---
kind: "section"
citation: "20 C.F.R. § 404.312"
title: "20"
number: "404.312"
heading: "How is my old-age benefit amount calculated?"
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/20/404.312"
---

# §404.312. How is my old-age benefit amount calculated?

- (a) If your old-age benefits begin in the month you attain full retirement age (as defined in [§ 404.409](/cfr/20/404.409.md)), your monthly benefit is equal to the primary insurance amount (as explained in [subpart C](/cfr/20/subpartC.md) of this part).
- (b) If your old-age benefits begin after the month you attain full retirement age, your monthly benefit is your primary insurance amount plus an increase for retiring after full retirement age. See [§ 404.313](/cfr/20/404.313.md) for a description of these increases.
- (c) If your old-age benefits begin before the month you attain full retirement age, your monthly benefit amount is the primary insurance amount minus a reduction for each month you are entitled before you attain full retirement age. These reductions are described in [§§ 404.410 through 404.413](/cfr/20/404.410..404.413.md).

## Notes

### Amendments

[68 FR 4702, Jan. 30, 2003]

### Authority

Authority: Secs. 202, 203(a) and (b), 205(a), 216, 223, 225, and 702(a)(5) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 402, 403(a) and (b), 405(a), 416, 423, 425, and 902(a)(5)).

### Source

Source: 44 FR 34481, June 15, 1979, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[68 FR 4702, Jan. 30, 2003]