Personal finance

Emergency Rescue Service (SAMU) nurse Belisa Marcelino checks the lungs of Maria Geralda da Silva, 84, who is experiencing breathing difficulty and others symptoms of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as preparation is made to transfer the patient to a hospital amid the outbreak, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Amanda Perobelli | Reuters You may have heard

SDI Productions | E+ | Getty Images Financial aid packages for next year might be woefully short for college students whose parents have lost their jobs amid the Covid-19 downturn. Students can begin applying for financial aid as early as Oct. 1. That’s the first day they can fill out the Free Application for Federal

Sam Fornasiero Sam Fornasiero For an instant, luck seemed to change for Sam Fornasiero. The 21-year-old’s phone call was put on hold — a noteworthy improvement relative to the 2,000-plus prior attempts to reach New Jersey’s unemployment bureau, by his estimation. The call went dead after a half hour of waiting. But Fornasiero has gotten good at

zimmytws | iStock | Getty Images The stimulus stalemate has pitted Democrats and Republicans against each other on Capitol Hill. But another issue — Social Security and its ability to pay retirement, disability, survivor and other benefits into the future — has also created a rift between leaders of the two parties. Congressional lawmakers gathered

The possibility of more campus closures has sparked a sudden interest in withdrawing from college before it’s too late. “All of us are counting down to the tuition deadline,” said Carla Voight, 20, a junior at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, referring to the last day students are eligible for some reimbursement if

Scott Heins | Getty Images News | Getty Images Mom-and-pop landlords are in a worse financial position relative to their higher-earning peers as unemployment remains elevated and Americans continue to struggle to pay rent, according to a new analysis. Roughly a third of individual landlords who own residential property are from low- to moderate-income households

It’s been said that men come from Mars and women, Venus. It looks like they’re also headed in different directions when it comes to vacations here on Earth, according to insurer Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection. Women, in general, tend to play it safer when it comes to travel planning in the age of Covid-19, according

People wait in line at a food bank in Van Nuys, California, on April 9, 2020. Mario Tama | Getty Images News | Getty Images The economic crisis unleashed by the coronavirus pandemic may be over for some groups of Americans — primarily the wealthy and White — even as it lingers in other corners of the

Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden reacts while giving a speech during a campaign event at Tougaloo College on March 08, 2020 in Tougaloo, Mississippi. Jonathan Bachman | Getty Images The 2020 presidential election could be a make it or break it moment for Social Security. The reason: Social Security’s funding, already on

Democrats and Republicans still haven’t reached a deal on another stimulus package. Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images It’s a scary time for millions of Americans as Congress is still unable to reach a compromise on a stimulus package that could include another round of direct payments and more unemployment benefits.  Jobless rates are still high,

Getty Images Saving for retirement is crucial. Yet trying to figure out the best retirement plan may leave many people confused. You may have the option to contribute to an employer-sponsored plan, like a 401(k) plan. There are also individual retirement accounts: the traditional, into which contributions are made pre-tax, and Roth IRAs, in which

Miami resident Willie Mae Daniels, with granddaughter, Karyah Davis, 6, was laid off from her job as a food service cashier at the University of Miami on March 17. Joe Raedle | Getty Images News | Getty Images In just the past six months, more than 22 million American jobs have been lost, and fewer

With the fall semester just underway, and cases of coronavirus rising at colleges across the country, one school after another is pivoting to distance learning. That doesn’t sit well with students who signed up for — and paid for — on-campus instruction. Although Virginia Commonwealth University adopted a hybrid approach with a combination of in-person and

Getty Images If you’ve thought about refinancing your mortgage, be aware that it may soon be a more expensive proposition. Due to a 0.5% “adverse market” fee, effective Dec. 1 and imposed on lenders by mortgage backers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, many homeowners are expected to absorb at least some of the cost when

Marko Geber | DigitalVision | Getty Images Open enrollment for health insurance is around the corner. That means if you’re shopping on your own for medical coverage, be on guard. New research from the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that some insurance agents engaged in potentially deceptive sales practices when marketing health care coverage. From

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., announced a resolution Thursday that would broadly cancel federal student loan debt due to the coronavirus crisis.   The resolution calls on President Donald Trump to take executive action to forgive up to $50,000 in debt for borrowers. The economic aftermath from the pandemic, which

Sarah Casillas | DigitalVision | Getty Images The IRS has a message for about 9 million Americans: You could still be eligible for a $1,200 stimulus check. The government has sent out about 160 million stimulus checks since legislation authorized those payments in the spring. Still, millions of Americans have yet to receive any money

Ariel Skelley  The cost of investing in your 401(k) plan at work is hitting new lows. Too bad hidden fees can chomp away at your savings. Generally, it’s cheaper to invest in your retirement plan at work, versus going out on your own to shop for mutual funds. For example, the average expense ratio for

Getty Images Working parents are feeling the sting of the coronavirus pandemic — and it’s hitting women especially hard. School shutdowns have left many trying to juggle work, childcare and helping their kids with distant learning. Since the crisis began,  40% of working parents have had to change their employment situation, according to a new

The Federal Reserve said Wednesday it would keep its benchmark interest rate near zero for as long as it takes to help the economy bounce back from the coronavirus crisis. The Fed said the ongoing coronavirus pandemic will “weigh heavily” on the near-term outlook and poses “considerable risks” for the medium term. In addition to holding rates near rock bottom, the