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Automatic Increases in Recent Years

Updated October 17, 2007

Social Security program amounts determined under automatic adjustment provisions, 2000-2008
Year COLA
(percent)		 Average
wage index		 Contribution and
benefit base		 Retirement earnings test
annual exempt amounts
Lower amount Higher amount
2000 3.5 $32,154.82 $76,200 $10,080 $17,000
2001 2.6 32,921.92 80,400 10,680 25,000
2002 1.4 33,252.09 84,900 11,280 30,000
2003 2.1 34,064.95 87,000 11,520 30,720
2004 2.7 35,648.55 87,900 11,640 31,080
2005 4.1 36,952.94 90,000 12,000 31,800
2006 3.3 38,651.41 94,200 12,480 33,240
2007 2.3 — 97,500 12,960 34,440
2008 — — 102,000 13,560 36,120

Year Dollar amounts in PIA formula Dollar amounts in maximum family benefit formula
First Second First Second Third
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

Year "Old-law" contribution and benefit base Earnings needed for a quarter of coverage ("credit") Monthly substantial gainful activity amount for … Coverage thresholds for …
Blind Other
disabled		 Domestic
employees		 Election
workers
2000 $56,700 $780 $1,170 $700 $1,200 $1,100
2001 59,700 830 1,240 740 1,300 1,100
2002 63,000 870 1,300 780 1,300 1,200
2003 64,500 890 1,330 800 1,400 1,200
2004 65,100 900 1,350 810 1,400 1,200
2005 66,900 920 1,380 830 1,400 1,200
2006 69,900 970 1,450 860 1,500 1,300
2007 72,600 1,000 1,500 900 1,500 1,300
2008 75,900 1,050 1,570 940 1,600 1,400
    Notes:
  • Automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for OASDI benefits are effective for December of the stated year, first payable in the following January. For SSI, the COLAs are also payable the following January. See table of SSI payment amounts for values back to 1975.
  • The contribution and benefit base is the maximum amount of earnings taxable and creditable for benefit computation purposes.
  • The retirement test does not apply to beneficiaries over the normal retirement age (age 65 for people born before 1938, age 67 for people born after 1959). The higher exempt amount applies only in the year the worker attains the normal retirement age, and then only for months in that year prior to the month of such attainment. The lower exempt amount applies in years prior to the year the beneficiary attains the normal retirement age.
  • The "old-law" contribution and benefit base is the base that would have been in effect in the absence of the 1977 amendments. It has special purposes under the Social Security program, the Railroad Retirement program, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
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