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Automatic Increases
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Contribution and Benefit Base Calculation

Automatic Increases

Contribution & Benefit Base

Wage-indexed Amounts

Method for determining the base
The formula for determining the OASDI contribution and benefit base is set by law. The formula states that the base for any year Y after 1994 is equal to the 1994 base of $60,600 multiplied by the ratio of the national average wage index for year (Y-2) to that for 1992, with the result rounded to the nearest multiple of $300. If the result is less than the current base, the base is not reduced.

Base for 2009
Under the above formula, the base for 2009 shall be the 1994 base of $60,600 multiplied by the ratio of the national average wage index for 2007 to that for 1992, or, if larger, the 2008 base of $102,000. If the amount so determined is not a multiple of $300, it is rounded to the nearest multiple of $300.

Calculation details
Amounts in
formula
1994 base$60,600
1992 average wage index$22,935.42
2007 average wage index$40,405.48
Computation$60,600 times $40,405.48 divided by $22,935.42 equals $106,759.42, which rounds to $106,800.
Higher amount$106,800 exceeds $102,000, so the base for 2009 is $106,800

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Last reviewed or modified Thursday Oct 16, 2008
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