@dmertz I was focused on where box 9b was populated,..... those are the ones where I see box 2a being blank.... but your link explains it: when there are voluntary contributions, they don't populate Box 2a, which is crazy! they should have all the information required to populate it.
in y expereince, 9 times out of 10, use of the Simplified Method is driven by OPM retirees 1099-Rs.
