Motorists now face up to $10,000 in fines and potentially a decade behind bars if caught driving while intoxicated. Texas has raised the stakes for anyone who chooses to drive after drinking or using drugs. The new rules take aim at repeat offenders, under‑21 motorists, and anyone endangering children on Lone Star roads—all while promising … Read more
Beginning this week, international students and exchange visitors face a new hurdle: every F, M, and J applicant must set social media accounts to “public” and list every handle from the last five years. Foreign students eyeing American campuses will find the visa interview a lot more personal. Consular officers will still review passports, transcripts, and bank … Read more
Disney confirms the permanent closure of three Magic Kingdom touchstones, clearing space for a Pixar‑themed Piston Peak National Park and a rumored Villains Land. Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is about to lose three of its calmest corners. On July 7, the legendary Liberty Square Riverboat, Tom Sawyer Island, and the surrounding Rivers of America waterway will sail, raft, and ripple for … Read more
Up to $292 in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will land on Electronic Benefit Transfer cards between June 22 and June 28, closing out June payments for nine states and Puerto Rico. June’s last round of food‑stamp money is almost here. Recipients in Alabama, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Puerto Rico, and other participating areas have just … Read more
From Massachusetts’ $823 weekly cap to Mississippi’s $235, here’s what jobless workers need to know about eligibility, paperwork and timelines this year. In 2025, unemployment insurance—funded jointly by states and the federal government—remains the safety net for workers who lose their jobs through no fault of their own. Rules are set in Washington, but every … Read more
The Cincinnati‑based grocer says the closures—about 5 percent of its footprint—will free up cash to upgrade surviving stores amid a tough retail climate. Kroger will close 60 supermarkets over the next year and a half, trimming roughly one in twenty of its 1,239 U.S. locations. The decision, announced alongside first‑quarter earnings, follows a $100 million impairment charge … Read more
Millions of low‑income households can stretch their grocery dollars this June, July, and August thanks to higher SNAP allotments and the return of SUN Bucks. Together, the programs may deliver as much as $656 to a family of two—and even more to larger households—right when kids are home and food bills spike. The USDA now sets … Read more
New projections show the program could pay only 78 percent of promised benefits within nine years—leaving millions to fill a painful income gap. The Social Security Board of Trustees’ 2025 report lands like a thunderclap: by 2034, the combined Old‑Age and Disability Insurance trust funds will hit zero. After that, incoming payroll taxes would cover roughly … Read more
Rising living costs make missed student‑loan payments riskier than ever, and the government can now dock up to 15 percent of your take‑home pay without a court hearing. What can borrowers do to stay solvent? If you fall behind on federal student loans, the Department of Education can launch Administrative Wage Garnishment (AWG) after giving just … Read more
Checks are already on the way, giving Georgians a welcome cushion against rising prices. Roughly 4.4 million Georgia taxpayers will soon see a little extra in their wallets. A fresh round of one‑time rebates—signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp on April 15—funnels part of the state’s historic $16.5 billion surplus straight to the households that generated it. If … Read more
Millions of retirees may see only a slight bump in monthly checks next year, and some advocates warn it still won’t keep pace with rising prices. A preliminary forecast from The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) pegs the 2026 cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) at 2.5 percent, nudging up from last month’s 2.4 percent outlook. If the projection holds, the … Read more
Splitting up changes more than your relationship status—it can change your bottom line at tax time. Here’s how the IRS says you can avoid costly surprises. The Internal Revenue Service is reminding newly separated or soon‑to‑be‑single filers that a summer divorce will shape every line of the next Form 1040. From choosing the right filing status … Read more
Direct‐deposit alert for millions of Supplemental Security Income recipients next month. Millions of older adults, people with disabilities and low‑income Americans depend on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to keep the lights on and the fridge stocked. Next month’s payment date matters—and it’s straightforward once you know the rule. July’s SSI benefit, worth up to $967, will … Read more
New analysis shows delaying benefits boosts lifetime income for many Americans, but timing still hinges on individual health and finances. Millions of retirees rely on Social Security as their financial backbone, so choosing when to claim matters. The Social Security Administration (SSA) lets workers start at 62, yet every year of patience up to age 70 … Read more
After years of reduced benefits, teachers, police officers, and other public servants will once again receive their complete Social Security payments thanks to the Social Security Fairness Act signed in January. The measure reverses prior offsets that slashed—or even erased—retirement checks for workers who also earned a government pension. Beginning this summer, retroactive payments dating … Read more
Millions of Americans could see their retirement budgets swell next year after the Social Security Administration confirmed that qualifying spouses—and even former spouses—may receive up to 50 percent of their partner’s full‑retirement‑age benefit. The 50 percent ceiling is not new, but the agency’s fresh guidance clarifies deadlines and age rules for the 2025 benefit cycle, giving couples … Read more
SSA tightens verification rules after fraud surge; retirees, SSI, and SSDI recipients urged to gather original documents now The Social Security Administration (SSA) will require most beneficiaries to show up at a local office for identity verification starting this June. The change affects more than 68 million Americans and could briefly stall monthly payments if paperwork … Read more
Two very different state programs promise extra cash before December 31—but only if you tick the right boxes. Millions of households in Alaska and California may soon see welcome relief as both states roll out targeted stimulus checks in 2025. While the federal government is still debating broader aid, these state‑level payments are already scheduled, … Read more
After a flurry of legislation and inflation tweaks, millions of Americans must rethink their claiming strategy this year. Social Security is changing faster than many seniors expected. From heftier monthly checks to the rollback of two controversial offsets, 2025 is rewriting the rulebook and, perhaps, retirement timelines. Here’s what matters most—without the jargon. Cost‑of‑living (COLA) … Read more
Taxpayers who brush off a last‑chance bill from the Internal Revenue Service risk seeing their house auctioned to cover overdue balances. The IRS is turning up the heat on chronic tax debtors. Under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), the agency can attach a lien, seize real estate and sell it—sometimes within weeks—if required steps go … Read more