Social Security 2.8% COLA 2026 benefit increase explained

Jasondoiy | E+ | Getty Images The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment will be 2.8% in 2026, the Social Security Administration said on Friday. Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $56 per month on average starting in January, according to the agency. The COLA provides an annual adjustment to both Social Security and Supplemental…

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Social Security’s retirement age language may change

Brothers91 | E+ | Getty Images Deciding when to claim Social Security retirement benefits is a big decision — and Congress is looking at changing the program’s wording to help people better understand their options. Understanding the trade-offs for claiming at different ages can be confusing, and some experts say the terms the agency currently…

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No tax on Social Security benefits: Senator introduces bill

A Social Security Administration (SSA) office in Washington, DC, March 26, 2025. Saul Loeb | Afp | Getty Images President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill” provides relief to certain Social Security beneficiaries who pay taxes on their benefits. But it doesn’t eliminate those levies entirely. Now, Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, introduced a bill on Thursday…

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Global retirement systems compared for long-term security

Retirement funding looks very different depending on where you live. While the United States leans heavily on voluntary 401(k)-style savings plans, other nations rely on mandatory contributions or more traditional pensions to ensure broad coverage and steady income. Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index takes these structural differences into consideration when ranking some of the…

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Why high-earning Americans do not feel rich

About 14% of all U.S. households make $200,000 or more per year, according to 2023 Census data. But a significant salary hasn’t translated to big account balances for some of these consumers — which experts have dubbed “HENRYs,” or “high earners, not rich yet.” Rising costs, debt and lifestyle creep can leave them feeling stuck,…

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Having a bridge strategy can help

M Swiet Productions | Getty Images Eligibility for Social Security retirement benefits starts at age 62. But for prospective beneficiaries who can wait, the biggest benefit becomes available at age 70. For many retirees, that poses a dilemma — how to fund those interim years while they wait to claim that highest monthly benefit check….

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Trump’s ‘big beautiful bill’ cuts SNAP for millions of families: Report

People shop at a grocery store in Manhattan, New York City, on April 1, 2025. Spencer Platt | Getty Images Republicans’ “big beautiful” reconciliation package includes tax cuts that policy researchers have found primarily benefit the wealthy.  To help pay for that, the legislation also includes “substantial” cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or…

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