How we check our numbers
People use this site to make decisions they can't easily undo, like picking a retirement date or a survivor option. So every rule and figure here comes from the agency that publishes it, and we say where it came from and when we last checked it.
Where our numbers come from
We use the rule books, handbooks, laws and data tables that the agencies themselves publish. We don't copy numbers from other websites, news stories or forums. Each guide links to its sources next to the rule they support, so you can check them yourself.
| Topic | Where we get it |
|---|---|
| Oregon PERS | Oregon PERS member handbooks, the actuarial equivalency factor tables, PERS news releases and the Oregon Revised Statutes, chapters 238 and 238A (oregon.gov/pers) |
| Washington DRS | Plan handbooks and retirement planning pages from the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (drs.wa.gov) and the Revised Code of Washington, title 41 |
| Federal FERS | The Office of Personnel Management's retirement pages and CSRS/FERS Handbook (opm.gov) and Title 5 of the U.S. Code, chapter 84 |
| TSP | The Thrift Savings Plan's own pages and booklets (tsp.gov) |
| Social Security | The Social Security Administration's rules, the Program Operations Manual System (POMS) and the yearly figures published by SSA's Office of the Chief Actuary (ssa.gov) |
| Medicare and health insurance | Medicare.gov, CMS, HealthCare.gov, OPM's FEHB pages and each retirement system's retiree health pages |
| Taxes | IRS publications (such as Publication 575 on pensions and annuities and Publication 915 on Social Security benefits) and each state's revenue department |
When we re-check them
Most retirement figures change on a fixed schedule. We re-check them when the agency publishes the new numbers, update the tools, and change the "Rules checked" date at the top of each guide. Every change is listed on our What changed page.
| When | What we update |
|---|---|
| October | Social Security cost-of-living raise, bend points, earnings limit and wage cap. FERS and CSRS retiree raises are set from the same inflation figure. |
| November | Medicare Part B premium, deductibles and the high-income surcharges (IRMAA). IRS contribution limits for the TSP, 457(b) and 403(b) plans. |
| January | Oregon PERS salary limits, IAP threshold and actuarial factors. Tax brackets and standard deductions for the new year. |
| July | Washington DRS Plan 1 and Plan 2/3 cost-of-living adjustments, and changes from each state's legislative session. |
| Any time | New laws, such as the 2025 Social Security Fairness Act, are added as soon as the agency explains how it will apply them. |
How we write a guide
- Start from the official rule. We read the agency's own handbook or the law, not a summary of it.
- Write it in plain words. Every term a reader might not know gets a short explanation or a link to our glossary.
- Add a worked example. Numbers make rules easier to follow, so most guides walk through one made-up person's situation step by step.
- Link the source next to the rule. Not in a list at the bottom, but right where you'd want to check it.
- Say what we don't know. When a rule depends on details only your retirement system has, we say so and tell you who to ask.
How we test the calculators
- Every formula in our calculators is written down in the tool's "How we worked this out" section, with the source for each step.
- We check results against the examples the agencies publish in their own handbooks and against their online calculators where they offer one.
- We test each tool on phones, tablets and computers, at every text size, in light and dark colors.
- Your answers stay on your device. The calculators run in your browser and don't send what you type to us or anyone else.
What our tools can't know
Our calculators give estimates. Your actual benefit depends on records only your retirement system has: your exact service history, every paycheck that counts, past refunds or purchases, and how a court order or a break in service affects you. Before you choose a date, ask your retirement system and Social Security for official estimates. Our countdown checklist shows when to ask.
If you find a mistake
Please tell us. Write to info@publicpensionplanner.com with the page and what looks wrong, and a link to the official source if you have one. We check every report against the source, fix confirmed errors promptly, and list the fix on the What changed page.
Who we are. Public Retirement Planner is an independent site owned and run by X Ventures LLC. We aren't part of any government agency, and we don't sell investments, insurance or financial advice. Read more about this site.