Social Security offices are reopening this week. How to reduce your wait time

VALERIE MACON | AFP | Getty Images Social Security beneficiaries soon will have one more way to seek assistance from the government agency as local offices are slated to reopen this week. Starting Thursday, April 7, the Social Security Administration will restore in-person services, including for people who do not have appointments, acting Social Security…

Social Security’s retirement age is moving to 67. Some experts say that could go even higher

Westend61 Many Americans eagerly look forward to a time when they can stop working and officially set their status to “retired.” But when asked what age they anticipate that could be, there isn’t a consensus. The average age when people say they hope to retire is 62, according to one survey. That is also the…

100,000 student loan borrowers have had their debt forgiven under this policy fix

Miguel Cardona, U.S. Education Secretary, at the Queen Theatre on Dec. 23, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. Joshua Roberts | Getty Images News | Getty Images More than 100,000 borrowers will receive student debt forgiveness thanks to policy fixes made to the public service loan forgiveness program. The relief amounts to more than $6 billion, according…

From saving money to paying down debt, here’s why financial literacy is so important

Morsa Images | Digitalvision | Getty Images To achieve financial success, knowledge is key. Yet many Americans lack financial literacy. That can impact everything from the amount of money saved to debt owed. The situation is dire for more than a few. More than half of Americans can’t cover a $1,000 emergency expense with savings,…

Biden’s plan to bring down gas prices could take weeks. Here’s how to get relief now

Filling up at the pump comes with a hefty dose of sticker shock. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and global supply concerns have sent gas prices to record highs — hitting $6 in some parts of the country. To combat the spike in energy costs, the White House said it will release 1 million barrels of…

A four-day workweek pilot program is now underway in the U.S. and Canada

No-mad | Istock | Getty Images The four-day workweek just became a reality for dozens of companies across the U.S. and Canada, at least for the next several months. The pilot program, being led by 4 Day Week Global, kicked off on Friday and is expected to last six months. Participating organizations include crowdfunding platform…

The IRS has sent nearly 58 million refunds. The average payment is $3,263

Tetra Images | Getty Images The IRS has issued nearly 58 million refunds, which are worth almost $189 billion in total, as of March 25, the agency reported Friday. Tax refunds are a critical part of many family budgets, and some 46% of Americans plan to save their payments, according to a LendingTree survey, up…

Long-term unemployment tumbles in March as job market stays hot

A job seeker receives information from a recruiter during a job fair in Miami on Dec. 16, 2021. Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images The ranks of the long-term unemployed fell again in March, edging closer to pre-pandemic levels as the job market offers ample opportunity for workers. Long-term unemployment is a period of joblessness…

More than half of young investors have regrets from the last year

Prasit photo | Moment | Getty Images Many Millennials and Gen Zers who invested in the stock market over the last year wish they had done things differently. Some 57% of Gen Z investors and 50% of millennials regret how they invested in the last 12 months, outpacing their Gen X and baby boomer counterparts,…

Why Biden’s billionaire minimum income tax may be a tough sell

Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., talks to reporters in Washington, Nov. 4, 2021. Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters President Joe Biden has proposed a new tax on the ultra-wealthy as part of his 2023 federal budget, aiming to reduce the deficit by about $360 billion. Some experts say it’s unlikely to gain traction in Congress. The “billionaire minimum income tax” calls…

16 U.S. cities where women under 30 earn more than their male peers

Antonio_diaz | Istock | Getty Images Women under 30 outearn their male counterparts in 16 metropolitan areas around the country, a new Pew Research Center analysis found. In addition, they are at pay parity in six metro areas. To be sure, their pay still lags men’s in 228 locations. Yet, the news is encouraging, said…

Who may still be eligible for $1,400 stimulus checks with their 2021 tax returns

The Good Brigade | Digitalvision | Getty Images The IRS says it is no longer deploying $1,400 stimulus checks and plus-up payments that were due to qualifying Americans in 2021. However, there may still be people eligible for those checks, or additional funds, once they file their returns this tax season. A Treasury Department report…