Frequently Asked Questions
Questions we hear most about the site itself: how reliable the results are, what happens to your information, who pays for it, and how to tell us when something is off. Questions about a single calculator are answered on that calculator's page.
About your results
Are these results official?
No. They are estimates built from figures that agencies publish. Only the Social Security Administration, the IRS, CMS or your state can make a determination about your own case, and if one of their notices differs from a result here, the notice is the one that counts.
Why is my answer different from my Social Security statement?
Your statement is built from the earnings record SSA actually holds for you and projects future earnings in its own way. A calculator here uses only what you type, and benefits are rounded down to whole dollars as SSA does it. Small gaps are normal. A large gap usually means an input differs from your record, so check your my Social Security account.
Which year do the numbers use?
Each tool states its year near the top. Where it matters, such as benefits, the earnings test and required minimum distributions, you can choose between 2026 and 2027 figures. Medicare premium tools use the year printed on the page.
Why did a tool ask for my income two years ago?
Medicare surcharges (IRMAA) are set from the tax return filed two years before the premium year, so 2026 premiums reflect 2024 income. If your income has fallen because of retirement, marriage, divorce or another qualifying event, SSA has a form to ask for a fresh look.
Does every tool cover my state?
Not every program works the same everywhere. Medicaid and state income tax rules in particular vary, and a tool will say when it applies a federal rule or a specific state rule. When your state is not covered, your state Medicaid or revenue agency has the final word.
Your information
Do you save the numbers I enter?
No. Calculations run in your browser, and what you enter is not sent to our servers. Refreshing or closing the page clears it. The privacy policy covers this in detail, including how to confirm it yourself.
Do I need an account or to give an email address?
No. Every tool and guide is free to use without signing up, and none asks for a Social Security number or account numbers.
What do you measure about visitors?
We use Google Analytics to see which pages and tools get used, and our ad partner may set cookies for advertising. Neither receives the figures you type into a calculator. The privacy policy lists the details and your opt-out choices.
Who we are and how we pay for this
Are you part of the government or Medicare?
No. Seniors Audit is an independent educational site. We name SSA, CMS, the IRS and Medicare because that is where the rules come from, not because we speak for them.
How does the site make money?
Through display advertising from our ad partner, Journey by Mediavine. We do not take commissions for recommending insurance plans, annuities or investments, and advertising has no say over formulas or guidance.
Will you tell me which plan or product to buy?
No. We explain how options differ and show what they could cost, but we do not sell or rank products for a fee. Decisions about a specific plan are best made with your State Health Insurance Assistance Program counselor or another independent advisor.
Is this financial, tax or legal advice?
It is education. A tool can show you how a rule applies to the numbers you enter, but it cannot see your whole situation. For large withdrawals, disputes with the IRS, divorce or estates, talk with a qualified professional.
Corrections and updates
How do you keep figures current?
Agencies announce new amounts in the fall: SSA in October, CMS and the IRS around the same season. We add the new year's figures alongside the old ones rather than overwriting them. The methodology page explains how each figure is recorded and checked.
I think a number is wrong. What should I do?
Use the contact page and include the page, what you entered, and the agency page you are comparing with. We read the source ourselves and correct the page if it supports you.
Where can I see the documents you rely on?
The Sources page lists the agency documents behind our stored figures and the main rules and forms our tools refer to, with the date each figure was last checked.
Still have a question?
Read how our calculators work, browse the sources we rely on, or write to us.