Money, Wealth & Power—A Daily Look at the Financial World
President Trump has promised to protect Social Security, but the fine print of his agenda points to a very different outcome for retirees, workers, and people with disabilities. Independent analysts now warn that his approach could speed up the program’s financial crunch, reshape how benefits are delivered, and quietly trim support for some of the…
Retirees who rely on Social Security are staring at a potential shock: monthly checks could shrink by hundreds of dollars if Congress allows a key trust fund to run short. The projected hit, roughly $462 per month for a typical couple, would not be a slow erosion but an abrupt cut triggered by existing law…
Social Security beneficiaries are heading into a December that will not follow the usual payment rhythm, and the shift is significant enough that it could disrupt carefully planned household budgets. Instead of the familiar pattern that many retirees and disability recipients rely on, the calendar, federal holidays, and program rules are combining to move some…
Social Security recipients who qualify for Supplemental Security Income are scheduled to receive a $967 payment on December 1, 2025, as part of a month that could bring two checks for some beneficiaries. The Social Security Administration has outlined how this payment fits into the broader December calendar for retirees, spouses, survivors, and disabled individuals,…
Retirees across the country will see Social Security checks rise in 2026, but the biggest dollar boosts will be concentrated in just a handful of states. Because the 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment applies nationally, places with higher average benefits turn that percentage into larger monthly gains. I break down why five Northeastern states are poised to…
Social Security’s long-anticipated funding crunch is no longer a distant problem for future retirees. Under current law, once the program’s main trust fund runs short, monthly benefits would be automatically reduced across the board, and the latest projections show that cliff arriving sooner than many Americans expect. I want to walk through what that projected…
Retirees now have a clear number to plan around for next year’s Social Security checks. After two years of unusually high inflation adjustments, the 2026 increase will be more modest, but it still represents a meaningful bump for millions of households that rely on benefits to cover rent, groceries and medical bills. The key question…
Social Security beneficiaries are getting a raise in 2026 that looks decent on paper but feels smaller once it hits the household budget. The cost-of-living adjustment is boosted by the same inflation pressures that have defined President Donald Trump’s second term, yet the increase still struggles to keep pace with what retirees actually pay for…
Every American who expects to collect Social Security has one nonnegotiable task to finish by the end of 2025: lock in an accurate, up to date record of their earnings and benefits. The stakes are simple but enormous, because a single mistake in your file can quietly shrink every monthly payment you receive for the…
Social Security has always been a slow-moving program, but the latest projections around President Donald Trump’s agenda suggest the safety net could hit a crisis point far sooner than expected. Independent budget analysts now warn that his tax and payroll ideas could accelerate the program’s cash shortfall so sharply that its main trust fund would…