What to Know for Wednesday, November 11th, 2026:
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1: Social Security’s January changes: a 3.6% COLA and a higher payroll tax cap
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(Image Credit: Adobe Stock)
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The 3.6% COLA adds about $75 a month for most retirees: Starting in January, benefits rise 3.6%, which the New York Post estimates at about $75 a month for nearly 72 million retirees. SSI recipients get their first increased payment on December 31, 2026, because January 1 is a federal holiday.
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The payroll tax cap rises to $192,300, which affects higher earners: The taxable maximum increases from $184,500 to $192,300 in 2027. Workers and employers each pay 6.2% on wages up to that limit, so someone earning at least $192,300 would pay about $483.60 more in Social Security tax next year. Roughly 6% of covered workers earn above the cap, according to SSA.
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Your COLA notice will be online in late November, and paperless enrollment is due soon: To view your notice online, create a my Social Security account and enroll in paperless notices, which the Post says is due by November 18. SSA will mail paper notices in early December. If you’re receiving a November payment early because of Veterans Day, it will arrive today, November 10, for birthdays on the 1st through 10th.
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➜ Read the full article from the New York Post here.
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2: Senate Democrats introduce the Medicare at 50 Act, which would let people ages 50 to 64 buy into Medicare
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(Image Credit: iStock)
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The bill would let people 50 to 64 buy into Medicare: Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and nine Democratic colleagues introduced the Medicare at 50 Act. It would allow adults ages 50 to 64 to enroll in Medicare Parts A, B, and D, including Medicare Advantage plans, before they turn 65. Enrollees would get the same premium tax credits and cost-sharing subsidies they could receive through the ACA Marketplace.
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Supporters say the bill would ease costs for people in their 50s and early 60s: Baldwin says many people in that age range pay high premiums for private coverage or go without it. The bill’s co-sponsors include Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.). Sen. Van Hollen blames Republican health care cuts and the lapse of ACA tax credits for rising costs.
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The bill faces an uncertain path in the current Congress: The bill was introduced in the current Congress, which ends in January, and it would need to pass both chambers and be signed by President Trump. Its supporters have framed it as a first step, and its chances may depend on the new Congress and future budget decisions.
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➜ Read the full article from WEAU here.
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3: USDA proposal could remove about 6.3 million people from SNAP by fiscal 2029, nearly one in five enrollees
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(Image Credit: CNN)
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The proposal would end a state option that lets people qualify for SNAP through other public aid: The USDA rule would eliminate “broad-based categorical eligibility,” which lets states approve applicants who receive other public assistance, even if their income is above federal SNAP limits. USDA says the change would affect 6.3 million people in fiscal 2029, because their income or resources exceed federal limits.
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Children and pregnant women could face extra paperwork, and some would lose WIC: About 1.8 million children would no longer be automatically eligible for free school meals, though USDA says nearly all could still qualify if they apply separately. Another 16,500 pregnant women, mothers, infants, and children would need to apply for the WIC nutrition program, and 5,500 participants would no longer be eligible. Advocates warn that added paperwork could cause some eligible families to lose benefits, especially immigrant families.
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USDA says the change would save money, while advocates say SNAP enrollment has already dropped: USDA estimates the proposal would cut federal SNAP spending by nearly $45 billion and state spending by $5.2 billion over five years, and calls the policy a “loophole.” The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities says SNAP enrollment has fallen by more than 5 million people since the July 2025 tax law, including about 2 million children. Advocates attribute the drop to stricter eligibility reviews and other provisions in that law.
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➜ Read the full article from CNN here.
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Here’s What You Missed on YouTube:
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Check out our new YouTube videos for Wednesday, November 11th.
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BREAKING: Full Medicare at 50 — Here's Who Would Qualify!
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BREAKING: Full Medicare at 50 — Here's Who Would Qualify!
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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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