Free resources
The official retirement links worth bookmarking.
The numbers that drive a retirement plan change every year: tax brackets, Social Security raises, Medicare premiums, contribution limits. These are the government sources we check them against, with a plain-English note on what each one is for.
Taxes
Current brackets and the rules behind them
Taxes are often the biggest expense in retirement that nobody budgets for.
Federal income tax rates & brackets
irs.govThe current brackets for single and married filers, with a link to next year's inflation-adjusted figures when the IRS releases them.
Is my Social Security taxable? (Pub. 915)
irs.govUp to 85% of benefits can be taxed depending on your other income. This explains the thresholds and the worksheet.
Tax withholding estimator
irs.govSet the right withholding on a pension or a paycheck so you aren't surprised in April.
Investor.gov
SECFree, unbiased calculators and plain-language explainers from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The plan's tax engine applies the brackets year by year and shows when a Roth conversion fills a low bracket instead of pushing you into a higher one.
IRAs, 401(k)s & RMDs
Limits and required withdrawals
Required minimum distributions (RMDs)
irs.govWhen you must start withdrawing from traditional IRAs and 401(k)s, how the amount is figured, and the penalty for missing one.
IRA contribution limits
irs.govThis year's IRA limits, including the extra catch-up amount for age 50 and older, and the Roth income limits.
Planning for retirement
CFPBGuides from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on pensions, reverse mortgages, choosing an adviser and when to claim.
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
pbgc.govIf you have a private-sector pension: what's insured if the plan fails, and how to find a lost pension.
Medicare & health coverage
Before 65 and after
Healthcare is the cost most people underestimate, especially in the years before Medicare starts.
What Medicare costs this year
medicare.govCurrent premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket limits for Parts A, B, D, Medicare Advantage and Medigap.
Medicare Plan Finder
medicare.govCompare drug plans and Medicare Advantage plans available in your ZIP code.
Lower your IRMAA surcharge
ssa.govHigher incomes pay more for Parts B and D. If retirement cut your income, you can ask Social Security to lower it with Form SSA-44.
Free Medicare counseling (SHIP)
shiphelp.orgFree, unbiased, one-on-one help from your state's health insurance assistance program. They don't sell anything.
HealthCare.gov
healthcare.govMarketplace coverage if you retire before 65. Your premium help depends on your income, which your withdrawal plan controls.
The planner's Medicare page estimates premiums, the IRMAA tiers and the pre-65 coverage gap, so they show up in your spending plan instead of surprising you.
Long-term care
Plan for care before you need it
Long-term care basics
acl.govWhat long-term care is, who pays for what, and what Medicare does and doesn't cover, from the Administration for Community Living.
Cost of Care Survey
CareScoutHome care, assisted living and nursing home costs where you live. This is the long-running survey many planners use.
Eldercare Locator
acl.govFind local services for older adults and caregivers, or call 1-800-677-1116.
Want the numbers in action? Our retirement guides walk through safe spending, market crashes, Roth conversions and healthcare costs using a real sample plan.
About these links. Every resource here is free, and most are official U.S. government sites. RetireBlueprint Pro isn't affiliated with any of them and earns nothing from these links. Links were last checked in October 2026. If one breaks, email retireblueprintpro@gmail.com and we'll fix it.
Social Security
Know your real benefit
Your benefit estimate is the single most important input in most retirement plans. Get it from the source.
my Social Security account
ssa.govYour personal benefit estimates at every claiming age, plus your full earnings record. Check it for missing years.
Full retirement age & early claiming
ssa.govHow much your benefit shrinks if you claim before full retirement age, by birth year.
Quick benefit calculator
ssa.govA rough estimate without signing in. Useful for a spouse or for a quick what-if.
Cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)
ssa.govThis year's Social Security raise, the earnings limit if you work while claiming, and the latest Medicare Part B premium.
In RetireBlueprint Pro, you enter each person's benefit and claiming date once, and the plan handles the COLA and the survivor benefit for you. See it in the sample plan →