worker's AIME, 

is also the amount used as a base for computing all types of benefits payable on the basis of one individual's 

earnings record. 
Quarters of coverage 

Quarters of coverage, which are also called QCs or credits, are the basic unit that workers earn in order to 

become insured for benefits. Before 1978, quarters of coverage were earned by having wages above $50 in a 

calendar quarter, with 4 quarters of coverage earned if a worker earns the taxable maximum for a year. In 

1978, the earning of quarters of coverage was changed to an annual basis, with the amount needed for each 

quarter of coverage adjusted annually for inflation. In some cases, quarters of coverage can be earned 

through railroad earnings or periods of military service. 

The calculator computes quarters of coverage from annual earnings in 1978 and later automatically. For 

quarters of coverage earned before 1978, you have the option of entering the lump-sum total you earned or 

annual figures. See Summary quarters of coverage information for more information on how to enter pre1978 quarters of coverage. 

Trustees Report 

The Board of Trustees of the Social Security Trust Funds reports each year on the current and projected 

financial condition of the Social Security program, which is financed through two separate trust funds. The 

Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund pays monthly benefits to retired workers (including 

disabled workers who have reached normal retirement age) and their families and to survivors of deceased 

workers. The Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund pays monthly benefits to disabled workers and their 

families. The report on the current financial status of the funds includes an accounting of the actual income 

and expenditures for the last year. For future years, the projections of the trust funds' financial condition 

reflect the Trustees' considered judgment after review of available evidence and expert opinion about all the 

economic and demographic factors that affect income and expenditures. Projections are presented 

separately for the next 10 years (the short range) and for the next 75 years (the long range). 

Although, in general, a greater degree of certainty can be presumed for projections encompassing the next 

few years than for a period as long as the next 75 years, any estimation of the future is uncertain. Therefore, 

three alternative sets of economic and demographic assumptions are used to show a range of possible 

outcomes for all projections. The "intermediate" set of assumptions, designated as alternative II, reflects the 

Trustees' "best estimates" of future experience; the "low cost" alternative I is more optimistic, and the "high 

cost" alternative III more pessimistic for the trust funds' future financial outlook. For both the short range 

and the long range, however, it is important to understand that the projections in this report are only an 

indication of the expected trend and likely range of future trust fund experience. Also, all projections are 

based on the Social Security program provisions in current law and are not intended to anticipate any 

changes in these provisions that might be made in the future. 

The 2023 Trustees Report is available at the Social Security Administration's web site at 

https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/TR/2023/index.html. 

A printed copy of the latest Trustees Report may be obtained using the Actuarial Publications Request Form 

at https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/request.html. 

Totalization 

Totalization agreements between the U.S. and foreign countries provide for limited coordination of U.S. and 

foreign social security programs. The agreements help eliminate situations where workers suffer a loss of 

benefit rights because they have divided their careers between the U.S. and a foreign country. Under an 

agreement, workers may qualify for partial U.S. or foreign benefits, called totalization benefits, based on 

combined work credits from both countries. 
In order to be eligible for totalization benefits, the worker must: 1) not be insured for benefits based on U.S. 

coverage alone, 2) have at least 6 quarters of coverage, and 3) have substantial work in a foreign country 

with a totalization agreement. 

 
Contacting the Social Security Administration 

Technical support 

Within the Social Security Administration, designated local support personnel should be contacted for 

technical support. 

We welcome your suggestions and comments. However, we are unable to provide technical support outside 

of the Social Security Administration except on a very limited basis. If you would like to get in contact with us 

for technical support, you can send: 

 e-mail to: 

CalculatorMaster@ssa.gov, or 

 regular mail to: 

 Calculator Master 

 2211 Altmeyer Bldg. 

 6401 Security Blvd. 

 Baltimore, MD 21235. 

If you have questions about your own earnings record or Social Security benefit, you should contact the 

Social Security Administration (see Personal assistance for more information). Do not use the address above 

for personal assistance; your request will not be answered. 

Personal assistance 

You may obtain clarification or assistance on Social Security matters at any Social Security office or by calling 

the Social Security toll-free telephone number, 1-800-772-1213. 

Other resources 

The Social Security Administration offers many resources to help you learn about Social Security in general or 

to help you with your own benefit claim. 

 The Social Security Handbook is one of numerous publications about the Social Security programs. It 

also contains brief descriptions of related programs administered by other agencies. It is a readable, 

easy to understand resource for the very complex Social Security programs and services. 

 You may obtain clarification or assistance on Social Security matters as described under Personal 

assistance. 

 We are working on a publication named OASDI Digest, which explains in detail how Social Security 

benefits are computed. We hope to provide it in a future version of this help file. In the meantime, 

you can request an electronic version (in PDF format), or a printed version, of the latest draft of the 

OASDI Digest by contacting us at the addresses given under Technical support.