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What to Know for Friday, April 17, 2026: |
1: 2027 Social Security COLA projected at 2.8% — but Medicare premiums and taxes will eat most of it |
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(Image Credit: Shutterstock) |
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Your $57 raise shrinks to $38 after Medicare: The 2.8% COLA would boost the average retired worker check by about $57/month (from $2,024.77 to $2,081.46) — but the Medicare Part B premium jumped $17.90/month in 2026, leaving just $38, and another sharp Part B hike in 2027 could wipe out even more. COLA pushes you into tax cliffs stuck in 1983: Income thresholds that trigger Social Security taxes ($25,000 single/$32,000 married) haven't been adjusted since 1983 — every annual COLA pushes more retirees over the line where up to 85% of benefits become taxable, though the new $6,000 senior deduction can help offset this. Senior inflation runs hotter than your raise covers: The COLA is based on what younger urban workers buy, not retiree spending — medical care is up 3.1%, shelter up 3%, both outpacing the 2.8% COLA, and Social Security has lost roughly 20% of buying power since 2010 despite annual raises.
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➜ Read the full article from Money Talk News here. |
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2: GOP food stamp work requirements hit just as jobs dry up — 2.5 million already lost benefits |
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(Image Credit: Getty Images) |
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New 80-hour monthly work requirement expands to ages 18-64: Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill added a decade of required work (previously applied to ages 18-54) and removed exemptions for veterans, homeless people, and foster care youth — lose benefits after 3 months if you can't find work, then must wait 3 years to reapply. 2.5 million dropped from SNAP in just 6 months, 4 million expected: Between July-December 2025, SNAP participation fell 6% nationwide as the program lost 2.5 million people — Congressional Budget Office expects 4 million will ultimately lose some or all benefits, with Trump's 2027 budget proposing another $6.3 billion in cuts. Worst job market since 2011 makes requirements impossible: Hiring dropped to lowest level since 2011 outside pandemic, with 300,000 fewer available jobs in February alone — accommodation/food services lost 211,000 jobs, discouraged workers up 144,000, and low-wage workers who depend on SNAP are "the first to be impacted by macroeconomic forces."
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➜ Read the full article from the American Prospect here. |
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3: Medicare agents win major reforms eliminating 48-hour appointment wait and reducing paperwork burden |
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No more 48-hour waiting period for appointments: The new CMS rule eliminates the Scope of Appointment (SOA) waiting period that created an "unnecessary barrier to accessing information" — beneficiaries can now schedule appointments with Medicare agents immediately after the SOA is agreed upon and recorded. Marketing and educational events get more flexible: Agents can now collect Scope of Appointment forms at educational events, and marketing events can occur immediately after educational sessions in the same location — beneficiaries must be clearly notified and given an opportunity to leave. Call recording retention cut from 10 years to 6: CMS adopted the recommendation to reduce required storage of marketing and sales call recordings from 10 years to 6 (audio recordings required for years 1-3, audio or complete transcript for years 4-6) — reduces data security risks and storage costs while maintaining consumer protections.
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➜ Read the full article from the John & Rusty Report here. |
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Here’s What You Missed on YouTube: |
Check out our new YouTube videos for Friday, April 17th. |
SNAP Benefits: DO THIS Before April 30th — 4 Groups At Risk of Losing Benefits |
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SNAP Benefits: DO THIS Before April 30th — 4 Groups at Risk of Losing Benefits |
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NEW: Retirement Navigator Podcast |
🎙️ Episode #7: The Conversation With Your Aging Parents You Keep Avoiding — And Why It Can't Wait featuring Carol Bradley Bursack from Minding Our Elders |
When Caregiving Becomes Your Life — Real Advice for Families Who Didn't See It Coming |
Most people don't plan to become a caregiver. It just…happens. A diagnosis. A fall. A surgery that doesn't go as expected. And suddenly, you're navigating something you never prepared for. |
In the latest episode of Retirement Navigator, Kwame sits down with Carol Bradley Bursack — author, dementia support group facilitator, and someone who spent 15 years providing daily care to multiple family members at once. Carol doesn't just talk about caregiving in theory. She lived it, and she shares the kind of honest, grounded wisdom you can only get from someone who's truly been in the trenches. |
This is one of the most heartfelt and practical conversations we've had on this show—you don’t want to miss it! |
👇 Hit play now & be sure to subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@TheRetirementNavigator |
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Episode 7: The Conversation With Your Aging Parents You Keep Avoiding — And Why It Can't Wait |
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The Daily 3 Deal List—Week of April 13th |
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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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