Category: Government Rebates and Payments

The General Schedule (GS) pay scale sets base pay for roughly 1.5 million civilian federal employees. This page tracks confirmed raises and the latest proposals for each year. For 2027, the debate is almost over: President Trump's August 26, 2026 letter to Congress confirms a pay freeze for most civilian…

North Carolina uses Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility at 200% of the poverty line, so more households qualify here than in states that stick to the federal floor. Either way, the maximum benefit is the same in every state but Alaska and Hawaii: $1,023 a month for a family of four as…

If you're applying for or renewing SNAP in Michigan, benefits load onto the Bridge Card (EBT) 3rd–21st through MI Bridges. The fiscal year 2027 maximum for a family of four is $1,023 a month as of October 1, 2026, up from $994 last year. But 2026 is a more complicated…

Ohio benefits go out on the Ohio Direction Card (EBT) 2nd–20th, and the FY2027 max for a family of four is $1,023 a month (up from $994 in FY2026), confirmed by USDA on August 21, 2026 and effective October 1, 2026. Ohio sticks to the federal SNAP income floor of…

Alabama's SNAP benefits load onto your Alabama EBT Card 4th–23rd. The maximum for a family of four is $1,023 a month in fiscal year 2027, which started October 1, 2026, up from $994. But 2026 is a more complicated year than most for SNAP. The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB)…

A family of four on SNAP in New York can get up to $1,023 a month in fiscal year 2027, which started October 1, 2026 (up from $994) — deposited onto the New York EBT Card 1st–9th. But 2026 is a more complicated year than most for SNAP. The One…

California benefits go out on the Golden State Advantage Card (EBT) 1st–10th, and California uses Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility at 200% of the poverty line, so more households qualify here than in states that stick to the federal floor. The max for a family of four in fiscal year 2027 is…

Connecticut's SNAP benefits load onto your Connect Card (EBT) 1st–3rd. The maximum for a family of four is $1,023 a month in fiscal year 2027, which started October 1, 2026, up from $994. But 2026 is a more complicated year than most for SNAP. The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB)…

A family of four on SNAP in Pennsylvania can get up to $1,023 a month in fiscal year 2027, which started October 1, 2026 (up from $994) — deposited onto the Pennsylvania ACCESS Card (EBT) 3rd–14th. But 2026 is a more complicated year than most for SNAP. The One Big…

The federal minimum wage is still $7.25 an hour in 2026 — unchanged since July 2009, the longest stretch without an increase since the federal minimum wage was created in 1938. Where you actually stand depends entirely on your state. Washington, D.C. now has the highest minimum wage in the…

The 2027 COLA estimate has narrowed to 3.5%–3.6% as of late September. The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) calls its 3.5% projection its final forecast before the official number arrives on October 14. The 2026 COLA is already confirmed at 2.8%, effective January 2026. I've also kept the latest Trustees Report…

Bitcoin has traded above $99,000 for stretches of 2026 and also seen six-day runs of over $1 billion in spot ETF outflows in the same year. By the time you read this, both of those facts could be stale. That's exactly the problem with most "should I sell my crypto"…

Spot Bitcoin ETFs now trade on Fidelity, Schwab, and E*TRADE just like a stock — you no longer need a separate crypto exchange account to get exposure. That's the biggest change since crypto went mainstream, and it's worth understanding before you put any money in. This is the starting-point guide…