Author: Elizabeth Blessing
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Another bill would skip the tariff checks and raise your standard deduction instead
The idea of returning tariff money to households has produced more than one plan in Congress, and they do not all work the same way. Alongside proposals to mail rebate checks, there is a competing bill that would skip the checks entirely and instead cut your taxes by raising the standard deduction. It is a…
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The standard deduction jumps to $16,100 for singles and $32,200 for couples on 2026 taxes
The standard deduction is the most-used number on the entire tax return, and it is going up again for 2026. For the coming tax year the IRS has set it at $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for married couples filing jointly, with heads of household at $24,150. Nearly nine in ten filers take the…
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A seafood supplier’s data breach lets customers claim $50 with no proof, or up to $2,000, by September 8
If you ever got a data breach notice from a seafood supplier called True World, there is money on the table, and the window to claim it closes soon. A settlement over a 2024 cyberattack lets affected people claim a flat $50 with no proof at all, or up to $2,000 if they can document…
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A stalled Senate bill would give a family of four $2,400 in tariff rebates
A proposal in the Senate would put tariff money back into household pockets in the form of rebate checks, and for a family of four the headline number is $2,400. It is an appealing idea to a lot of budgets, but it is important to be clear about where it actually stands: this is a…
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NewYork-Presbyterian could go out of network with UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare Advantage plans on September 1
If you carry a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan and get your care at NewYork-Presbyterian, a coverage change could land on your doorstep at the start of next month. The hospital system and the insurer have kept current coverage in place through August 31, 2026 while they try to reach a new contract, but if they…
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Freezing your credit at all three bureaus is free and blocks crooks from opening accounts in your name
One of the strongest tools for stopping identity theft costs nothing and takes about 15 minutes to set up. A credit freeze locks down your credit reports so that no one, including a thief holding your Social Security number, can open new credit in your name. Federal law makes it free to place and to…
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No $2,000 tariff “dividend” check is going out this year, and any text saying yours is ready is a scam
If a message lands on your phone announcing that your $2,000 tariff “dividend” is approved and waiting, delete it. As of August 2026, no such payment has been authorized, funded, or scheduled, and no agency is sending checks. The idea has been talked about, but talk is not a payment. Any text or email claiming…
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Grocery prices are up 2.7% over the past year, with fresh fruits and vegetables up about 5%
The weekly grocery run remains one of the clearest places households feel inflation, and the latest numbers show the squeeze has eased but not disappeared. Grocery prices are up 2.7% over the past year, with the produce aisle leading the way as fruits and vegetables climbed about 5%. There was some relief too, on meat,…
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Waiting past full retirement age adds 8% to a Social Security check for each year until 70
Deciding when to start Social Security is one of the biggest money choices most retirees make, and waiting can pay off in a way few other decisions do. For every year you delay claiming past your full retirement age, your benefit grows by about 8%, up to age 70. Someone whose full retirement age is…
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Pennsylvania seniors and renters can still claim up to $1,000 back, now under a higher income limit
Pennsylvania has one of the more generous state programs for older homeowners and renters, and it just got easier to qualify for. The Property Tax/Rent Rebate program pays back up to $1,000 to eligible seniors, widows and widowers, and people with disabilities, and the state has permanently raised the income limit to $48,110 while extending…
