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What to Know for Thursday, April 9, 2026: |
1: Social Security delays are getting worse — here's how to get your benefits on time |
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(Image Credit: Getty Images) |
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Unprecedented staffing collapse causes 2-3 month payment delays: After DOGE pushed out 7,500 employees in 2025 (hitting customer service and IT hardest), SSA now has fewer staff than 1967 when it served 52 million fewer beneficiaries — even after benefits are approved, it now takes 2-3 months to get into pay status, which is "just unprecedented." Do everything online and apply early: Set up an SSA online account now to apply for benefits, access statements 24/7, and guard against identity theft — apply for retirement benefits up to 4 months early and Medicare up to 3 months early, and never send original documents through mail since chaos means they can be lost. Call at 8am or contact your congressman: The toll-free line (1-800-772-1213) opens at 8am in your time zone when wait times are lowest — if problems are acute, contact your congressional representative's constituent services staff who can "poke the agency and get them to move things along."
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➜ Read the full article from Morning Star here. |
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2: 64% of Americans wrongly believe Social Security benefits will disappear entirely when trust fund runs out |
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(Image Credit: Reuters) |
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The truth: 81% of benefits still payable from ongoing taxes: When the Social Security reserve runs dry around 2032, the program will still collect payroll taxes from current workers and can pay about 81% of full benefits — but nearly two-thirds of Americans mistakenly believe payments will cease completely. How you see the data changes what you believe: When study participants focused on graphs showing the reserve dropping to zero, 64% thought benefits would vanish — but when reminded that payroll taxes continue flowing in, the error rate dropped to 40%, showing messaging shapes public understanding. Fear drives costly early claiming mistakes: Roughly one-quarter of Americans ages 62-66 decided to claim Social Security early or plan to, thinking they should "grab the money while they can" — but waiting longer increases monthly checks (maxing out at 70), and based on average longevity, most people are better off delaying.
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➜ Read the full article from USA Today here. |
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3: Coffee up 55%, ground beef up 31% — but eggs, bread, and pasta are getting cheaper |
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(Image Credit: AARP) |
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Proteins and beverages hit hardest by inflation: Coffee prices jumped 55.2% in two years (from $6.09 to $9.46/lb) due to poor harvests in Brazil/Vietnam and tariffs — ground beef rose 31.3% to $6.74/lb and steak climbed 21.1% to $14.19/lb because the U.S. cattle herd is at a 75-year low, with prices likely staying elevated through 2027-2028. Good news: eggs, potatoes, and bread dropped in price: Eggs fell 16.6% to $2.50/dozen (though still 73% higher than 2020), potatoes down 10.8% to 87¢/lb, tomatoes down 10.8% to $1.90/lb, bread down 7.8% to $1.85/lb, and pasta down 7.6% to $1.32/lb. Swap proteins and stack savings to cut costs: Making taco night now costs 18.6% more ($24.65 for a family of four), but swapping cheaper proteins or doing meatless meals 1-2 times per week makes "a noticeable difference" — combine coupons, store brands, bulk buying, and comparing unit prices for long-term savings.
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➜ Read the full article from USA Today here. |
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Here’s What You Missed on YouTube: |
Check out our new YouTube videos for Thursday, April 9th. |
Social Security Pays This Wednesday — Are You on the List? |
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Social Security Pays This Wednesday — Are You on the List? |
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Retirement Navigator Podcast |
š️ Episode #6: Rethinking Retirement — Income, Purpose, and “Unretirement” featuring journalist and podcast host, Richard Eisenberg |
Retirement Isn't What It Used to Be — And That Might Be a Good Thing |
What if retirement didn't mean stopping completely? In this episode of Retirement Navigator, Kwame sits down with Richard Eisenberg — one of the most trusted voices in personal finance — to talk about "unretirement," Social Security timing, Medicare pitfalls, and how to make your money last through a retirement that could span 40 years. |
If you're 55+ and wondering whether your plan is solid, this conversation is exactly what you need to hear. |
š Hit play now & be sure to subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRetirementNavigator |
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Episode 6: Rethinking Retirement: Income, Purpose, and “Unretirement” |
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The Daily 3 Deal List—Week of April 6th |
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This newsletter is for information only. Always confirm your options directly with Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, or a qualified advisor before making big decisions about your benefits. |
*View our Advertising Disclosure |
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