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Title 20

Displaying title 20, up to date as of 10/06/2026. Title 20 was last amended 9/30/2026.
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  1. Title 20 —Employees' Benefits
  2. Chapter III —Social Security Administration
  3. Part 404 —Federal Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (1950- )
  4. Subpart C   View Full Text
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Title 20Employees' BenefitsPart / Section
Chapter IIISocial Security Administration400 – 499
Part 404Federal Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance (1950- )404.1 – 404.2127
Subpart CComputing Primary Insurance Amounts404.201 – 404.290
General404.201 – 404.204
§ 404.201What is included in this subpart?
§ 404.202Other regulations related to this subpart.
§ 404.203Definitions.
§ 404.204Methods of computing primary insurance amounts—general.
Average-Indexed-Monthly-Earnings Method of Computing Primary Insurance Amounts404.210 – 404.213
§ 404.210Average-indexed-monthly-earnings method.
§ 404.211Computing your average indexed monthly earnings.
§ 404.212Computing your primary insurance amount from your average indexed monthly earnings.
§ 404.213Computation where you are eligible for a pension based on your noncovered employment.
Average-Monthly-Wage Method of Computing Primary Insurance Amounts404.220 – 404.222
§ 404.220Average-monthly-wage method.
§ 404.221Computing your average monthly wage.
§ 404.222Use of benefit table in finding your primary insurance amount from your average monthly wage.
Guaranteed Alternative for People Reaching Age 62 After 1978 but Before 1984404.230 – 404.233
§ 404.230Guaranteed alternative.
§ 404.231Steps in computing your primary insurance amount under the guaranteed alternative—general.
§ 404.232Computing your average monthly wage under the guaranteed alternative.
§ 404.233Adjustment of your guaranteed alternative when you become entitled after age 62.
Old-Start Method of Computing Primary Insurance Amounts404.240 – 404.243
§ 404.240Old-start method—general.
§ 404.2411977 simplified old-start method.
§ 404.242Use of old-start primary insurance amount as guaranteed alternative.
§ 404.243Computation where you are eligible for a pension based on noncovered employment.
Special Computation Rules for People Who Had a Period of Disability404.250 – 404.252
§ 404.250Special computation rules for people who had a period of disability.
§ 404.251Subsequent entitlement to benefits less than 12 months after entitlement to disability benefits ended.
§ 404.252Subsequent entitlement to benefits 12 months or more after entitlement to disability benefits ended.
Special Minimum Primary Insurance Amounts404.260 – 404.261
§ 404.260Special minimum primary insurance amounts.
§ 404.261Computing your special minimum primary insurance amount.
Cost-of-Living Increases404.270 – 404.278
§ 404.270Cost-of-living increases.
§ 404.271When automatic cost-of-living increases apply.
§ 404.272Indexes we use to measure the rise in the cost-of-living.
§ 404.273When are automatic cost-of-living increases effective?
§ 404.274What are the measuring periods we use to calculate cost-of-living increases?
§ 404.275How is an automatic cost-of-living increase calculated?
§ 404.276Publication of notice of increase.
§ 404.277When does the frozen minimum primary insurance amount increase because of cost-of-living adjustments?
§ 404.278Additional cost-of-living increase.
Recomputing Your Primary Insurance Amount404.280 – 404.288
§ 404.280Recomputations.
§ 404.281Why your primary insurance amount may be recomputed.
§ 404.282Effective date of recomputations.
§ 404.283Recomputation under method other than that used to find your primary insurance amount.
§ 404.284Recomputations for people who reach age 62, or become disabled, or die before age 62 after 1978.
§ 404.285Recomputations performed automatically.
§ 404.286How to request an immediate recomputation.
§ 404.287Waiver of recomputation.
§ 404.288Recomputing when you are entitled to a monthly pension based on noncovered employment.
Recalculations of Primary Insurance Amounts404.290
§ 404.290Recalculations.
Appendixes to Subpart C of Part 404
Note
Appendix I to Subpart C of Part 404
Average of the Total Wages for Years After 1950
Appendix II to Subpart C of Part 404
Benefit Formulas Used With Average Indexed Monthly Earnings
Appendix III to Subpart C of Part 404
Benefit Table
Appendix IV to Subpart C of Part 404
Earnings Needed for a Year of Coverage After 1950
Appendix V to Subpart C of Part 404
Computing the Special Minimum Primary Insurance Amount and Related Maximum Family Benefits
Appendix VI to Subpart C of Part 404
Percentage of Automatic Increases in Primary Insurance Amounts Since 1978
Appendix VII to Subpart C of Part 404
“Old-Law” Contribution and Benefit Base
eCFR Content