Editorial & Methodology

How we build our calculators, where the numbers come from, and what to do if you think something is wrong.

Why This Page Exists

Government benefit rules change every year. Premiums, deductibles, income thresholds, and eligibility limits are updated annually by federal agencies, sometimes with little public notice. If a calculator on this site is using outdated numbers, it can give you a wrong answer about something that affects your monthly budget.

This page explains exactly how our calculators are built, where the numbers come from, how often they're checked, and what to do if you think something is wrong.

How Our Calculators Are Built

Every calculator on SeniorGovBenefits.com follows the same five-step process:

Step 1 — Source Identification

We identify the official government agency responsible for the program the calculator covers: Social Security Administration, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, or the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Step 2 — Direct Sourcing

We pull figures directly from that agency's official fact sheets, Federal Register notices, or published rate tables. We do not use third-party estimates, projections, or figures from other benefits websites.

Step 3 — Formula Construction

We build the calculation logic to match the agency's own published rules as closely as possible, including thresholds, phase-outs, and rounding rules where they apply.

Step 4 — Internal Testing

Before publishing, we test each calculator against known example cases published by the source agency, to confirm the output matches official guidance.

Step 5 — Annual Review

Every calculator is reviewed at minimum once per year, when the relevant agency releases its updated figures for the new calendar year. Some programs update on different schedules; we track all of them.

What "Last Reviewed" Means

Every calculator and article on this site displays a "Last Updated" date. This reflects the most recent date we confirmed the figures on that page against the source agency's current published data. If a page has not been reviewed recently, treat any dollar figures on it as a starting point for your own research, not a final answer.

What This Site Is Not

  • Not a government website. We are not affiliated with the Social Security Administration, CMS, the IRS, the USDA, the VA, or any other federal or state agency.
  • Not legal, financial, tax, or medical advice. Our calculators are built for informational and educational purposes to help you understand roughly what you may owe or qualify for. They are not a substitute for a determination made by the actual agency, a licensed financial advisor, an accountant, or an attorney.
  • Not a guarantee of your actual benefit or cost. Your specific situation — including work history, filing status, state of residence, and other factors — can change your actual numbers. Only the relevant agency can give you a final, binding determination.

Standard Disclaimer

The following disclaimer applies to every calculator and article on this site: This calculator uses official figures published by [SSA / CMS / IRS / USDA / VA] for the current calendar year. Last reviewed: 2026. It is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, tax, or medical advice. For a determination specific to your situation, contact the relevant agency directly or consult a licensed professional.

How We Handle Corrections

If you believe a figure on this site is incorrect or out of date, we want to know. Government figures occasionally change mid-year due to legislation, court rulings, or agency corrections, and we may not catch every update immediately.

To report a possible error, use the contact form with the following details:

  • The page URL
  • The specific figure you believe is incorrect
  • A link to the official source you're referencing, if you have one

We review correction requests and update affected pages as quickly as possible, generally within 2 business days.

Our Sources

Every figure on this site traces back to one of the following official sources. For the complete list with direct links, see our Data Sources page.

  • Social Security Administration (ssa.gov)
  • Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (cms.gov, medicare.gov)
  • Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service (fns.usda.gov)
  • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (va.gov)

This page was last reviewed in 2026. If you have questions about our methodology, reach us by filling out the contact us form. Email: contact@seniorgovbenefits.com