| What to Know for Friday, March 6, 2026: | 1: Your $56 Social Security increase is really only $38 after Medicare takes its cut |  | (Image credit: Adobe Photo) |
| COLA doesn't match senior expenses: The 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment added $56 monthly on average in 2026, but retirees spend more on healthcare and housing that rise faster than the CPI-W formula measures — the formula tracks urban wage earners, not retirees, costing seniors thousands over their retirement years. Medicare Part B ate $18 of your raise: Part B premiums jumped $17.90 (from $185 to $202.90 monthly) and are automatically deducted from your Social Security check — turning your $56 benefit increase into just $38 of actual additional money each month. Wrong formula costs you money: Congress has been asked repeatedly to switch from CPI-W (Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners) to CPI-E (Consumer Price Index for the Elderly) which better reflects senior spending, but each bill has been met with resistance — the current formula systematically undercounts how much retirees' costs actually rise.
| ➜ Read the full story from Yahoo Finance here. | | | 2: Social Security slashes disability claims backlog by 30% — faster decisions for applicants |  | (Image credit: AP Photo) |
| Backlog cut dramatically: The pending backlog of initial disability claims dropped over 30% from 1.27 million in June 2024 to less than 830,000 now — average processing time is 45 days shorter than this point in 2025, and claims clearances are up 10%. How they did it: SSA consolidated 52 state-level Disability Determination Services and 160 federal hearing sites under a single Chief of Disability Adjudication reporting directly to the commissioner, reducing layers of bureaucracy — plus medical files are now converted to searchable computer text, speeding up evaluations. What you'll receive if approved: More than 8.6 million Americans currently receive disability benefits totaling $12.9 billion monthly — the average disability payment in January 2026 was $1,816 per month, and faster processing means less time waiting for desperately needed support.
| ➜ Read the full story from AL.com here. | | 3: Retiree explains why waiting until 70 for Social Security boosted his benefit to $4,000/month |  | (Image credit: Dreamstime) |
| Waiting nearly doubled his monthly check: By claiming at 70 instead of 62, the author receives just under $4,000 monthly compared to what would have been $2,242 in today's dollars at age 62 — a 78% increase that maximizes the survivor benefit for his wife who is 6+ years younger. How he bridged the gap: He and his wife relied on her full-time job for health insurance, his contract work income, penalty-free IRA distributions starting at age 60, paid-off mortgage, and dividend income from investments — plus they lived frugally (drove a 2003 Toyota for 22 years, shopped on senior discount days). Break-even is age 81-82, but no regrets: While about 90% of Americans claim Social Security before age 70, he doesn't regret waiting even though he won't break even until his early 80s — the larger monthly benefit provides peace of mind and better financial security for his household.
| ➜ Read the full story from the Barrons here. | | | Here's What You Missed on YouTube: | Check out our new YouTube videos for Friday, March 6th. | BIG Social Security Change Starts March 7th — Here's What You Need to Do! | | This Social Security Scam Just Cost Americans $50 Million — Don't Be Next! |  | This Social Security Scam Just Cost Americans $50 Million — Don't Be Next |
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| | | The Daily 3 Deal List—Week of March 2nd | | 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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