Economy

Goodbye to trust funds: Medicare and Social Security will cut benefits if reforms are not approved by 2033-2034

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Medicare health insurance card with dollar bills, symbolizing upcoming benefit cuts and funding shortfalls by 2033–2034

Federal trustees warn that the nation’s two cornerstone safety‑net programs are on a faster collision course with insolvency than anyone hoped. Their June 18, 2025 report says Medicare’s Hospital Insurance Trust Fund will be emptied in 2033—three years earlier than last year’s outlook—while the combined Social Security retirement and disability funds reach zero in 2034. Millions of retirees, workers, and … Read more

This $2 bill could be any collector’s dream and be in your home: it’s worth up to $20,000

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Rare $2 bills with unique serial numbers under magnifying glass

Millions of two‑dollar bills remain in circulation, but savvy collectors will pay five figures for the rarest—sometimes as much as $20,000 for a single pristine note. Anyone with an old wallet, a forgotten lockbox, or a parent’s dresser drawer could hit the mini‑lottery. Why? Because the small details on a humble $2 bill can turn … Read more

It’s official: the United States needs to sell more than 104 million hectares of public land: this is the largest auction in modern history

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Logos of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service over a federal grassland targeted for public land auction

The Senate has green‑lit the biggest divestiture of federal land in modern U.S. history, ordering the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service to auction up to 104.4 million hectares across 11 western states. Lawmakers say the revenue—an estimated $29 billion between 2025 and 2034—will help fund promised tax cuts and speed new housing construction. … Read more

SNAP benefits of up to $292 reach EBT cards June 22-28—see if your state is on the list

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Map of the United States with June 2025 calendar and SNAP benefits logo indicating EBT deposit dates

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

The summer SNAP program and SUN Bucks could help families: now you can get up to $656 more

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Grocery bag labeled ‘Summer’ with fresh produce beside a SNAP-logo notebook, symbolizing Summer SNAP and SUN Bucks benefits worth up to $656.

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

Missed student-loan bills? Act fast to prevent up to 15 percent of your wages being seized

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Man in a suit pointing beside a U.S. Department of Education sign at 400 Maryland Avenue SW in Washington, D.C.

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

TSCL flags risk to 2026 COLA raise: what to expect in 2026

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United States Capitol flanked by American flags with “Cost of Living in USA” and The Senior Citizens League logo, illustrating TSCL’s warning about a modest 2026 Social Security COLA.

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

Confirmed: The $333 payment to beneficiaries of the Blue Cross Blue Shield contract is still on track for summer, and many have already received it

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Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina sign outside the insurer’s headquarters, symbolizing the ongoing $333 settlement payments to beneficiaries.

Checks tied to a $2.67 billion antitrust deal are finally landing in mailboxes—are you on the list? Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) policyholders who filed a claim by November 5, 2021 are seeing an average $333 payout, closing a lawsuit that accused the insurer of squeezing competition and inflating premiums. After years of appeals, the first wave of checks … Read more

Confirmed: the promised payment of $5,000 in “DOGE” never materialized, was never funded, and was never viable

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Red “no” symbol over a fake $5,000 DOGE check in front of the U.S. Capitol, with a fan of $100 bills, illustrating the debunked congressional payment hoax.

The much‑touted payout turned out to be another internet mirage, leaving would‑be recipients empty‑handed. Social media has been buzzing for months about a supposed $5,000 “DOGE check” that would be mailed to every U.S. household. The rumor, amplified by high‑profile tech voices and a handful of populist politicians, promised windfalls from alleged federal “efficiency” savings. … Read more

Social Security confirms 2.5 million back payments sent—find out whether yours is on the way

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Hand holds Social Security card outside SSA office as agency issues 2.5 million retroactive benefit payments.

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

Confirmed: This city is opening a $3.9 million housing relief fund for eligible residents

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Stack of $50 bills peeking from a brown envelope, illustrating Richmond’s $3.9 million housing relief grant for eligible residents.

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

The IRS confirms payment | $3,034 refunds will arrive in eligible taxpayers’ bank accounts by June 15

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IRS globe illustration over $100 bills symbolizes $3,034 tax refunds reaching eligible taxpayers’ bank accounts by June 15

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

Say goodbye to veterans’ benefits: Thousands face immediate loss of benefits under Trump’s tax

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Female U.S. soldier in camouflage salutes Donald Trump before American flag backdrop.

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

It’s official: this month, new aid checks will be issued to citizens who meet these requirements

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U.S. twenty-dollar bills spilling from a black envelope, symbolizing the new aid checks headed to eligible citizens this month.

Citizens across the United States may soon see some relief as part of a fresh initiative aimed at supporting those dealing with economic hardships. This development comes at a time when countless individuals struggle with the high cost of living and persistent inflation. The government’s new effort, called the Family First Economic Support Program (FFESP), … Read more

Good news for New Yorkers: Combine SSI with ten more payments to combat rising costs

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Hand holding several $100 bills on yellow background represents extra cash from combining SSI with ten New York benefits.

State residents living on Supplemental Security Income risk leaving money on the table. Here’s what to know before the new year. Living in New York on a fixed SSI check is tough when rent, groceries and utilities keep rising. Yet Albany and Washington funnel extra cash, food and bill relief to people who meet the same … Read more

The Bank Secrecy Act confirms it: withdrawing more than $10,000 in cash is not illegal, but it may raise suspicion

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Hand holding a stack of US $100 bills over a background of scattered $100 bills.

Thinking of emptying the teller drawer? Here’s why that five-figure withdrawal sparks an instant paper trail. When you ask a U.S. bank for $10,000 in cash, the money is yours—but the information about the transaction is Uncle Sam’s. Federal rules require every institution to flag the move, share the details with regulators, and keep the … Read more

SNAP announces $975 for families of four in June—check your qualifying status

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Grocery shopping basket with fruits like bananas and pineapple, featuring SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) logo on the front, in a supermarket aisle

More than 4 million households stand to receive the top monthly allotment—here’s what to know before hitting the store. For many recipients, the June Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment is already circled in red on the calendar. Families with four members could see as much as $975 land on their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) … Read more

It’s official: which SNAP users can expect combined state stimulus deposits without extra paperwork?

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Paper grocery bag with SNAP logo and fresh produce beside a U.S. flag–shaped map, symbolizing automatic state stimulus deposits for SNAP users.

If you are a SNAP beneficiary, you might soon enjoy a welcome boost to your budget. From additional monthly payments to simplified application procedures, this new initiative aims to help more families across the country make ends meet. In a nutshell, this combined benefit merges the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) with local Stimulus Checks … Read more