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Automatic Increases
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Benefit Formula "Bend Points"

Updated October 17, 2007

Automatic Increases

PIA benefit formula

Maximum family benefit formula

The formula for the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) is the basic benefit formula. The dollar amounts in the formula are sometimes called "bend points" because a formula, when graphed, appears as a series of line segments joined at these amounts.


Dollar amounts in Primary Insurance Amount and maximum family benefit formulas
Year a Dollar amounts in PIA formula Dollar amounts in maximum family benefit formula
First Second First Second Third
1979 $180 $1,085 $230 $332 $433
1980 194 1,171 248 358 467
1981 211 1,274 270 390 508
1982 230 1,388 294 425 554
1983 254 1,528 324 468 610
1984 267 1,612 342 493 643
1985 280 1,691 358 517 675
1986 297 1,790 379 548 714
1987 310 1,866 396 571 745
1988 319 1,922 407 588 767
1989 339 2,044 433 626 816
1990 356 2,145 455 656 856
1991 370 2,230 473 682 890
1992 387 2,333 495 714 931
1993 401 2,420 513 740 966
1994 422 2,545 539 779 1,016
1995 426 2,567 544 785 1,024
1996 437 2,635 559 806 1,052
1997 455 2,741 581 839 1,094
1998 477 2,875 609 880 1,147
1999 505 3,043 645 931 1,214
2000 531 3,202 679 980 1,278
2001 561 3,381 717 1,034 1,349
2002 592 3,567 756 1,092 1,424
2003 606 3,653 774 1,118 1,458
2004 612 3,689 782 1,129 1,472
2005 627 3,779 801 1,156 1,508
2006 656 3,955 838 1,210 1,578
2007 680 4,100 869 1,255 1,636
2008 711 4,288 909 1,312 1,711
a Year of eligibility; that is, the year in which a worker attains age 62, becomes disabled before age 62, or dies before attaining age 62.

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