The United States is entering a pivotal moment in wage policy as multiple states prepare to raise their minimum wage rates in October 2025. Although the federal minimum wage remains stuck at $7.25 per hour (unchanged since 2009), many states are taking independent action to protect workers from inflation and stagnant earnings. These state-level increases … Read more
Veterans across the United States can expect a modest but meaningful boost in their monthly disability payments beginning December 1, 2025, as part of the 2026 VA cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has confirmed a 2.8% increase in all disability compensation rates — aligning with the Social Security Administration (SSA) COLA … Read more
A major policy change is about to reshape food assistance in America. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed that beginning November 1, 2025, new nationwide work requirements will take full effect for SNAP participants classified as able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs). The update ends the long-standing flexibility states had to waive time limits, … Read more
America’s retirement landscape may be on the brink of its biggest transformation in decades. With the Social Security trust fund projected to be depleted by 2033, policymakers are seriously considering a dramatic shift: raising the full retirement age (FRA) to 69. The plan, though controversial, aims to ensure the long-term solvency of a program that … Read more
Federal employees will see a 1% across-the-board pay raise starting January 11, 2026, under President Donald Trump’s Alternative Pay Plan for 2026. While this modest increase reflects a restrained fiscal approach amid tightening federal budgets, the administration carved out an additional 2.8% special raise for law enforcement personnel, citing national security and recruitment challenges. The … Read more
The federal government is preparing to distribute $2,000 direct deposits to millions of Americans starting November 2025, aiming to provide short-term relief amid lingering inflation and rising living costs. Though not officially labeled a “stimulus check,” the initiative functions much like one — a one-time, tax-free payment managed by the IRS and U.S. Treasury Department … Read more
As November 2025 begins, more than 71 million Americans who rely on Social Security benefits are preparing for their monthly deposits. Whether you receive retirement, disability (SSDI), survivor, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, your payment date depends on when you first started receiving benefits and, in most cases, the day of the month you … Read more
In one of the largest telecommunications settlements of the decade, Verizon Communications Inc. has agreed to pay $100 million to resolve allegations that it overcharged customers through undisclosed “administrative fees.” Millions of subscribers began receiving cash payouts in mid-2025, marking a significant win for consumer transparency in the telecom industry. While Verizon denied wrongdoing, the … Read more
In 2025, Cash App’s parent company, Block, Inc., agreed to a $12.5 million class action settlement after being accused of violating Washington’s spam communication laws. The lawsuit claims that the company’s “Invite Friends” feature sent automated marketing messages to people who never consented to receive them. These messages, which many users described as “unsolicited promotions,” … Read more
The 2025–2026 U.S. winter snowfall forecast is in — and early predictions show colder, snowier conditions across the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Rockies, while the South stays mild. Learn when the first snow will fall in each region, how La Niña will shape the season, and what this means for travel, heating costs, and tourism. … Read more