Andy | Saving to Invest

2026–2027 Updates: Can You Collect Unemployment While Working Part-Time? Partial UI Rules by State

Working part-time while on unemployment isn't just allowed — it's something most states actively want you to do. The alternative, where every shift you pick up wipes out your entire benefit, discourages work and makes a job search harder. States recognized that problem decades ago. In 2026, the rules work…

Pennsylvania Unemployment Benefits in 2026: Up to $605/Week for 26 Weeks, Partial UI Rules, Taxes, and What Else Is Available

Pennsylvania's unemployment compensation program — managed by the PA Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) — increased its maximum weekly benefit to $605 for 2026, effective January 1, from $561 in 2025. Pennsylvania sets its maximum at approximately 66⅔% of the statewide average weekly wage, adjusted each January. Importantly, Pennsylvania…

Illinois Unemployment Benefits in 2026: Up to $859/Week, Tax Rules, and What Else You Can Claim

If you've lost your job or had your hours cut in Illinois, the state's unemployment insurance system offers some of the stronger benefits in the Midwest. The maximum weekly benefit runs to $628 for individual claimants — and jumps to $859 per week if you have dependent children. Here's what…

Preparing For Layoffs: Steps to Take Ahead of Time And What To Do First

With a slowing economy, government and private sector reductions in force, and the prospect of a downturn always around the corner, you may get into work one of these days and hear that your position has been made redundant. Are you prepared for this scenario and its likely impact on…

Massachusetts Unemployment Benefits in 2026: Up to $1,105/Week for 30 Weeks, Partial UI Rules, and What Else Is Available

Massachusetts' unemployment insurance program — managed by the Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) — provides up to $1,105 per week in 2026, the second-highest maximum in the country. Massachusetts sets its maximum benefit each October using a formula tied to the state average weekly wage: 57.5% of the prior year's…

Georgia Unemployment Insurance (GDOL) Benefits in 2026 — $365/Week, Up to 14 Weeks

Georgia's maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit is $365, and the state provides up to 14 weeks of regular benefits — one of the shorter durations among larger states. It's not the most generous program in the country, but it's also one of the faster and more straightforward systems once you…

Colorado Unemployment Benefits in 2026: Up to $844/Week for 26 Weeks, Partial UI Rules, Taxes, and What Else Is Available

Colorado's unemployment insurance program — managed by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) — raised its maximum weekly benefit to $844 in 2026, up from $781 in 2025. Colorado sets its maximum at two-thirds of the statewide average weekly wage, adjusted each January, keeping benefits closely tied to…

Texas Unemployment Benefits in 2026: Up to $605/Week for 26 Weeks, No State Income Tax, Partial UI Rules, and What Else Is Available

Texas' unemployment insurance program — managed by the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) — increased its maximum weekly benefit to $605 in 2026, up from $563 in 2025. Texas sets its maximum at the greater of $590 or 47% of the statewide average weekly wage, adjusted each October. Texas has no…

2026 Updates: Is There a 4th Stimulus Check? IRS Payment Status and What’s Actually Available

There is no 4th stimulus check. The three federal Economic Impact Payments issued during 2020 and 2021 are complete — the IRS has finished distributing all payments under those programs, including a final auto-payment push in late 2024 for people who missed the 2021 credit. If you're reading this because…

Florida Reemployment Assistance (Unemployment) in 2026 — $275/Week, 12 Weeks, and How to File

Florida pays a maximum of $275 per week in Reemployment Assistance benefits, and you can only collect for 12 weeks in 2026. That's not a typo. Florida's system is one of the most restrictive in the United States — both in dollar amount and duration. To put it in perspective:…

SNAP Benefits 2026: EBT Amounts, New Work Rules, and All 50 State Guides

The maximum SNAP (Food Stamps) benefit for a family of four in fiscal year 2026 is $994 per month — up from $975 last year. If you're a single adult, the max is $298/month. But 2026 is a more complicated year for SNAP than most. The One Big Beautiful Bill…

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs): 2026 Age Rules, Deadlines, and Penalties

If you turn 73 or 75 this year (depending on when you were born), the IRS wants you to start pulling money out of your traditional retirement accounts — whether you need it or not. Skip it, and the penalty is steep: 25% of whatever you should have withdrawn. This…

Beware COVID Stimulus Scams for IRS Tax Data, Bank Payment Information and Personal Details

[Update] - With the multi-round Coronavirus stimulus relief payments being paid out based on past year(s) tax return data (or SSI payment data), there has been a spike in emails, text and telephone scams where criminals are purporting to be from the IRS or Treasury asking for you to provide…

2019 – 2020 Tax Filing Season Deadline Extended for 90 days to July 2020

With the Coronavirus shutting down several public institutions and forcing teleworking for millions of government employees, the IRS has announced, under the national emergency provision to tackle the Coronavirus, that they will postpone the April 15 tax-payment deadline by 90 additional days. This will affect and likely help millions of…