Cash Benefits

The Social Security Administration will use the Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) to determine almost all of the claimant's cash benefit amounts. The Social Security Administration will calculate your monthly benefits as a worker and the benefits your dependents and survivors may be eligible to receive. The claimant's Primary Insurance Amount is based on the claimant's taxable earnings which are averaged over the number of years the claimant has worked. The PIA is used to help generate a monthly benefit payment which will hopefully replace the lost income which results from not only retirement, but also disability or death.