(a) If you do not become entitled to benefits at the time you reach age 62, we adjust the guaranteed alternative computed for you under §404.232 as described in paragraph (b) of this section.
(b) To the primary insurance amount computed under the guaranteed alternative, we apply any automatic cost-of-living or ad hoc increases in primary insurance amounts that go into effect in the year you reach age 62 and in years up through the year you become entitled to benefits. (See appendix VI for a list of the percentage increases in primary insurance amounts since December 1978.)
Year | Earnings |
---|---|
1951 | $3,600 |
1952 | 3,600 |
1953 | 3,600 |
1954 | 3,600 |
1955 | 4,200 |
1956 | 4,200 |
1957 | 4,200 |
1958 | 4,200 |
1959 | 4,800 |
1960 | 4,800 |
1961 | 4,800 |
1962 | 4,800 |
1963 | 4,800 |
1964 | 4,800 |
1965 | 4,800 |
1966 | 6,600 |
1967 | 6,600 |
1968 | 7,800 |
1969 | 7,800 |
1970 | 7,800 |
1971 | 7,800 |
1972 | 9,000 |
1973 | 10,800 |
1974 | 13,200 |
1975 | 14,100 |
1976 | 15,300 |
1977 | 16,500 |
1978 | 17,700 |
1979 | 22,900 |
1980 | 25,900 |
1981 | 29,700 |
We total his earnings in his benefit computation years and get $236,000. We then divide by the 300 months in his 25 benefit computation years, and find his average monthly wage to be $786.66 which is rounded down to $786.
The primary insurance amount in the benefit table in appendix III that corresponds to Mr. C's average monthly wage is $521.70. The 9.9 percent and 14.3 percent cost of living increase for 1979 and 1980, respectively, are not applicable because Mr. C reached age 62 in 1981.
The average indexed monthly earnings method described in §§404.210 through 404.212 considers all of the earnings after 1950, including 1981 earnings which, in Mr. C's case cannot be used in the guaranteed alternative method. Mr. C's primary insurance amount under the average indexed earnings method is $548.40. Therefore, his benefit is based upon the $548.40 primary insurance amount. As in the guaranteed alternative method, Mr. C is not entitled to the cost of living increases for years before the year he reaches age 62.