Was my Social Security number stolen? National Public Data breach questions

Was my Social Security number stolen? National Public Data breach questions

Glowimages | Getty Images You may have never heard of National Public Data, yet your personal information may have been compromised in the company’s recent massive data breach. The background check company, which is owned by Jerico Pictures Inc., recently released details of the breach after a proposed class action lawsuit alleged 2.9 billion personal … Read more

Children may qualify for Social Security benefits. What to know

Children may qualify for Social Security benefits. What to know

Minnesota Governor and 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz at the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024. Charly Triballeau | AFP | Getty Images Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz accepted the Democratic vice presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday night. In his speech, Walz credited … Read more

Most households can weather moderate expense shocks, research finds

Most households can weather moderate expense shocks, research finds

JGI/Jamie Grill | Blend Images | Getty Images How people would handle a surprise $400 expense The Federal Reserve has found 13% of all adults would have been unable to pay for an unexpected $400 expense in 2023. Yet, JPMorgan Chase Institute finds the share of individuals who are unable to cover such an expense … Read more

Federal minimum wage has been $7.25 for 15 years. How that may change

Federal minimum wage has been .25 for 15 years. How that may change

Activists demonstrate in support of a $15-per-hour minimum wage and tips for restaurant workers in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 8, 2022. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images The federal minimum wage recently marked a new anniversary. But for affected workers, that may not be something to celebrate. The federal minimum wage has now been … Read more

Record breaking summer heat waves prompt higher home cooling costs

Record breaking summer heat waves prompt higher home cooling costs

Visitors walk during a long-duration heat wave impacting much of California on July 9 in Death Valley National Park, California.  Mario Tama | Getty Images News | Getty Images Amid surging summer heat, the earth reached a new hottest day on record on July 22. That day, the global average temperature was almost 63 degrees … Read more

Older voters have new choice after Biden drops reelection bid

Older voters have new choice after Biden drops reelection bid

U.S. President Joe Biden and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris walk to the East room to welcome the 2023 WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces during a celebration at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 9, 2024.  Craig Hudson | Reuters Last Wednesday, a group of “Boomers for Biden-Harris” threw a virtual party that was … Read more

Holding too much cash can be a mistake, experts say

Holding too much cash can be a mistake, experts say

Skaman306 | Moment | Getty Images It wasn’t long ago that investors earned practically 0% returns on cash. As the Federal Reserve has kept interest rates high to combat high inflation, you can easily earn 5% annual percentage yields on savings accounts and other low risk vehicles. Some experts are now warning it’s possible to … Read more

Biden, Trump spar over Social Security, Medicare in presidential debate

Biden, Trump spar over Social Security, Medicare in presidential debate

Republican presidential candidate former U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic Party presidential candidate U.S. President Joe Biden speak during a presidential debate in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S., June 27, 2024 in a combination photo. Brian Snyder | Reuters The future of Social Security and Medicare may be greatly impacted by whoever occupies the White House following … Read more

Here’s how to be a retirement ‘super saver’

Here’s how to be a retirement ‘super saver’

Hispanolistic | E+ | Getty Images A retirement savings crisis is looming for people who have 401(k) plans and other retirement balances woefully short of what they will need to live on. But some workers — called “super savers” — are managing to successfully grow their retirement nest eggs. Super savers are workers who are … Read more

Supplemental Security Income marks 50 years. How benefits may change

Supplemental Security Income marks 50 years. How benefits may change

Martonaphoto | Moment | Getty Images A federal program for people with disabilities and older adults made its first benefit payments 50 years ago. In 1974, Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, began sending the first monthly checks starting at around $140 per individual, or $210 per couple. In 2024, the maximum monthly benefit is $943 … Read more