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Your Primary Insurance Amount is the monthly benefit you'll receive from Social Security if you claim at your full retirement age. Think of it as your baseline Social Security number—the one Social Security uses to calculate what you'll actually get, whether you claim early (and receive less) or delay (and receive more). Your PIA is based on your 35 highest-earning years, adjusted for inflation.
Understanding your PIA helps you make informed decisions about when to start taking benefits and how Social Security fits into your overall retirement picture.
