| What to Know for Thursday, February 19, 2026: | 1: Latest Social Security increase estimate is out and it's not great news for seniors |  | (Image credit: Getty Images) |
| The projection: The Senior Citizens League estimates the 2027 Social Security COLA at 2.8% — the same as 2026's increase, which raised the average recipient's benefits by just $56 per month. Medicare outpacing benefits: Medicare Part B premiums are rising much faster than Social Security COLAs — in 2026, Part B premiums jumped 9.7% (from $185 to $202.90), more than three times the 2.8% COLA, a trend that's continued for three years. Seniors cutting corners: 58% of America's 55.8 million seniors have skipped at least one healthcare product or service in the last year to cut costs, with dental care (42.3%), vision (28.8%), and hearing (19.6%) being the top services skipped.
| ➜ Read the full story from AL here. | | | 2: Social Security Spousal Benefits - 4 things retired couples should know |  | (Image credit: Getty Images) |
| Divorced? You still qualify: If you were married to your ex-spouse for at least 10 years and haven't remarried, you can claim spousal benefits on their earnings record — and you don't need to wait for them to file for Social Security first. 50% cap for spousal benefits: Your spousal benefit maxes out at 50% of what your spouse is entitled to at their full retirement age, and delaying your claim past full retirement age won't increase this amount, so there's no benefit to waiting. 100% as survivor benefits: If you outlive your spouse, your spousal benefits automatically convert to survivor benefits, increasing to 100% of whatever your spouse was collecting from Social Security — doubling your monthly payment.
| ➜ Read the full story from Yahoo Finance here. | | 3: New SNAP benefit rules come into effect across US states |  | (Image credit: Getty Images) |
| What's changing: Starting this week, SNAP recipients in multiple states can no longer use benefits to purchase soda, candy, and energy drinks — Idaho and Oklahoma restrictions took effect February 15, with Louisiana following on February 18. How widespread: Eighteen states have adopted these restrictions under federal waivers approved in 2025, affecting over 1 million SNAP recipients across Idaho, Oklahoma, and Louisiana alone, with more states rolling out changes throughout 2026. The goal: Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins says the changes aim to "restore SNAP to its true purpose—nutrition" and reduce purchases of foods high in sugar, fat, and calories but low in nutritional value as part of the "Make America Healthy Again" initiative.
| ➜ Read the full story from the Newsweek here. | | | Here's What You Missed on YouTube: | Check out our new YouTube videos for Thursday, February 19th. | Spousal Benefits in 2026 - 5 Things SSA Won't Tell You! |  | Spousal Benefits in 2026 - 5 Things SSA Won't Tell You! |
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| 21 Low-Stress Jobs That Actually Work for Retirees in 2026 |  | 21 Low-Stress Jobs That Actually Work for Retirees in 2026 |
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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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