What to Know for Monday, October 19th, 2026: |
1: Projected Medicare premium hike would absorb about 9% of the 2027 COLA raise, leaving most retirees with roughly $61 extra monthly instead of $75 |
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The standard Medicare Part B premium is projected to rise $6.60 to $209.50 a month in 2027, a 3.25% increase from $202.90: Part B premiums are deducted directly from most Social Security checks, so the higher premium cuts into the 3.6% COLA. The annual Part B deductible is also projected to rise from $283 to about $292, and the Part D standard deductible climbs to $700 from $615. The 3.6% COLA still outpaces the projected premium increase, the first time since 2023 that has happened: After the COLA, the average retired worker’s benefit is expected to reach about $2,170 a month in January, up $75. Subtracting the $6.60 premium increase leaves most retirees with about $61 more per month. Note that the premium figure is a projection, and CMS won’t finalize the 2027 Part B premium until November. Check your own net raise and watch for the November premium announcement: Your January payment will show the COLA minus any premium increase you pay. Your my Social Security account will show your personal 2027 benefit once your COLA notice is available in December. Lower-income beneficiaries may be protected by the hold-harmless rule, which keeps Part B increases from reducing a check below a set amount, so confirm your status if your benefit is small.
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➜ Read the full article from News Nation Now here. |
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2: SNAP soda bans cut sugary drink purchases by 12%, but recipients report feeling judged at the checkout line |
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Recipients cut sugary drink purchases by more than 12% in the first half of 2026 after state soda bans took effect: Researchers from the University of Chicago, MIT, and Stanford tracked 15,000 SNAP households and found the drop equals about 34 fewer 12-ounce cans a year per person. A separate study from the University of Iowa and University of Georgia found a 13% decrease. The bans are part of the USDA’s waiver program, and 23 states have received waivers, with 8 already enforcing them. Partial bans can backfire because shoppers switch to other sugary drinks: Where restrictions covered only some sugary drinks, recipients often bought energy drinks instead of soda, which reduced the health benefit. The researchers also estimate a nationwide ban would bring net benefits of about $1.2 billion a year, mainly from lower obesity and diabetes treatment costs, though anti-hunger groups call those projections uncertain. Stigma is the trade-off to watch: more recipients said they felt judged while shopping with food stamps after the bans: Health experts warn that stigma can discourage people from using benefits they qualify for. If you use SNAP, check your state’s current rules on what you can buy, since the restrictions vary by state, and keep your receipts so you know what’s covered.
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➜ Read the full article from the CBS News here. |
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3: Forced early retirement can derail your plans, so know your options before you claim Social Security at 62 and cut your check by up to 30% |
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Nearly half of retirees left work earlier than they planned, often because of health problems, layoffs, or caregiving: For workers in their early 60s with limited savings, job loss can be especially hard, since only 57.3% of displaced workers ages 55 to 64 had found new work as of January, compared with 38.6% of those 65 and older. Even among reemployed workers, an estimated 369,000 earned at least 20% less than before. Stopping work and claiming Social Security are separate decisions, and claiming at 62 permanently reduces your benefit by up to 30%: Claim early only if you have no other income to cover basic costs. Before you file, look into state unemployment benefits if you were laid off through no fault of your own, and check ACA marketplace coverage, since losing job-based insurance opens a special enrollment period and may qualify you for premium subsidies or Medicaid. If health is the problem, you may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance, which often pays more than early retirement benefits: SSDI is generally based on your full retirement amount, subject to program rules. Part-time work, consulting, or a lower-paying job can also bring in stopgap income and buy time before you make longer-term decisions.
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➜ Read the full article from the Washington Post here. |
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Here’s What You Missed on YouTube: |
Check out our new YouTube videos for Monday, October 19th. |
Social Security Payment Update + Trump's $5,000 Check: What Actually Happened |
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Social Security Payment Update + Trump's $5,000 Check: What Actually Happened |
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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. |
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