Personal finance

hobo_018 | E+ | Getty Images As happens every time the calendar flips to a new year, Medicare cost adjustments are about to take effect. This generally means paying more for some parts of your coverage, effective Jan. 1. For Medicare’s 63 million beneficiaries — most of whom are 65 or older — certain costs

Volunteers fill cars with food at a drive through food bank. Aimee Dilger/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Benefits ‘cliff’ is inevitable President Donald Trump called the relief bill a “disgrace” on Tuesday, throwing his signature into question. Trump called for $2,000 stimulus checks for individuals, more than the current $600, a policy House Republicans rejected

Millions of struggling Americans will spend the holidays this year not knowing where their next paycheck will come from. And now, due to President Donald Trump’s last-minute opposition to the stimulus package lawmakers agreed on, they also won’t know if they can count on more unemployment benefits, another stimulus check and not being evicted from

FatCamera | E+ | Getty Images People using flexible spending accounts to put away money for dependent care could get a big break from the latest Covid relief bill: They will likely be able to use money left in those accounts over the next two years. The bill, which Congress passed on Monday, removes the

There won’t be $2,000 stimulus checks coming for the holidays. House Republicans blocked an attempt by Democrats on Thursday to pass a standalone bill to raise direct payments to Americans to $2,000 from $600. The push to amend the $900 billion Covid relief bill came after President Trump demanded lawmakers increase the second round of

Lucy Lambriex People taking advantage of temporary CARES Act rules that allowed for easier loans and distributions from 401(k) retirement plans increased slightly through November, a month before the Dec. 30 cutoff. As many as 1.4 million people have taken a CARES distribution from Fidelity, about 5.7% of participants on their system, according to data

For many Americans, the classic carol “I’ll be Home for Christmas” will literally describe their plans this holiday weekend, as most opt to celebrate in place amid the ongoing pandemic. Only about a quarter of people nationwide will travel for Christmas and New Year’s, down from about one-third or so last year, and most of

Second stimulus checks are coming. But some people may be surprised to find out they may not be eligible for the money this time around. The latest coronavirus relief deal from Congress includes $600 stimulus checks per person, half of the $1,200 payments that went out earlier this year. Married couples who file jointly stand

izusek | E+ | Getty Images After six months of political haggling, the federal government is about to send most Americans a second pandemic-related stimulus payment. The quickest way to get that money? Direct deposit, says the IRS. “Direct deposit is the safest and fastest way to receive a payment, including a tax refund,” according

People wait in line at the Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen on Dec. 15, 2020 in New York City. Robert Nickelsberg | Getty Images The latest coronavirus relief bill passed by Congress will give some unemployed workers an additional $400 per week — an extra $300 on top of state benefits authorized for most claimants plus

Smoke in the Blue Mountains of Australia after a forest fire. Andrew Merry | Moment | Getty Images If you’re like most Americans, you worry about global warming. Yet it can be hard to know how to channel that anxiety into action that will help the planet. One fairly simple way to make a difference

No-Mad | iStock | Getty Images A bipartisan coronavirus aid deal that lawmakers struck on Sunday will extend the national eviction moratorium through January and establish a rental assistance fund of $25 billion. The relief comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s eviction moratorium was set to expire at the end of the

Student loan borrowers won’t get more time to pay their bills in the stimulus deal. Ines Fraile | iStock | Getty Images Americans were already struggling with their student loans before the pandemic hit and drove up unemployment, with more than 1 in 4 borrowers in delinquency or default. Outstanding student loan debt in the U.S. has

Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images Unemployed workers would get an extra 11 weeks of jobless benefits and a $300 weekly enhancement to aid payments as part of a Covid relief deal Congress reached Sunday. Certain self-employed and gig workers would also get an extra $100 a week, according to a document summarizing the legislation. The

Window shoppers view holiday decorations at the Williams & Sons Country Store in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, on Dec. 13, 2020. Joseph Prezioso | AFP | Getty Images While the Covid crisis has boosted the wealth of many of the richest Americans, it has made some reconsider their holiday spending. Nearly a quarter of millionaires surveyed for

wera Rodsawang | Moment | Getty Images As you check off your to-do list for the end of the year, don’t forget to look at your retirement savings. Whether it is an individual retirement account, an employer-sponsored plan like a 401(k) or a brokerage account, assessing your portfolio is crucial. That means checking to see

Randy Chase, 57, does masonry work on construction crews. With unemployment benefits stalled since April and no savings left, he’s been living in his pickup truck outside of Denver since September, using an electric heater to keep warm. Randy Chase Randy Chase has lived in his pickup truck for months. Luckily, the tiny cab of

Getty | Johner Images U.S. retirement savers may want to look to their elders for a cautionary tale about racking up debt: It might be with you well into your golden years. The share of people age 75 or older who lead a household and carry debt jumped to 51.4% in 2019 from 41.3% in

Sarah Silbiger | Bloomberg | Getty Images Millions of Americans are poised to receive second stimulus checks. Yet a fight is taking place on Capitol Hill over how much money will be included in any payments. The latest proposals include direct payments of $600 per person. In contrast, the first round of checks sent out

Getty Images The coronavirus pandemic is slamming the most vulnerable Americans, pushing many into financially precarious situations. The best way to combat the financial fragility that’s brought on by such an event is helping Americans build and maintain an emergency savings fund, according to experts. But most people need the support of the government and