Social Security
Primary Insurance Amount
Definition
Your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) is the monthly Social Security retirement benefit you would receive if you claimed exactly at your Full Retirement Age.
More Detail
The PIA is calculated using your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings (AIME), which is based on your 35 highest-earning years adjusted for inflation. The Social Security Administration applies a formula with bend points to convert your AIME into your PIA. Claiming before your FRA permanently reduces your monthly payment below your PIA. Claiming after your FRA earns credits that increase your payment above your PIA.
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