Social Security update: Direct payment worth up to $4,555 to go out to millions in three days

Asher Notheis

May 07, 08:23 AM May 07, 08:23 AM

The first leg of May's three Social Security payments, worth up to $4,555, will be sent out to retirees in three days, according to the Social Security Administration's schedule.

The payment will be sent to those born between the 1st and the 10th of their birth month and will be disbursed on May 10, the second Wednesday of May. The payments are sent out on the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of every month.

STIMULUS CHECK UPDATE: DIRECT PAYMENTS GOING TO RESIDENTS OF MARYLAND COUNTY AS UNIVERSAL BASIC INCOME

The amount of money each recipient gets depends on their age at retirement. Recipients who retired at 67 receive a maximum check of $3,627. People who retired at 62 get up to $2,572, and those who delay retirement until 70 get the highest payment of $4,555 per month, according to the SSA.

Two more rounds of payments will go to retirees later in the month, with the second payment being given to recipients born between the 11th and 20th of a month on May 17, the third Wednesday of May. The final wave will be sent on May 24, the fourth Wednesday of the month, and it will be for those born between the 21st and 31st of their birth month.

Recipients could see a decrease in their payments if Congress does not determine how the program will be funded by 2037. Discussions on the future of Social Security have occurred in Congress for years, and experts warned recently that the program could be insolvent in 10 years if nothing is done.

Some lawmakers have proposed raising the age at which citizens receive their full benefits from 67 to 70. Workers can already retire and collect Social Security as early as 62 or delay retirement until they are 70 for a higher check.

California reparations task force votes to approve restitution plan

Asher Notheis

May 06, 08:55 PM May 06, 08:55 PM

California's reparations task force voted on Saturday in favor of a reparations program, the first of its kind in the United States.

The committee of nine members voted to give final approval a plan with detailed explanations for how restitution should be made to victims of systemic racism, housing discrimination, mass incarceration, and health care inequities. The plan now goes to state legislature for approval. If passed, it could mean hundreds of billions of dollars in payments to black residents of the Golden State.

STIMULUS CHECK UPDATE: DIRECT PAYMENT WORTH $800 TO BE PAID OUT TO RECIPIENTS IN NINE DAYS

Calculations provided ahead of the vote showed that black residents who have lived in California their whole life and are 71 or older could receive up to $1.2 million in payments.

The proposed payments released on Wednesday revealed various alleged harms the committee seeks to atone for on behalf of the state of California, with all of the alleged harms varying depending on the time spent in California.

Those who have suffered from health-related harms would receive $13,619 for each year spent in California, with descendants eligible for the payments. Payments for those who were victims of alleged over-policing from 1971 through 2020, meanwhile would be entitled to $2,352 for each year living in California during that time, with a maximum amount of $115,260.

The task force's report is due to be released by July 1.

Ahead of Saturday's voting, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) applauded the recommendation of paying reparations to black residents in the state, calling the move a “human right” that has been “long overdue” for decades.

“Reparations are not a luxury for our people, but a human right long overdue for millions of Americans,” Lee said during a meeting with California's Reparations Task Force on Saturday. “The atrocities committed against black Americans are undeniable, and reparations are a tangible route to acknowledging and making amends to the glaring economic and social impacts of slavery and systemic racism. We must repair this damage.”

Stimulus check update: Direct payment worth $800 to be paid out to recipients in nine days

Asher Notheis

May 06, 10:00 AM May 06, 10:00 AM

Selected residents of Palm Springs, California, only need to wait nine days before a guaranteed income program begins paying $800 every month.

The program, which is being run by nonprofit organizations Queer Works and DAP Health, selected 30 recipients earlier this year in March and will begin the 18-month pay schedule on May 15. The recipients of this program will be free to spend this monthly payment in any way they see fit, according to Queer Works.

GAVIN NEWSOM IS STILL BOASTING ABOUT CALIFORNIA'S GDP EVEN AS RESIDENTS STRUGGLE, MOVE OUT

To have been eligible for this program, applicants needed to have an income of no more than 30% of the median income of Riverside County, which is equal to $16,600. Additionally, applicants needed to be clients of either Queer Works and/or DAP Health and be considered primary residents of Palm Springs.

The funding for this program, which Queer Works described as universal basic income, comes from $500,000 from the city of Palm Springs.

As part of this guaranteed income program, recipients will be required to participate in a study by Queer Works, which will involve surveys taken each month. The data from this program will be made available every six months, with the final report expected in winter 2024.

Applications for this program opened on March 15 and closed on March 25. The selected recipients of the program were notified of their selection on March 30.

The program is one of several guaranteed income programs taking place in California. In the city of El Monte, a program paying 125 applicants $500 every month is expected to begin on June 1, and in Sonoma County, recipients of the Pathway to Income Equity pilot program, who receive $500 every month, will receive their next payment on May 17.

Social Security update: Direct payment worth up to $4,555 goes out to millions in four days

Asher Notheis

May 06, 06:13 AM May 06, 06:13 AM

In only four days, the first round of May's Social Security payments will be sent out to recipients, according to the Social Security Administration's schedule.

The payment will be sent to those born between the 1st and the 10th of a month and will be disbursed on May 10, the second Wednesday of the month. The payments are sent out on the second, third, and fourth Wednesdays of every month, and the week a recipient's payment is sent coincides with the 10-day block of a month in which the person was born.

TAX REBATES 2023: DIRECT PAYMENT WORTH UP TO $500 TO BE ISSUED TO GEORGIA RESIDENTS THIS MONTH

The amount of money each recipient gets depends on their age at retirement. Recipients who retired at 67 can receive a maximum check of $3,627. People who retired at 62 get up to $2,572, and those who delay retirement until 70 get the highest payment of $4,555 per month, according to the SSA.

The second distribution will go to retirees born between the 11th and 20th of a month and will be released on May 17, the third Wednesday of the month. The final wave will be sent on May 24, the fourth Wednesday of the month, for those born between the 21st and 31st of their birth month.

Recipients could see a decrease in their payments if Congress does not determine how the program will be funded by 2037. Discussions on the future of Social Security have occurred in Congress for years, and experts warned last month that the program could be insolvent in 10 years if nothing is done.

Some lawmakers have proposed raising the age at which citizens receive their full benefits from 67 to 70. Workers can retire and collect Social Security as early as age 62 or delay retirement until they are 70 for a higher check.

Stimulus check update: Direct payment worth $800 to be paid out to recipients in 10 days

Asher Notheis

May 05, 10:29 AM May 05, 10:29 AM

Selected residents of Palm Springs, California, only need to wait 10 days before a guaranteed income program begins paying $800 every month.

The program, which is being run by nonprofit organizations Queer Works and DAP Health, selected 30 recipients earlier this year in March and will begin the 18-month-long pay schedule on May 15. The recipients of this program will be free to spend this monthly payment in any way they see fit, according to Queer Works.

CALIFORNIA GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM INITIATES HATE CRIME TIP LINE

Recipients will also be required to participate in a study by Queer Works, which will involve surveys taken each month. The data from this program will be made available every six months, with the final report expected in winter 2024.

To have been eligible for this program, applicants needed to have an income of no more than 30% of the median income of Riverside County, which is equal to $16,600. Additionally, applicants needed to be clients of either Queer Works and/or DAP Health and be considered primary residents of Palm Springs, California.

Applications for this program opened on March 15 and closed on March 25. The selected recipients of the program were notified of their selection on March 30.

The funding for this program, which Queer Works describes as universal basic income, comes from $500,000 from the city of Palm Springs.

The program is one of several guaranteed income programs taking place in California. In the city of El Monte, a program paying 125 applicants $500 every month is expected to begin on June 1, and in Sonoma County, recipients of the Pathway to Income Equity pilot program, who receive $500 every month, will receive their next payment on May 17.

Stimulus update: Direct payments worth $500 for more than 300 families to be sent in three days

Asher Notheis

April 16, 10:00 AM April 16, 10:01 AM

In three days, a guaranteed income payment will be sent to 305 families in Sonoma County, California.

The Pathway to Income Equity pilot program selected 305 out of 6,450 applicants. To be eligible, applicants had to have at least one child under age 6, be affected in some way by the coronavirus pandemic, and have a household income of no more than 185% above the federal poverty level, according to the Sonoma County Administrator's Office.

TAX REFUNDS: PAYMENTS AVERAGING $893 FROM 2019 STILL WAITING TO BE CLAIMED

"These payments will help families with young children who are often struggling under the double burden of the high costs of housing and child care — typically the two highest household expenses," said Chris Coursey, the chairman of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors.

"The information we gain from this pilot program will help shape future efforts to improve the health and welfare of our community," he added.

Officials said the payments are delivered on the third Wednesday of each month, which for this month will be April 19. The final payment for this program will be issued in December 2024.

Sonoma County officials will study what effect this additional monthly income has on reducing poverty and promoting economic mobility for families with young children, according to the Sonoma County Administrator's Office.

"Most of our selected recipients are already working — many working more than one job or more than 40 hours a week just to survive," said Angie Dillon-Shore, the director of the nonprofit group First 5 Sonoma County.

"This extra income will allow them to spend more time with their families, find a better job, or improve their financial well-being, resulting in better outcomes for their kids," she said.

The program accepted applications for the payments last year, and 6,450 applications were submitted online. Officials said that of all the applications, 2,383 met the eligibility requirements. The application period was from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31.

Trump financial disclosure reveals how the former president is profiting

Asher Notheis

April 15, 01:26 PM April 15, 01:30 PM

Former President Donald Trump's financial disclosure has been released to the public, showing how much money he has made from his recent endeavors, including Truth Social and his non-fungible tokens.

The financial disclosure, which was filed as a requirement for candidates running for federal office, was filed after Trump received two 45-day extensions, with the former president risking a $200 fine if he further delayed the filing. The filing revealed that Trump's NFT series, initially mocked upon its reveal, was actually quite profitable for Trump, earning him somewhere between $100,000 and $1 million, according to Business Insider.

BILL MAHER CAUTIONS DEMOCRATS ABOUT TRUMP INDICTMENT BACKFIRING: 'SEX SCANDALS DON'T WORK ON PRESIDENTS'

The Trump NFT cards, showing the former president dressed in different attire, such as a cowboy costume, an astronaut suit, and a sports coach, were originally priced at $99 each. However, despite the high asking price, the collection sold out within hours of release, with digital currency website CoinDesk reporting at the time the collection brought in over $1 million.

Trump's launch of a social media website, Truth Social, was nowhere near as lucrative as his NFT collection, the filing revealed, as Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social, has made less than $201, according to the filing. Truth Social, where the former president issues public statements, was created after he was banned from sites including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter.

It was also revealed that the former president has made more than $5 million in speaking fees and somewhere between $100,000 and $1 million for his 1987 book The Art of the Deal. The filing did not provide specifics, as it only requires him to report information in broad ranges.

The filing comes as Trump is seeking public office again, running for the Republican candidacy in the 2024 presidential election. President Joe Biden told the press during the annual White House Easter egg roll that he plans on running for reelection but added, "We’re just not prepared to announce it yet."

Stimulus update: Deadline to apply for $500 Sacramento guaranteed income program is in two days

Asher Notheis

April 12, 03:55 PM April 12, 03:55 PM

Residents of Sacramento, California, only have a couple days left to apply for a guaranteed income program that will give recipients $500 every month for a year.

The program, which is a partnership between the city and the nonprofit United Way, has already given 100 families in Sacramento County $300 every month since June 2021 and will select 80 applicants to receive this new $500 monthly payment. As part of this program, the California State University will conduct an evaluation on the experiences of participants who are receiving this money, according to United Way.

STIMULUS UPDATE: DIRECT PAYMENTS WORTH $500 FOR MORE THAN 300 FAMILIES TO BE SENT IN SEVEN DAYS

Applications for this program opened on March 15 and will remain open through 11:59 p.m. on Friday.

To be eligible for this program, applicants must earn an income below certain limits regarding household size, with a household of one adult earning no more than $28,205 and a household of two earning $43,201; this income limit will go up slightly with every child a household has, regardless of whether the house has one or two adults. Additionally, applicants must have a residential address within Sacramento.

The first payment is set to go out to recipients on July 1.

Recipients of this program will also receive surveys from the California State University in Sacramento, the first of which is mandatory and the second and third being optional, with the second being issued at the end of the program and the third being issued six months after the program's end. However, applicants who complete these optional surveys will be given $25 for both surveys completed.

All 80 of these eligible recipients will be randomly selected among applicants. These applicants will be informed that they have been selected through email sometime between late April and early May.

Tax season 2023: IRS advises early filers to consider filing an amended return if they reported tax refunds as taxable

Asher Notheis

April 12, 02:06 PM April 12, 02:06 PM

Taxpayers who jumped early on filing their taxes this year might want to file an amendment if they reported certain refunds they received last year as taxable.

The IRS issued a clarification in February regarding the federal tax status for special payments issued to taxpayers in several states last year, in which the agency determined that taxpayers in many states did not need to report these payments on their tax returns. Because of this, taxpayers who filed prior to this clarification on Feb. 10, as tax season started on Jan. 23, should check if filing an amendment is in order, the IRS announced Tuesday.

LAWMAKERS CONCERNED ABOUT IRS HEADING INTO TAX DAY

The states where residents are not required to report these state payments on this year's tax return are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. For residents of Alaska, the only state payment they do not need to report on their 2022 taxes is the supplemental Energy Relief Payment they received.

Residents of Georgia, Massachusetts, South Carolina, and Virginia are also not required to include special state 2022 tax refunds as income under certain conditions. These conditions consist of if the payment residents received was a refund of state taxes paid, as well as if the recipient either claimed the standard deduction for the tax year 2022 or itemized their tax year 2022 deductions but did not receive a tax benefit.

Taxpayers who think they meet these requirements and filed prior to Feb. 10 should check their tax return to see if they paid tax on a state refund before filing an amended return. For taxpayers who used a tax professional when filing taxes, they should check with said professional to determine if filing an amended return is called for.

A taxpayer can also opt to send in a paper amendment, though they will not receive their refund through direct deposit and instead receive a paper check.

Taxes are due on April 18, not April 15, due to it falling on a weekend this year. In addition, April 17 is recognized as Emancipation Day in Washington, D.C., and all Washington holidays affect tax deadlines across the United States, meaning that tax returns will be due on the following business day, April 18.

Taxpayers who are awaiting their refund can check online using the IRS's "Where's my refund" tool, which is free to use.

Couples who share bank accounts report fewer financial problems: Study

Asher Notheis

April 05, 04:04 PM April 05, 04:04 PM

Couples who share a bank account may experience fewer problems with money, according to a recent study.

A total of 62% of couples claim to share at least one bank account, and 41% have their funds combined. Of the couples who share at least one account, only 12% said that financial matters had caused problems in their relationship — 25% less than those who do not share, according to a study by Lending Tree.

NEVADA'S MINIMUM WAGE SET TO GO UP ON JULY 1

“Openness, honesty, and transparency are crucial for a relationship’s success, and that’s certainly true when it comes to money,” said Lending Tree chief credit analyst Matt Schulz. “By sharing an account, it gives each partner equal visibility into what’s going on in that account. That can help grow trust within the relationship.”

The study comes as more than half of people in the United States, 51%, say that financial matters have caused problems in their relationships — 61% of parents with children 18 and younger say the same. Most millennials, 58%, and consumers making between $35,000 and $49,999, 56%, were also likely to say finances have affected their relationships.

Of the respondents who claimed financial troubles had caused problems in current or past relationships, 44% said they hashed the problem out and stayed together. Thirty percent of the other respondents broke up or divorced due to their money problems, and 21% said their problems made them reassess how they handled finances in their relationship. Sixteen percent failed to find a solution to their problem, and 8% agreed to talk about their problem at a later time.

A total of 33% of U.S. residents consider financial security before committing to a relationship, and 29% say they consider financial security before marriage. Additionally, 98% of coupled consumers say they know how much their significant other makes.

A total of 2,000 U.S. consumers were surveyed about their financial experiences with their partners in this study.

Stimulus update: Deadline to apply for $500 guaranteed income program in 13 days

Asher Notheis

April 02, 07:46 AM April 02, 07:46 AM

A guaranteed income program in the city of El Monte, California, is accepting applications for another 13 days. Recipients of the program will get $500 every month for a year.

A total of 125 applicants will be selected, and the program is intended for mothers in the city. Applications for the program opened on Monday and will remain open until April 15, according to the city.

TAX SEASON 2023: TAX PREPARERS PUSH TO KEEP IRS FROM PROVIDING FREE FILING SERVICE

"Individuals selected to participate in the program will be issued a debit card," a representative with the city manager's office told the Washington Examiner. "Every month, the city will load $500 on the debit card. Individuals can use it to pay for goods and services at any location that accepts debit cards. The city will provide training on how to use the debit card for participants."

The recipients of this program will be selected by April 26, and the city anticipates the first payment will be sent out on June 1, the representative said.

To be eligible, an applicant must live within the city limits of El Monte, be a single female head of household with no spouse or partner in the house, and have children younger than 17. Additionally, applicants must have a verified income at or below the federal poverty line, be able to show a need for financial assistance due to the coronavirus pandemic, and be able to submit documents verifying school enrollment, proof of residency, proof of income, and a government-issued ID.

Those interested in applying for this program can do so either in person at the city manager's office, online, or by mail. Anyone submitting an application by mail should address the application to:

City of El Monte

City Hall East

Attn: GI Program

11333 Valley Boulevard

El Monte, CA 91731

Stimulus update: Direct payment worth up to $400 to be paid to Massachusetts residents in 14 days

Asher Notheis

April 01, 06:02 AM April 01, 06:02 AM

In two weeks, recipients of the Chelsea Eats program in Chelsea, Massachusetts, will receive their next payment worth up to $400.

In total, 738 households are receiving payments ranging from $200 to $400 from this program, and the second of these payments will be issued on April 15. The payments will help Massachusetts residents buy food and pay their utility bills. The city distributed debit cards to recipients in early March, which is how recipients will receive this payment, a Chelsea city spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.

TAX SEASON 2023: MISTAKES TO STEER CLEAR OF TO AVOID BEING AUDITED BY THE IRS

The amount people will receive from this payment will depend on the recipient's household size. A household of one will receive a payment of $200, a household of two will get $300, and any household with three or more people will receive a payment of $400.

The April payment will mark the second of three payments this program will provide to recipients via their debit cards. The first payment was issued on March 15, and the last one is planned for May.

For an applicant to be selected for this program, they had to have been a resident of Chelsea with a household income 30% less than the area median. For a household of one, that would be $29,450, and for a household of two, it would be $33,650. The income limit increases slightly for each additional person in a household.

This three-month program issues payments to recipients on the 15th of each month. After the third payment in May, there are no plans to continue the program, a spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.

Additional information about this program can be found on Chelsea's webpage on COVID-19 emergency assistance programs.

Stimulus update: Deadline to apply for $500 guaranteed income program in 15 days

Asher Notheis

March 31, 11:49 AM March 31, 11:49 AM

A guaranteed income program in the city of El Monte, California, is accepting applications for another 15 days, with recipients of the program getting $500 every month for a year.

A total of 125 applicants will be selected to receive this income from the program, which is intended for mothers in the city. Applications for the program opened on Monday and will remain open until April 15, according to the city.

RETIREMENT 2023: RETIREES NEED TO WITHDRAW FIRST PAYMENT FROM PLANS IN ONE DAY

"Individuals selected to participate in the program will be issued a debit card," a representative with the city manager's office told the Washington Examiner. "Every month, the city will load $500 on the debit card. Individuals can use it to pay for goods and services at any location that accepts debit cards. The city will provide training on how to use the debit card for participants."

The recipients of this program will be selected by April 26, and the city anticipates the first payment will be sent out on June 1, the representative said.

To be eligible, an applicant must live within the city limits of El Monte, be a single female head of household with no spouse or partner in the house, and have children younger than 17. Additionally, applicants must have a verified income at or below the federal poverty line, be able to show a need for financial assistance due to the coronavirus pandemic, and be able to submit documents verifying school enrollment, proof of residency, proof of income, and a government-issued ID.

Those interested in applying for this program can do so either in person at the city manager's office, online, or by mail. Anyone submitting an application by mail should address the application to:

City of El Monte

City Hall East

Attn: GI Program

11333 Valley Boulevard

El Monte, CA 91731

Stimulus update: Second direct payment worth up to $400 to be paid to Massachusetts residents in 17 days

Asher Notheis

March 29, 10:53 AM March 29, 10:53 AM

There are only 17 days before recipients of the Chelsea Eats program in Chelsea, Massachusetts, receive their next payment worth up to $400.

A total of 738 households are receiving payments ranging from $200 to $400 from this program, with the second of these payments being issued on April 15. The payments will help Massachusetts residents buy food and pay their utility bills. The city distributed debit cards to recipients in early March, which is how recipients will receive this payment, a Chelsea city spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.

NEW STUDY OUTLINES FIVE MOST LIVABLE CITIES IN US

The amount people will receive from this payment will depend on the recipient's household size. A household of one will receive a payment of $200, a household of two will get $300, and any household with three or more people will receive a payment of $400.

The April payment will mark the second of three payments this program will provide to recipients via their debit cards. The first payment was issued earlier this month on March 15, and the last one is planned for May.

This three-month program will issue payments to recipients on the 15th of each month. After the third payment in May, there are no plans to continue the program, a spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.

For an applicant to be selected for this program, they had to have been a resident of Chelsea and have had a household income 30% less than the area median. For a household of one, that would be $29,450, and for a household of two, it would be $33,650. The income limit increases slightly for each additional person in a household.

Additional information about this program can be found on Chelsea's webpage on COVID-19 emergency assistance programs.

Tax Season 2023: IRS warns of questionable tax preparers ahead of tax filing deadline

Asher Notheis

March 28, 04:26 PM March 28, 04:27 PM

With the end of this year's tax deadline in sight, the Internal Revenue Service has increased its warnings regarding scams targeting taxpayers, this time with its latest alert on "unscrupulous" tax return preparers.

When dealing with these types of tax preparers, taxpayers should keep their eyes peeled for any potential warning signs, which include preparers charging taxpayers a fee based on the size of their refund and "ghost" preparers refusing to sign the tax return or asking taxpayers to sign a blank return. To ensure one's information is secure, a person should rely on a trusted tax professional with their taxes, the IRS advised Monday.

TAX SEASON 2023: MISTAKES TO STEER CLEAR OF TO AVOID BEING AUDITED BY THE IRS

"Most tax professionals offer excellent advice and can really help people navigate complex tax issues," IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said. "But we continue to see instances where taxpayers are 'ghosted' by unscrupulous tax preparers with bad advice who quickly disappear. We encourage taxpayers to check out the tools and resources available to them to ensure they find the right tax professional for their needs."

When choosing a tax preparer this year, taxpayers should check several things before selecting who will prepare their taxes, including if the professional has an IRS preparer tax identification number, which is required for them to prepare taxes. Ultimately, the best tax preparer comes down to what the taxpayer needs and should be selected on a case-by-case basis.

This latest warning from the IRS is a continuation of its "Dirty Dozen" series that it has been doing to warn taxpayers of scams that proliferate during tax season. Previous warnings by the IRS in this series include warnings of phishing emails and scammers offering "help" to set up an online IRS account.

Federal tax returns are due by April 18 this year. This deadline also applies to filing for an extension to file one's taxes.

More information on the tax scams the IRS has warned about can be found on the IRS's website.

Stimulus update: Direct $500 payments for more than 300 families to be sent in 24 days

Asher Notheis

March 26, 06:10 AM March 26, 06:10 AM

Families receiving money from a guaranteed income program in California will receive their next payment of $500 in 24 days.

Sonoma County selected 305 families to receive $500 every month for two years as part of its Pathway to Income Equity program, and the next payment is scheduled for April 19.

FORTY-FIVE PERCENT OF PARENTS ARE HELPING THEIR ADULT CHILDREN FINANCIALLY

Officials will study what effect the additional income has on reducing poverty and promoting economic mobility for families with young children, according to the Sonoma County Administrator's Office.

Angie Dillon-Shore, director of the nonprofit group First 5 Sonoma County, told the Washington Examiner these payments would go out to recipients on the third Wednesday of every month and that the final payment would be issued in December 2024.

“These payments will help families with young children who are often struggling under the double burden of the high costs of housing and child care — typically the two highest household expenses,” said Chris Coursey, chairman of the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors. “The information we gain from this pilot program will help shape future efforts to improve the health and welfare of our community.”

Applications for the program were only open to applicants who met specific criteria like being a resident of Sonoma County. Other criteria included being pregnant and/or the parent of a child no older than 5, being affected by COVID-19, and making an income of less than 185% of the federal poverty level. The federal poverty level is $42,606 for a family of three.

A total of 6,450 online applications were submitted for review, and 2,383 met the eligibility requirements. Applications for the program opened on Sept. 1 and closed on Oct. 31 of last year.

Social Security update: Direct payment worth up to $4,555 to be sent to millions in three days

Asher Notheis

March 12, 07:19 AM March 12, 07:19 AM

The second round of the Social Security Administration's retirement payments, worth up to $4,555, will be sent to beneficiaries born between the 11th and 20th of a month in under a week.

The disbursement, to be released on March 15, is the second of three waves of payments for the month. Each wave corresponds with the 10-day block of a month when a person was born, according to the SSA's schedule.

SOCIAL SECURITY: HOW TO AVOID SOCIAL SECURITY SCAMS

The amount of money recipients get from the payment depends on their retirement age. The highest payment of up to $4,555 per month goes to people who retired at 70. Recipients who retired at 67 receive a maximum check of $3,627, and anyone who retired at 62 gets up to $2,572, according to the SSA.

The first round of payments was for people born between the 1st and 10th of a month, and it went out to recipients on Wednesday. The final round will go out on March 22, the fourth Wednesday of March. It will be for people born between the 21st and 31st of a month.

The amount of money retirees receive in Social Security is subject to change, and it could decrease if Congress does not determine how the program will be funded in the future. Discussions on Social Security have been ongoing in Congress for years, but most recently, a pair of bipartisan senators have proposed raising the retirement age to 70.

Currently, the retirement age is 67, but workers can take early retirement at 62 or delay retirement until they are 70.

Disney CEO admits it made a mistake with 'aggressive' price hikes

Asher Notheis

March 11, 05:31 PM March 11, 05:32 PM

Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger acknowledged the company misstepped in its recent price increase for its theme parks, saying the company was "too aggressive."

Iger's statement was made while speaking at the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media and Telecom Conference on Thursday, where he addressed the negative reactions from the recent decision to increase prices at Disneyland and Walt Disney World in Florida, according to Los Angeles Times.

DISNEY PARKS CHIEF SAYS COMPANY CAN 'WORK WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE' AFTER DESANTIS RESTRUCTURED DISTRICT

“In our zeal to grow profits, we may have been a little bit too aggressive about some of our pricing,” Iger said. “I think there’s a way to continue to grow that business, but be smarter about how we price so that we maintain that brand value of accessibility.”

Iger, who initially left the company in 2020, returned as chief executive in late-2022, replacing then-CEO Bob Chapek. During his Thursday appearance at the conference, Iger promised "to continue to listen to consumers,” and that the company is "going to continue to adjust.”

In February, Iger said he would leave his role as CEO of Disney in two years, and that one of his goals during these next two years is to ensure Disney's board will "succeed at succession."

The push back from consumers on the price increases to the company's theme parks come as the United States continues to combat inflation.

Disney itself has had to deal with the rough economic environment, losing 2.4 million subscribers to Disney+ in the last quarter of 2022, marking the first time the streaming service has lost subscribers. The company also fired 7,000 of its employees last month, joining the growing list of companies, including Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta, to let go of thousands of employees in recent months, according to Variety.

Stimulus update: Direct payment worth up to $400 to be available for Massachusetts residents in four days

Asher Notheis

March 11, 06:28 AM March 11, 06:28 AM

In only four days, recipients of the Chelsea Eats program in Chelsea, Massachusetts, will receive their first payment of up to $400.

The program will give 738 households payments ranging from $200 to $400 on March 15 to help them buy food and pay their utility bills. The city intends to distribute these payments via debit cards in early March and have all the cards activated by March 15, a Chelsea city spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.

CRUISE CONTROL: SEA CRUISE COMPANY OFFERING REMOTE WORKERS THREE-YEAR CRUISE FOR $90,000

"The city notified recipients directly via correspondence," the spokesperson said. "All recipients need to come in person to pick up their card on their assigned day."

This payment will be the first of three payments that recipients will receive from this program. A second and third payment will be issued to recipients in April and May, respectively.

The amount people will receive from this payment will depend on the recipient's household size. A household of one will receive a payment of $200, a household of two will get $300, and any household with three or more people will receive a payment of $400.

To be selected for this program, applicants had to be residents of Chelsea with a household income of 30% less than the area median. For a household of one, this income level would be $29,450, and for a household of two, it would be $33,650. The income limit increases slightly for each additional person in a household.

Additional information about this program can be found on Chelsea's webpage on COVID-19 emergency assistance programs.

Stimulus update: Direct payment worth up to $400 to be available for Massachusetts residents in five days

Asher Notheis

March 10, 10:44 AM March 10, 10:44 AM

Recipients of the Chelsea Eats program in Chelsea, Massachusetts, only need to wait five more days before they receive their first payment worth up to $400.

A total of 738 households will receive payments ranging from $200 to $400 on March 15 from the program, with the payments being sent to help Massachusetts residents buy food and pay their utility bills. The city intends to distribute these payments via debit cards in early March and have all the cards activated by March 15, a Chelsea city spokesperson told the Washington Examiner.

IRS REMINDS RETIREES APRIL 1 IS LAST DAY TO START RECEIVING MONEY FROM IRAS AND 401(K) PLANS

"The city notified recipients directly via correspondence," the spokesperson said. "All recipients need to come in person to pick up their card on their assigned day."

As of Wednesday, more than 400 of the debit cards have been distributed to recipients of the Chelsea Eats program, according to the spokesperson.

To be selected for this program, applicants had to have been residents of Chelsea and had a household income 30% less than the area median. For a household of one, this income level would be $29,450, and for a household of two, it would be $33,650, with the income limit increasing slightly for each additional person in a household.

The amount people will receive from this payment will depend on the recipient's household size. A household of one will receive a payment of $200, a household of two will get $300, and any household with three or more people will receive a payment of $400.

Next week's payment will be the first of three payments this program will provide to recipients. The other payments will follow in the months after March, with one issued to recipients in April and the last one in May.

Additional information about this program can be found on Chelsea's webpage on COVID-19 emergency assistance programs.