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The Money Overview

Social Security & Medicare

SSI raises the essential-person amount to $516 a month in January from $498, but only for someone who has lived with the recipient since December 1973

The monthly SSI amount for an essential person rises to $516 in January from $498 this year, according to Social Security’s 2027 payment figures. The money goes to the SSI recipient, not to the essential person, and only a narrow group of households qualify because the rules reach back to December 1973. For anyone who […]

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Banking & Credit Cards

Fraud & Scams

FBI Boston says 1,092 government-impersonation complaints in four New England states cost $28,895,404 as scammers spoof its phone number

FBI Boston says scammers are now calling victims from what appears to be the bureau’s own main number, 857-386-2000, and steering them onto an encrypted...

Fraud & Scams

A federal judge gave final approval Oct. 9 to 700Credit’s $17.5 million data-breach settlement after its claim period closed Sept. 22

A federal judge gave final approval on Oct. 9 to 700Credit’s $17.5 million data-breach settlement, 17 days after the claim period closed on Sept. 22....

Fraud & Scams

People notified of the 2024 Brockton Neighborhood Health Center breach have until Dec. 8 to claim up to $2,500 from an $825,000 settlement

Patients caught in the 2024 data breach at Brockton Neighborhood Health Center have until Dec. 8 to claim from an $825,000 settlement. Documented losses can...

Fraud & Scams

People notified of Covenant Health’s May 2025 data breach have until Dec. 30 to claim an estimated $75, or up to $5,000 in documented losses

People who received notice of the May 2025 data breach at Covenant Health have until Dec. 30 to claim from a $2 million settlement. The...

Fraud & Scams

People notified of Communications Data Group’s 2025 data breach have until Nov. 10 to claim $45 or up to $5,000 in documented losses

People who received a notice about the February 2025 data breach at Communications Data Group have until Nov. 10 to file a claim. The settlement...

Bank Accounts & Fees

Bank of America was hit with a $750 million OCC penalty, but the order does not send payments to customers

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has imposed a $750 million civil money penalty on Bank of America, the largest in the agency’s...

Retirement & Taxes