Deductions & credits

From the pub 334:

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p334.pdf

Why use an optional method?

You may want to use the optional methods (discussed later) when you have a
loss or a small net profit and any one of the following applies.
• You want to receive credit for social security benefit
coverage.
• You incurred child or dependent care expenses for
which you could claim a credit. (An optional method
may increase your earned income, which could increase your credit.)
• You are entitled to the earned income credit. (An optional method may increase your earned income,
which could increase your credit.)
Chapter 10 Self-Employment (SE) Tax Page 41
• You are entitled to the additional child tax credit. (An
optional method may increase your earned income,
which could increase your credit.)

Effects of using an optional method. 

Using an optional method could increase your SE tax. Paying more SE tax
could result in your getting higher benefits when you retire.

Using the optional methods may also decrease your AGI due to the deduction for one-half of SE tax on Form
1040 or 1040-SR, which may affect your eligibility for credits, deductions, or other items that are subject to an
AGI limit. Figure your AGI with and without using the optional methods to see if the optional methods will benefit you.

If you use either or both optional methods, you must figure and pay the SE tax due under these methods even if you would have had a smaller tax or no tax using the regular method.

The optional methods may be used only to figure your SE tax. To figure your income tax, include your actual
earnings in gross income, regardless of which method you use to determine SE tax.

And the program does handle this ... it is just not put front and center and it can only be used 5 times per person :