SS Calc PWA

Before the numbers

Unpaid family work matters. This calculator only measures dollars used in Social Security math. It cannot measure love, caregiving, homemaking, ministry, volunteering, art, writing, or the sacrifice that holds a family together.

1. Family setupNeeds info

Single or married? Your name This name is used only to make the explanation easier to read. Spouse name If married is selected, this lets the calculator speak about the spouse respectfully by name. Your birthdate Spouse birthdate

Sections stay open until their required blanks are filled with an amount, $0, N/A, or another answer.

2. Main person moneyNeeds info

Planning year Social Security starts in what month? Estimated monthly Social Security before withholding Enter the monthly estimate SSA gives you before any work-income withholding. Earned income from work this year Use wages or net self-employment income for the year. This is the main number SSA uses for the earnings test. VA disability per month VA disability helps the family budget, but it is not counted as work income for this SSA earnings-test estimate. Other non-work income per month Use this for monthly pension, support, or other non-work money you want in the household picture.

VA disability is shown for household planning, but it is not counted as work income for the Social Security retirement earnings test.

3. Spouse and family-benefit possibilitiesNeeds info

Dan and Na family note

Because Dan is the eligible worker and Na is caring for Dan and Na’s 14-year-old child at home, the family should ask SSA about a spouse child-in-care benefit. This may matter even before Na turns 62.

Ask SSA: “If Dan starts Social Security retirement now, can Na receive a spouse child-in-care benefit because Na is caring for our child who is under 16?”

Does the spouse have paid income or benefits to enter? Is the spouse caring for a child under 16 or disabled? Estimated spouse benefit per month for the spouse, not the child Use SSA’s spouse estimate if you have one. If SSA only gives one combined family amount, do not type that same amount again here and in the child field.

Why the spouse may or may not add Social Security money

A spouse usually needs to be at least 62 to claim a regular spouse benefit. But a spouse may qualify at any age if caring for the eligible worker and spouse’s child who is under 16 or disabled, while the eligible worker is receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits.

If no spouse benefit is added, it does not mean the spouse is less valuable. It only means this calculator has no SSA dollar amount to add yet.

4. Child / dependentNeeds info

Do you have an eligible child/dependent to include? Number of eligible children/dependents Only include children/dependents you want SSA to consider for family benefits. Youngest child age This helps explain the under-16 child-in-care rule. Estimated child benefit per child per month for each child, not the spouse Use SSA’s child estimate if available. If SSA only gives one combined family amount, enter it only once so the app does not double-count it.

A child may qualify when a parent receives Social Security retirement or disability benefits, but SSA’s family maximum can reduce family amounts. Use SSA estimates when possible. Important: the child benefit and spouse child-in-care benefit can be separate benefits for separate people. But if SSA gives you one total family amount, enter it only once.

Plain-English result

5. Estimated Family Results

Install + GitHub HelpIncluded

Install button

The Install App button is at the top-right. It works best after opening this project from localhost or GitHub Pages. It usually will not install correctly by double-clicking index.html.

Share button

The Share App button lets you send the app link to friends. On smartphones it opens the normal phone share sheet. On laptops it copies the app link when browser sharing is not available.

Test locally

cd C:\GitHub\ss-calc-pwa
python -m http.server 5173

Then open:

http://localhost:5173

Put it on GitHub

git init
git add .
git commit -m "Create SS Calc PWA"
git branch -M main
git remote add origin https://github.com/YOUR-USERNAME/ss-calc-pwa.git
git push -u origin main

Then in GitHub: Settings → Pages → Deploy from a branch → main → /root → Save.

Save progress and continue later

Use Save Progress at the top of the app to save the answers in this browser. Use Load Saved later on the same computer/browser to bring them back. Download Results saves an HTML report; it does not reload the form.