On Dec 19, 7:09 am, "rick++" <rick...[at]hotmail.com> wrote:
- quote -

Thanks. I suspect that is the right answer. My computations
still differ slightly; but only only slightly. So perhaps I made
an error.

PS: I gave up on waiting for an SSA phone rep to answer.

- quote -

Thats the COLA increase.
The initial benfits formaula increases by a more substantial
amount (4.6% in 2008) tied to the annual wage index increase.

http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/COLA/bendpoints.html

The intiial social security pension has always been tied to wage
amounts
rather than inflation (COLA). Wages increase 50% faster than
inflation
accordign to goverment statistics. Switchint the formula increase to
COLA
would pretty much end the possibly of "bankruptcy" in the 2040s as
politicians have noted.

Errata....

On Dec 17, 7:44 am, "rick++" <rick...[at]hotmail.com> wrote:
- quote -

In my previous response to "rick++", I indicated that I did
see differences in the results of the downloaded "Detailed
Calculator" when I changed the (2008) processing month.

That is wrong! There is no difference. I was reading the
wrong part of the statement. (The scroll bar really jumps
a lot, at least in my configuration.)

In summary, regardless of the "processing month" (Jan
through Dec of 2008), the "Detailed Calculator" results
match the "Online Calculator" results for retirement ages
of 60, 66 and 70 and for disability. All those results differ
from my 2007 automatic statement.

But I suspect that "rick++" might still be onto something
given that my 2007 automatic statement was dated Mar
2007, and the calculators seem to think that the
"processing month" is some time in 2008.

On Dec 17, 7:33 am, bo peep <cowartmi...[at]yahoo.com> wrote:
- quote -

The "Detailed Calculator" yields the same results as the
"Online Calculator". Both differ from the 2007 statement
that was mailed automatically.

- quote -

As I stated earlier, I entered all of the same information that was
in my 2007 statement, including entire lifetime earnings history.

On Dec 17, 7:44 am, "rick++" <rick...[at]hotmail.com> wrote:
- quote -

I had thought of that, too. But SS retirements benefits increased
3.3% for 2007 over 2006, and 2.3% for 2008 over 2007. That differs
significantly from the percentage differences between my 2007
statement and the "Online Calculator". (See my previous posting).
Those percentage differences also differ from the inflation factors
used by the "Online Calculator" -- even if I adjust them for the 9
months (less than full year) difference between my statement date
and the date when I used the "Online Calculator" (Dec 2007). (And
recall that I selected "today's dollars" instead of inflation
adjustment.)

Nevertheless, I am sure you are onto something with your suggestion.
There is definitely some kind of "proration" incorporated in the
calculators and, presumably, the automatic statements. The
downloaded "Detailed Calculator" asks for "month in 2008" [sic]
that the statement is processed. When I select "Jan" (closest to
Dec 2007), the "Detailed Calculator" yields the same results as
the "Online Calculator" -- both different from the automatic 2007
statement. But when I select "Apr", the results of the "Detailed
Calculator" change: they are lower -- the opposite of what we
would expect if some inflation factor or benefits increase were
prorated.

In conclusion, the month and perhaps the year in which the
statement (i.e. the equivalent information) is processed does
make a difference, even if all the input information is exactly
the same (and complete). I don't know why. I will see if the SSA
has answer for me, now that they're on the clock.

I am still curious about why the disability benefit differs from the
FRA retirement benefit in the same statement (i.e. based on the
same inputs and processed at the same time). My interpretation
of the disability benefit is that it allows you to get your FRA
retirement benefit at an earlier age. Note that SSA FAQ states
that your disability benefit is reclassified as full retirement
benefit when you reach your FRA, and the FAQ states that the
amount of the benefit is not changed (for that reason, anyway).

I'll see if the SSA has answer for that question, as well.

On Dec 17, 8:44 am, "rick++" <rick...[at]hotmail.com> wrote:
- quote -

The calculator has a provision for inputting future earnings, or it
will estimate them for you using a choice of several different
estimation methods.

- quote -

I seldom turn down extra money... ;> )

Were the statement and the calculator for the exact same year?
The amounts increase 4-5% each year (based in the US
average wage index). You may be pleasantly surprised to
find your annual statement is one year behind.

On Dec 16, 11:55 am, whatsupdoc...[at]hotmail.com wrote:
- quote -

Because that calculator only gives an approximate result. To get the
*exact* same result, you would use the detailed calculator (http://
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/a...scription.html)

The detailed calculation requires entering your *entire* lifetime
earnings history, so that the best 35 years can be selected, including
allowing for the "bend points" in the calculation.

I recently loaded the detailed calculator and entered my history. It
gave the exact same result as the numbers on my printed statement.

Why doesn't the results of the Soc Sec "Online Calculator"
per se match the results shown in my 2007 statement?

(Note: There are 3 SS benefits calculators at ssa.gov. I am
referring to the one actually called "Online Calculator".)

Clearly, this is a question for the SSA. But I wonder if anyone
here can offer some insight.

According to my 2007 statement, my estimated initial monthly
retirement payment would be 1633, 2201 and 2922 at ages 60,
66 and 70 respectively. My estimated initial monthly disability
payment would be 2159.

But when I fill in the same SS earnings into the "Online
Calculator", using the same SS earnings for 2006, 2007, 2008
and 2009/later that I earned in 2005 (my SS statement did not
show SS earnings for 2006), the estimated initial monthly
retirement payment would be 1702, 2289 and 3031 in "today's
dollars". The estimated initial monthly disability payment would
be 2256.

The difference is small -- 69, 88 ,109 and 97 -- "close enough
for government work", some might say. But the percentage
difference is signifcant: 4.2%, 4.0%, 3.7% and 4.5%.

Extra credit: Why isn't the disability benefit (2256) the same
as the retirement benefit (2238) if I set the SS earnings for
2009/later to zero?

Again, a small difference of only 18.

But the "Online Calculator" explains: "For the disability and
survivors estimates that follow, we assumed you became
disabled or died in 2008. We did not use earnings after 2008
in calculating these estimates."

So I expected the results to be the same.