Data Sources
Every figure, threshold, and rule on this site comes from an official U.S. government source. Here's the complete list — with direct links.
Every figure, threshold, and rule used across our calculators and articles comes from an official U.S. government source. This page lists every agency we cite, along with direct links to where we pull our data. If you want to verify any number on this site yourself, this is the place to start.
We do not use third-party estimates, other benefits websites, or projections as sources for the figures in our calculators. Where a figure is a projection rather than a finalized official number, we say so directly on the relevant page.
Social Security Administration (SSA)
Used for: Social Security retirement benefits, SSDI, SSI, COLA adjustments, full retirement age tables, earnings limits.
- Main site: ssa.gov
- Benefit amounts and COLA: ssa.gov/cola
- SSI program details: ssa.gov/ssi
- SSDI program details: ssa.gov/disability
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Used for: Medicare Part A, B, and D premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, IRMAA brackets, Medicaid eligibility figures.
- Main site: cms.gov
- Medicare premiums and deductibles fact sheets: cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets
- Consumer-facing Medicare information: medicare.gov
- Medicaid program information: medicaid.gov
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Used for: Tax brackets, standard deductions, Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) figures, and any tax-related thresholds referenced in our calculators.
- Main site: irs.gov
- EITC program details: irs.gov — EITC
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service
Used for: SNAP (food assistance) eligibility limits, benefit amounts, and income thresholds.
- Main site: fns.usda.gov
- SNAP program details: fns.usda.gov/snap
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Used for: Veterans disability compensation rates, pension amounts, and eligibility rules.
- Main site: va.gov
- Disability compensation rates: va.gov/disability/compensation-rates
- VA pension program details: va.gov/pension
Federal Register
Used for: Official rule publications when an agency's own site has not yet been updated with the finalized figures for a given year.
- Main site: federalregister.gov
How We Use These Sources
Each calculator on this site is built and tested against the specific fact sheet, notice, or published table from the agency responsible for that program. When an agency updates its figures — typically once a year — we review the relevant calculator and update it to match. The date of our most recent review is shown on every calculator and article as a "Last Updated" date.
If you find a figure on this site that does not match the current official source, please let us know. See our Editorial & Methodology page for how to report a correction.
This page was last reviewed in 2026. This site is not affiliated with the Social Security Administration, CMS, the IRS, the USDA, the VA, or any other federal or state government agency.