Updated for November 2026

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

Plain-English answers, kept current and checked against IRS, SSA, federal and state sources.

State Child Tax Credits 2026–2027: The 16 States That Add Money on Top of the Federal Credit

The federal Child Tax Credit (CTC) is $2,200 per child for 2026, rising to $2,300 for 2027. If you live in the right state, that isn't the only child credit on your return. Fifteen states pay their own child tax credit for the 2026 tax year, the return you file…

What the New Democratic Congress Could Change on Your 2027 Taxes, and What It Can’t

Democrats resoundingly won control of both the House and the Senate in the latest midterm election cycle and will run the new Congress from January 3, 2027. That doesn't change your taxes on its own. President Trump still signs or vetoes every bill, and the new majorities are well short…

How to Cash Old Savings Bonds in 2026 (And Check for the $70 Billion in Unclaimed Money You Might Be Owed)

If you've got a paper EE or I savings bond from a parent or grandparent sitting in a drawer, there's a good chance your own bank won't cash it anymore. Most banks stopped taking paper bonds from non-customers years ago, and plenty won't touch them even if you do have…

Is That Text About Your Tax Refund Real? How to Spot an IRS Scam in 2026

If you got a text saying your tax refund is "approved," "on hold," or "ready for direct deposit," it didn't come from the IRS. The agency doesn't send text messages about your refund, full stop, and it doesn't email you first either. Its own guidance is blunt about it: "We…

Federal Benefits Open Season 2026: Dates, 2027 FEHB Premiums and the FSAFEDS Deadline

Federal Benefits Open Season runs November 9 through December 14, 2026. Whatever you pick in those five weeks sets your health, dental, vision and FSA coverage for the 2027 plan year. The number that matters most this year: the average enrollee share of FEHB premiums rises 10.9% in 2027, according…

AI and Your Taxes in 2027: What It’s Actually Good For, and Where It Still Gets You Audited

Ask ChatGPT how much you owe the IRS and it will happily answer, with confidence, in a tone that sounds exactly as certain when it's right as when it's wrong. That gap between confidence and accuracy is the whole story of AI and taxes right now. Filing season for your…

Home and Auto Insurance Bundle Costs: Why My Cheapest Renewal Quote Wasn’t the Cheapest

My cheapest home and auto bundle for this year's renewal came in $219 a year below the competition. It also came with a $32,640 deductible for wind and hail damage. That's the whole story of bundled insurance in 2026 for me. Premiums keep creeping up, and the quote that looks…

2027 FERS COLA Is 2.6%: Why Federal Retirees Get a Point Less Than CSRS and Social Security

The 2027 COLA for FERS retirees is 2.6%. CSRS retirees and Social Security beneficiaries get the full 3.6%, which SSA announced on October 14, 2026. That one-point gap isn't a mistake. It's written into the FERS law, and it kicks in every time the COLA comes in above 3%. The…

October 2026 Roundup: 3.6% COLA, 2027 SSI Max, SNAP Deadline, Federal Pay Freeze and Military Raise

With colder weather here and the leaves turning, fall has officially arrived. Less sunshine, yes, but it’s also the time of year when the 2027 updates start rolling in for many government programs that affect millions of people. One of the biggest is the 2027 Social Security Cost of Living…

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💵 IRS Refunds and Transcripts 56 articles 🧾 Tax Filing, Credits and Deductions 73 articles 💼 Unemployment 55 articles 🛒 SNAP and Food Assistance 58 articles 🏛️ Social Security, SSI and SSDI 15 articles 🎖️ Federal and Military Pay 7 articles