Author: Elizabeth Blessing
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About 47 million taxpayers who could get the new federal Saver’s Match are not saving for retirement, the IRS told Congress
About 47 million taxpayers who would be eligible for the new federal Saver’s Match are not putting money into a retirement account, the Treasury Department and the IRS told Congress. The number comes from a Sept. 28, 2026 report required by the SECURE 2.0 retirement law. The match starts with contributions made in 2027. What…
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Regular gas averaged $4.37 a gallon nationwide on Oct. 9 and diesel $6.28, according to AAA’s daily survey
Regular gasoline averaged $4.37 a gallon across the country on Friday, Oct. 9, and diesel averaged $6.28, according to AAA’s daily fuel survey. The exact readings were $4.3718 for regular and $6.2785 for diesel. Both are far above where they stood a year ago. The daily readings in one place AAA lists its national averages…
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Georgia extended its gas tax suspension through Nov. 5, and regular gas there fell about 33 cents a gallon after the pause began, AAA says
Georgia’s pause on its gas tax now has a longer runway. Gov. Brian Kemp’s office announced on Oct. 6 that the state of emergency behind the suspension, and the suspension itself, will run through Nov. 5. The first order had set Oct. 29 as the last day, so the extension adds a week. What the…
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People held in New York City Central Booking can claim up to $475 per detention from a city settlement, but only until Oct. 19
New York City has agreed to pay up to $21.5 million to people who were held in its Central Booking cells, the holding facilities where people wait after an arrest before seeing a judge. Anyone detained in the covered years can ask for up to $475 for each separate detention, but the window to ask…
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Kettering Health leaves Anthem’s Medicare Advantage plans after Dec. 31, and patients have the Oct. 15 to Dec. 7 enrollment window to switch
Kettering Health says it will not renew its contract with Anthem’s Medicare Advantage plans, so patients in those plans lose in-network access to Kettering after Dec. 31, 2026. Medicare’s annual enrollment window, Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, is the time to switch to a plan that still includes Kettering doctors and hospitals. The health system…
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All 50 state Medicaid programs will pay no more than the most-favored-nation price for drugs from 26 drugmakers under Trump’s deals, the White House says
The White House says every state Medicaid program will pay no more than the most-favored-nation price for brand-name drugs from 26 drugmakers. President Trump announced the deals on Sept. 18, 2026, according to an official fact sheet. The sheet gives no date for when the lower prices begin. What most-favored-nation pricing means Under the agreements,…
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Most Google Play Store buyers covered by the state attorneys general settlement will get at least $2 automatically by PayPal or Venmo after court approval
Millions of people who bought apps, games or subscriptions through Google Play are in line for a payment without filing anything. Under a settlement brought by state attorneys general, most buyers will be paid automatically by PayPal or Venmo, and the lowest payment is $2.00, according to the settlement FAQ. The money moves once the…
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New Jersey food stamp households have 90 days to activate new chip EBT cards, and current cards expire 60 days after the new ones are issued
New Jersey households on food stamps have 90 days from the day a new chip EBT card arrives to activate it, and the old card stops working 60 days after the new ones are issued. Human Services Commissioner Stephen Cha announced on Sept. 10 that chip cards are available statewide, and the state’s press release…
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PG&E wildfire victims get a final 1.25% payment from the Fire Victim Trust on Oct. 14, ending payouts at 71.25% of their awards
The Fire Victim Trust will send one last payment of 1.25% on Oct. 14, 2026, to people whose homes and lives were hit by the 2015 Butte, 2017 North Bay and 2018 Camp fires. That payment lifts the total paid on each approved award to 71.25%, and the trust says nothing more follows it. The…
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In Social Security’s own 2026 example, a worker under full retirement age who earns $33,400 has $4,460 withheld and keeps $5,140 of a $9,600 benefit
Social Security publishes its own worked example of what working does to an early retirement check, and the numbers are blunt. A person under full retirement age who earns $33,400 in 2026 has $4,460 withheld from benefits and keeps $5,140 of a $9,600 yearly benefit. The example appears on the agency’s Receiving Benefits While Working…