This box containing two radio buttons is available if you are requesting a benefit estimate at a date after the last known maximum earnings base. Choose "Automatic" if you want the wage base to increase in accordance with the automatic provisions of the law. The wage base increases in step with the projected average wages (with a 2-year lag), except that the wage base does not change if there is no benefit increase for that year. Choose "Ad hoc" if you want to enter your own wage bases.