Catch up in minutes with your daily briefing on the Social Security, Medicare & Retirement news that affects you most.
| What to Know for Tuesday, February 24, 2026: | 1: Social Security trust fund could run dry by 2032 - one year earlier than expected | | Benefits could be slashed: Once the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund is exhausted in 2032 (one year earlier than last year's estimate), Social Security will only be able to pay roughly 81% of promised benefits unless Congress acts — meaning a potential 19% cut to your monthly check. Why the fund is depleting faster: Higher inflation projections mean larger cost-of-living adjustments (CBO forecasts 3.1% COLA for 2027), which draws down the trust fund more quickly, combined with lower expected income from payroll and individual income taxes. Already tapping reserves since 2021: Social Security has been using trust fund reserves since 2021 when benefit costs started outpacing income from payroll taxes — as the U.S. population ages and more people claim retirement benefits, the gap continues to widen with "not much time to spare" to fix the shortfall.
| ➜ Read the full story from CBS News here. | | 2: Who qualifies for Social Security survivor benefits in 2026? | Spouses and ex-spouses can get up to 100%: Widows/widowers age 60+ (or 50+ with a disability) can receive up to 100% of the deceased's full retirement benefit at their own full retirement age — ex-spouses married for at least 10 years also qualify, even if the deceased remarried, and claiming doesn't reduce benefits for the current spouse. Remarriage rules matter: You can't claim survivor benefits if you remarried before age 60 (or age 50 if disabled), but remarrying after age 60 won't affect your eligibility — and your ex-spouse won't even be notified if you apply for benefits on their record. Children and parents can qualify too: Unmarried children under 18 (or up to 19 if in high school) can receive up to 75% of benefits, and dependent parents age 62+ who received at least half their support from the deceased can get 75-82.5% depending on whether one or both parents survive.
| | ➜ Read the full story from 24/7 Wall Street here. | | | 3: New SNAP work rules cut food assistance for adults up to age 65 |  | (Image credit: AARP) |
| Work requirements expanded to age 65: Starting February 1, able-bodied adults ages 18-65 without dependents must work or attend a work program for 80 hours monthly to receive SNAP benefits — the previous age limit was 55, and veterans, people experiencing homelessness, and former foster youth lost their exemptions. 2.4 million people to lose benefits: The Congressional Budget Office estimates these new provisions will reduce SNAP participation by roughly 2.4 million people monthly from 2025-2034, part of $186 billion in cuts (20%) to the program over 10 years that helps feed 42 million Americans. States lose flexibility during tough times: States can now only temporarily extend benefits beyond three months if local unemployment hits 10% or higher — with the national unemployment rate around 4.4%, most areas won't qualify even during difficult hiring periods.
| ➜ Read the full story from Mother Jones here. | | | Here's What You Missed on YouTube: | Check out our new YouTube videos for Tuesday, February 24th. | New SNAP Work Rules for 2026 + How to Get MORE Benefits |  | SNAP Food Stamps 2026: New Work Rules + How Seniors Get MORE Benefits (Don't Miss This!) |
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| Social Security Payment CUTS - Only 6 Years Left?! |  | Social Security Payment Cuts | Low-Income Retirees Face the Most Danger |
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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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