Updated for September 2026

Your Personal Finance Guide to Tax Refunds, Retirement Plans & Government Benefits

Updates on IRS refunds and taxes, 401(k) and IRA changes, unemployment benefits, and government programs

2027 Medicare IRMAA Brackets: Will You Pay More for Part B and Part D?

If your income crosses one of six specific lines, Medicare charges you more — sometimes a lot more — for the exact same Part B and Part D coverage everyone else gets. That surcharge is called IRMAA, and I get more confused emails about it than almost any other Medicare…

Parent PLUS Loans Got Capped at $20,000 a Year — Here’s What Changed and What to Do Instead

Parent PLUS loans changed in a big way on July 1, 2026: parents can now borrow only $20,000 a year and $65,000 total per student, down from an effectively uncapped amount tied to the school's full cost of attendance. Grad PLUS loans disappeared entirely for anyone starting a new graduate…

The Social Security Fake Call Transfer Scam – How It Works and How to Shut It Down

The Social Security Administration recenty issued a fresh warning about a scam making the rounds: the "fake call transfer." A caller posing as a retailer, tech support line, or another government agency tells you they're "transferring" your call directly to Social Security — and then a second scammer picks up,…

Social Security’s Compassionate Allowances List Just Grew to 314 Conditions — Does Yours Qualify for Fast-Track Approval?

Social Security's Compassionate Allowances list grew to 314 conditions on August 11, 2026, after the agency added 14 more diagnoses that qualify for near-automatic, fast-tracked disability approval. If you or a family member has one of these conditions, it can mean the difference between waiting days for a decision instead…

Medicare Open Enrollment 2027: Key Dates, New Rules, and How to Actually Compare Plans

Medicare's Annual Enrollment Period for 2027 coverage runs October 15 through December 7, 2026 — the annual window when you can switch Medicare Advantage plans, change Part D drug coverage, or move between Original Medicare and Medicare Advantage. This year's window comes with more than the usual "review your plan"…

Continuing Disability Review: What It Actually Means If SSA Is Checking Your SSDI or SSI Again

Getting a letter that says Social Security is reviewing your disability case again can feel like the beginning of the end of your benefits. For most people, it isn't. A Continuing Disability Review (CDR) is a routine, legally required check-in — not an accusation, and not a sign SSA thinks…

The AI Data Center Boom Is Rapidly Raising Your Electric Bill: What’s Happening and What You Can Do

Utilities asked state regulators for $18.6 billion in electricity rate increases in just the first six months of 2026 — already more than half of all of 2025's record $29 billion in requests, with the year not even over. Residential electricity rates are up 7.3% nationally over the past year,…

Can Gig Workers Get Unemployment Benefits? What DoorDash, Uber, and Instacart Drivers Actually Qualify For in 2026

If you drive for DoorDash, Uber, Lyft, or Instacart and lose other income, there's a good chance a straightforward unemployment claim based on that gig work alone will get denied. That's not a glitch in the system — it's how unemployment insurance is built. Regular state unemployment programs are designed…

Which State Taxes Actually Matter? Income, Property, Sales, and Estate Tax Compared for 2026-2027

Where you live changes what you owe in ways that have nothing to do with your federal return. Nine states charge no personal income tax at all in 2026, but the same nine states often make up the difference through property tax, sales tax, or both. There's no single "best"…

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