Early estimate suggests modest rise for 71 million beneficiaries, edging past last month’s outlook and hinting at larger checks next year. The Social Security cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) looks set to rise by about 2.5 percent in 2026, according to fresh June projections from The Senior Citizens League and inflation analyst Mary Johnson. Wondering how much that means … Read more
New income and asset limits mean more seniors, disabled adults—and even some low‑income families—now qualify for Medicare’s Extra Help subsidy. If your medication co‑pays keep getting in the way of rent or groceries, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has good news. The Extra Help program, requested with How the SSA‑1020 form can cut your 2025 … Read more
Staying on top of your tax duties doesn’t just shield you from penalties—it can keep money in your pocket, too. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has set June 16, 2025 as the last day for U.S. citizens and resident aliens living abroad to submit 2024 federal returns. The automatic two‑month grace period covers expatriates and active‑duty military … Read more
Typical full‑retirement‑age beneficiaries are now seeing about $2,102 each month, while the richest payments top $5,108 for those who wait until 70. Retirees who hit full retirement age (FRA) this year have good news: the average monthly Social Security benefit at age 67 sits at $2,101.74, according to the latest figures released in June 2025. That number is … Read more
Justices lift a lower‑court block, granting the Department of Government Efficiency a peek at records that follow Americans from birth to death. The nation’s top court has opened the vault. In a 6‑3 decision, the Supreme Court on Friday reinstated the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) access to Social Security Administration (SSA) databases—an ocean of … Read more
Goodbye to waiting lines—Social Security checks now land in your account automaticallySkip the paper shuffle: millions of SSA and SSI beneficiaries can get paid faster and safer with direct deposit or the Direct Express® debit card. If you still race the mail carrier for a paper check, here is welcome news. The Social Security Administration (SSA) … Read more
Starting in July 2025, beneficiaries will be able to view their full SSN online through a fortified mySocialSecurity portal, eliminating the need to carry the fragile paper card. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has confirmed a landmark upgrade that lets account holders pull up their nine‑digit number on any secure device. The change promises to spare … Read more
Millions of retirees could see their monthly checks shrink as early as July, thanks to a revived rule targeting unpaid federal student loans. The change restarts a collection tool frozen during the pandemic and allows the government to intercept part of a benefit before it ever reaches the bank. For roughly 452,000 older borrowers, the Treasury … Read more
Teachers, firefighters, police officers and other state and local workers can now reclaim benefits lost under the old WEP and GPO rules. Nearly four months after the Social Security Fairness Act took effect, the Social Security Administration (SSA) says it has already deposited more than 2.5 million one‑time retroactive payments into Americans’ bank accounts. The checks … Read more
The SSA’s June calendar places the next round of retirement payments on June 18 or June 25, depending on birthdays and when benefits first started. Father’s Day falls on Sunday, June 15, yet the Social Security Administration (SSA) never processes deposits on weekends or federal holidays. If your check usually lands mid‑month, you might have to wait a … Read more
RVA Stay Gap Grant will award $1,200 checks on a first‑come, first‑served basis. The City of Richmond, Virginia, has set aside $3.9 million to help renters and homeowners who spend a disproportionate share of their income on shelter. Under the new RVA Stay Gap Grant, successful applicants will receive a one‑time $1,200 payment, but funding will be … Read more
Millions of Americans who wrapped up their 2024 returns after a hectic spring can finally exhale. The Internal Revenue Service says a new wave of refunds — worth as much as $3,034 — will hit bank accounts no later than June 15, giving households a welcome cushion amid rising prices. If you filed online and chose direct deposit, the money could … Read more
More than 12.3 million records for Americans improbably listed at 120 years old—or older—have been wiped, closing a costly loophole for identity thieves. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has finished an 11‑week sweep of the Social Security Administration’s files, striking names that should have been marked deceased decades ago. Officials say the move will cut down … Read more
Millions of retired public workers will soon see their full Social Security checks again, thanks to a new federal law signed just before the presidential transition. For years many teachers, firefighters, and other public servants watched part of their earned benefit vanish. Now relief is on the way—and it starts retroactively from January 2024. What the … Read more
Losing a loved one is hard enough—missing out on a modest but timely $255 payment from Social Security shouldn’t add to the stress. Here’s what survivors need to know, in plain English. The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers a one‑time “death payment” of $255 to certain relatives of a worker who paid into the system. … Read more
More than 7 million Americans rely on Supplemental Security Income—here’s what changes next year and whether you’re leaving money on the table. If your wallet feels lighter than it should, SSI may soon give it a boost. The federal program will raise its maximum monthly check to $967 for individuals and $1,450 for eligible married … Read more
Paper check fans, take note: the Treasury’s looming deadline means tax refunds, Social Security benefits and other federal payments will soon land in bank accounts, not mailboxes. The IRS is encouraging every taxpayer to switch to electronic payments before the September 30, 2025 cutoff, citing faster delivery, lower fraud risk and fewer lost checks. Those who keep … Read more
Starting January 1, 2026, American workers will need to reach age 67 to claim the full Social Security retirement check—ending four decades of gradual increases and marking a permanent shift in how (and when) future retirees can cash in. For anyone eyeing their golden years, the new full retirement age (FRA) means planning just got real. Beneficiaries born in … Read more
House proposal looks generous, but hidden cuts could hit wallets and health care fast. A tax-and-spend package barreling through Congress could upend hard-won protections for U.S. veterans. The Trump-backed bill pumps record money into the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), yet watchdogs say it quietly slashes day-to-day support the moment it takes effect. Record funding … Read more
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has just three Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance (RSDI) checks left to send this June, and each one follows strict birth‑date and filing rules that millions of recipients need to watch. Missing the window could mean waiting until July. The last rounds of Wednesdays began on June 11 and only … Read more