Andy | Saving to Invest

Are You Getting A Tax Refund Interest Payment Due to 2022 IRS Processing Delays

I am sure you have heard the old adage that by getting a tax refund you’re giving an interest free loan to the IRS. Well there is a little more to this statement that may slightly alleviate the pain for millions of tax filers who have faced months of delays…

Causes of Unemployment Due to COVID and Housing Fallout

Over half of American households experienced a loss of income since mid-March from the pandemic induced slowdown and another 35% expect to lose unemployment income in the next 4 weeks. That was a finding from a Census Bureau study summarized in Bloomberg, which looked at anxieties that COVID-19 has brought…

Payment Delays, Identity Verification and Certification Issues with Enhanced Unemployment Programs – PUA, PEUC and $300 FPUC and $100 Extra MEUC Payment

[Updated following approval of 2021 UI program extensions under $900 COVID stimulus package] With the 2021 extension of PUA and PEUC, along with an extra $300 FPUC and $100 MEUC for 11 weeks, many states are updating their systems to process these changes. This means delays and potential lapses in…

The Extra $600 FPUC Weekly Unemployment Benefit Is Really Now $300 in 2021 Under COVID Stimulus Bill

Congressional leaders have passed a circa $900 billion stimulus plan that includes funding for an approximately 11 week extension (Dec 26th 2020 to March 14th 2021) to federal pandemic programs (PUA, PEUC) and additional supplementary unemployment benefits at $300 FPUC per week for millions of unemployed or underemployed Americans who lost their job or income due…

Are Trump’s Executive Orders to Suspend Payroll Taxes, Extend Extra Weekly Unemployment Benefits, Defer 2020 Student Loan Payments and Continue Eviction Moratoriums Legally Valid?

Over the weekend President Trump signed a series of executive orders expanding certain Coronavirus economic relief provisions, following the inability of Congress (Republicans and Democrats) to reach a deal on a new stimulus bill. The executive orders cover the following four key items, which are likely to be challenged in…

IRS Has Fixed Stimulus Payment Issues For Non-Filers Getting $500 Dependent Child Economic Impact Payment

The IRS has now resolved glitches on the non-filer portal for those who did not file a tax return in 2018 or 2019, which was used as the initial basis for determining eligibility for the $500 Dependent Economic Impact Payment (a.k.a. stimulus check) approved under the CARES act. Non-filers were…

Michigan Unemployment Insurance (UIA) Benefits in 2026 — Max Jumps to $530/Week

Michigan's maximum weekly unemployment insurance benefit is now $530 — a significant jump from $362 just one year ago. The increase is part of a multi-year phase-in plan passed by the Michigan legislature, designed to bring the state's UI cap more in line with what other major states pay. For…

Wisconsin Unemployment Benefits in 2026: Up to $370/Week, Partial UI Rules, and What Else Is Available

Wisconsin's unemployment insurance program, run by the Department of Workforce Development (DWD), provides benefits for up to 26 weeks. With a 2026 maximum of $370 per week, the benefit amounts are on the lower end for a Midwest state, but the program's partial unemployment rules and access to complementary state…

Ohio Unemployment Benefits in 2026: Up to $842/Week with Dependents, Partial UI, and Tax Rules

Ohio's unemployment insurance program — run by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) — pays benefits for up to 26 weeks, with a meaningful boost for workers who have dependents. The dependent allowance can push the maximum weekly benefit from $624 up to $842, which is a…

Is Collecting Unemployment Lazy?

Despite an end of federally funded unemployment benefits many unemployed Americans are apparently "lazy" when it comes to returning to work. This is borne out by the over 10 million of open vacancies as the COVID-19 pandemic recedes to the background. Are enhanced unemployment benefits making unemployed workers lazy? For…

Top Ten Myths About Buying a Franchise From a Real Franchisee

Franchise Myths Generally most Americans over the long term are not happy working for someone else or being in the corporate rat race. So the idea of being your own boss and controlling your destiny is very appealing. Besides some of the many “get rich quick” schemes on TV, there…

Impact by State From Delays in Extending the Extra $600 Unemployment – Claimants could see a 200% cut in UIC Weekly Benefits

Congressional Republican leaders have announced that an extension of the extra $600 weekly unemployment benefit likely won’t happen by the end of July when it is scheduled to expire. This will likely be a big blow to the millions of unemployed Americans who depend on the additional federally funded weekly…

2026 Stimulus Check Payment Updates (Free Government Money)

This article provides updates on past, current and proposed stimulus check programs. While multiple rounds of payments have been made over the last few years, including those claimed via tax returns, many are asking if the Trump administration will make another round of federal payments to help folks cope with…

Do I Have To Reapply For PUA, PEUC and $300 FPUC Enhanced Unemployment Benefit Programs?

Note: All pandemic unemployment programs ended on September 6, 2021 with no further extensions approved. While retroactive payments were made is some cases for several months following this date, no new or future pandemic related benefits were paid. Currently, only traditional state unemployment benefits are available to unemployed claimants. COVID…