#social-safety-net

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Artificial intelligence
fromnews.bitcoin.com
15 hours ago

Elon Musk Pushes 'Universal High Income' Checks as Ultimate Solution for AI Unemployment

Elon Musk advocates for Federal Universal High Income to address AI-induced unemployment and promote a future of abundance and zero inflation.
Canada news
fromThe Walrus
2 hours ago

$28,600 a Year: What the Average Older Canadian Woman Lives On | The Walrus

The gender pension gap in Canada persists despite improvements in retirement income for many Canadians over the past fifty years.
#social-security
Retirement
from24/7 Wall St.
2 days ago

This is the Average Social Security Benefit at Every Age

Social Security benefits typically replace only 40% of pre-retirement income, necessitating additional savings for a comfortable retirement.
Retirement
from24/7 Wall St.
2 weeks ago

How to Avoid Social Security's Most Hated Trap

Many retirees face taxes on Social Security benefits, which can feel like double taxation due to low income thresholds.
Retirement
from24/7 Wall St.
2 weeks ago

64% of Americans are Making a Fundamental Mistake on Social Security

Social Security's trust fund may run dry by 2032, but benefits will still be paid from ongoing revenue, covering about 75% of promised benefits.
Retirement
from24/7 Wall St.
17 hours ago

How much money do you need to supplement your Social Security Check?

Social Security benefits should not be the sole income source for seniors; additional funds are necessary for a comfortable retirement.
Retirement
from24/7 Wall St.
1 day ago

Some Retirees Get $5,181 a Month From Social Security While Others Get $1,200. Here's Why.

Social Security benefits vary significantly based on earnings, work history, and claiming age, with three main factors influencing the amount received.
Retirement
from24/7 Wall St.
2 days ago

This is the Average Social Security Benefit at Every Age

Social Security benefits typically replace only 40% of pre-retirement income, necessitating additional savings for a comfortable retirement.
Retirement
from24/7 Wall St.
1 week ago

Social Security Issues Major Warning to Retirees

Retirees must be vigilant against increasing government impostor scams targeting their Social Security information.
Retirement
from24/7 Wall St.
2 weeks ago

How to Avoid Social Security's Most Hated Trap

Many retirees face taxes on Social Security benefits, which can feel like double taxation due to low income thresholds.
Retirement
from24/7 Wall St.
2 weeks ago

64% of Americans are Making a Fundamental Mistake on Social Security

Social Security's trust fund may run dry by 2032, but benefits will still be paid from ongoing revenue, covering about 75% of promised benefits.
Healthcare
fromNextgov.com
15 hours ago

Tech bills of the week: Improving maternal health; Expanding access for disabled Americans; and more

The Tech to Save Moms Act aims to improve maternal health outcomes through enhanced telehealth services and technology access for expecting mothers.
Social justice
fromThe Nation
1 day ago

How Working People Are the Canaries in the Coal Mine

Politicians are addressing the affordability crisis, but many working individuals feel neglected and question the timing of this attention.
Health
fromHarvard Gazette
17 hours ago

Rural U.S. bears heaviest burden accessing dental care - Harvard Gazette

24.7 million Americans live in dental deserts, facing significant barriers to accessing specialized dental care, particularly in rural areas.
Business
fromFast Company
1 day ago

Why people can't build wealth on wages alone, and what to do about it

Rising inequality and ownership are central to addressing the affordability crisis and ensuring prosperity during technological revolutions.
Public health
fromAxios
2 days ago

Finish Line: The quiet rise of "prescribing connection"

Social prescribing addresses health crises and broader issues like social isolation through diverse community programs and activities.
Real estate
fromwww.housingwire.com
3 days ago

Chain reaction: A framework for America's housing and retirement crises

The American Dream faces challenges in homeownership due to affordability, inventory issues, and systemic policy failures.
#food-insecurity
Online Community Development
fromStreetsblog
1 month ago

How the 'Little Free Pantry' Can Help Feed the Hungry Without Requiring Them to Drive - Streetsblog USA

Micro-pantries are small, community-maintained food compartments addressing food insecurity for people without reliable transportation to traditional food banks.
Online Community Development
fromStreetsblog
1 month ago

How the 'Little Free Pantry' Can Help Feed the Hungry Without Requiring Them to Drive - Streetsblog USA

Micro-pantries are small, community-maintained food compartments addressing food insecurity for people without reliable transportation to traditional food banks.
#child-poverty
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
4 days ago

Austerity-era benefit cuts plunged nearly a quarter' of children into poverty

Austerity measures in Britain have led to a significant increase in long-term childhood poverty, affecting nearly a quarter of children born since 2010.
fromwww.theguardian.com
5 days ago
UK politics

More than a fifth of UK's austerity children' scarred by poverty, study says

Austerity policies have led to 23% of British children experiencing long-term poverty, significantly impacting their health and life chances.
UK politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
4 days ago

Austerity-era benefit cuts plunged nearly a quarter' of children into poverty

Austerity measures in Britain have led to a significant increase in long-term childhood poverty, affecting nearly a quarter of children born since 2010.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
5 days ago

More than a fifth of UK's austerity children' scarred by poverty, study says

Austerity policies have led to 23% of British children experiencing long-term poverty, significantly impacting their health and life chances.
from48 hills
1 day ago

Hundreds rally against health care cuts - 48 hills

Maria Elena Healy, a registered nurse at Laguna Honda, stated, 'I am just one of the few who have been laid off. They are eliminating an entire department. These people will no longer have the specialty nursing care that we provide.'
Healthcare
Public health
fromTruthout
3 days ago

New Federal Data Reveals 1 in 3 US Households Struggle to Afford Energy Bills

Energy insecurity affects millions of American households, worsening rapidly and forcing difficult trade-offs to meet energy needs.
fromwww.cbc.ca
4 days ago

Gap between richest and poorest Canadians kept widening in 2025, StatsCan says | CBC News

Statistics Canada reported that the income gap measuring the difference in disposable income between the top 40 percent and bottom 40 percent reached 46.7 percentage points in 2025, up from 46.4 percentage points the previous year.
Canada news
UK news
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 week ago

Struggling families like mine don't talk about the cost of living any more now it's the cost of survival | Ella Michalski

War exacerbates living standards, leading to a persistent cost of survival crisis for families struggling to meet basic needs.
Business
fromFortune
6 days ago

Turns out the American middle class didn't die. It got richer-and felt poorer | Fortune

Affluent Americans in 2026 experience a sense of unease despite material wealth, reflecting a structural shift in the economy and perceptions of prosperity.
Healthcare
fromMedCity News
5 days ago

'A Significant Assault on Our Health': Healthcare Policy Leaders Condemn Trump's Budget Proposal - MedCity News

Trump's fiscal year 2027 budget proposes significant cuts to healthcare, exacerbating previous reductions and drawing criticism from healthcare advocates.
#gas-prices
Washington DC
fromTruthout
2 weeks ago

Low-Income Moms Struggle to Keep Their Families Afloat Amid Gas Price Increases

Gas prices have surged due to the war in Iran, significantly impacting single mothers' budgets and daily lives.
Retirement
from24/7 Wall St.
4 days ago

Social Security COLA Watch: Here's How the Latest CPI Data Could Impact Next Year's Raise

Higher gas prices impact overall costs, potentially leading to increased Social Security COLA adjustments for seniors.
Washington DC
fromTruthout
2 weeks ago

Low-Income Moms Struggle to Keep Their Families Afloat Amid Gas Price Increases

Gas prices have surged due to the war in Iran, significantly impacting single mothers' budgets and daily lives.
Retirement
from24/7 Wall St.
4 days ago

Social Security COLA Watch: Here's How the Latest CPI Data Could Impact Next Year's Raise

Higher gas prices impact overall costs, potentially leading to increased Social Security COLA adjustments for seniors.
Artificial intelligence
fromThe Nation
1 week ago

We All Hate AI, but if You're Poor, It Can Really Ruin Your Life

Luxury brands are emphasizing human artistry over AI to maintain exclusivity and appeal to consumers' desire for authenticity.
Left-wing politics
fromPsychology Today
3 weeks ago

How the Battle for Affordable Care Became a Culture War

The Affordable Care Act's passage and implementation faced significant political and cultural challenges, shaping national discourse for years to come.
#snap
SF politics
fromCity Limits
3 weeks ago

What NY State's Budget Proposals Include to Fight Hunger-And What's Left Out

Anti-hunger advocates seek stronger state responses to federal funding cuts and new SNAP work requirements affecting food access for New Yorkers.
SF politics
fromCity Limits
3 weeks ago

What NY State's Budget Proposals Include to Fight Hunger-And What's Left Out

Anti-hunger advocates seek stronger state responses to federal funding cuts and new SNAP work requirements affecting food access for New Yorkers.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 weeks ago

Next week's disability cuts will make people destitute and you might not understand how bad they are until it's too late | Frances Ryan

Almost 750,000 severely ill and disabled people in Britain face a significant cut to their universal credit support.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
2 weeks ago

Why the benefit used by over 8 million people may not be fit for the future

Easterhouse's transformation sparked the creation of Universal Credit, which now supports over eight million people, but faces new challenges in the welfare system.
Retirement
fromSilicon Canals
1 week ago

What no one tells you about a working-class retirement - Silicon Canals

Retirement can lead to unexpected physical and identity challenges for those who defined themselves by their work.
US news
fromThe Washington Post
1 month ago

One-third of Americans skip meals or other needs to afford health care

Rising health care costs force Americans to reduce spending, skip meals, delay major life decisions like homeownership and parenthood, and postpone retirement.
US politics
fromFortune
1 month ago

Social Security has kept wealth inequality in check for decades. Trump's policies could deplete it in 6 years | Fortune

Social Security's $40 trillion buffer has moderated wealth inequality for decades, but accelerating fiscal policies threaten its insolvency by 2032, potentially widening the wealth gap to Gilded Age levels.
US news
fromwww.npr.org
1 month ago

Out of work and with 2 teens, this mom may lose food stamps under Trump's changes

New SNAP work requirements eliminate food assistance exemptions for single parents with children aged 14 and older, creating financial hardship for vulnerable families already struggling with unemployment and poverty.
Public health
fromTruthout
1 month ago

Trump Administration Quietly Moves to Strip Food Aid From Millions

The Trump administration is pursuing a regulatory change to eliminate broad-based categorical eligibility in SNAP, which would remove federal nutrition assistance from approximately 6 million low-income Americans, including nearly 2 million children.
fromCity Limits
1 month ago

Federal Bill Would Upgrade EBT Cards to Prevent 'Skimming' Thefts

EBT card theft is a huge, huge problem. In New York alone, in the first six months of last year, $14 million of SNAP benefits were stolen. We get these complaints all the time to our office.
US politics
Healthcare
fromAxios
1 month ago

What Americans sacrifice due to high health costs

Rising medical costs force millions of Americans to delay major life decisions like having children, buying homes, retiring, and pursuing education across all income levels.
Non-profit organizations
fromTruthout
1 month ago

"Low-Wage 20" Report Calls Out Companies Paying Worker Below Medicaid, SNAP Thresholds

Workers at America's largest low-wage corporations depend on public benefits because their pay is insufficient, while CEOs receive astronomical compensation.
Retirement
from24/7 Wall St.
1 month ago

This Could Be Social Security's Most Confusing Rule

Spousal Social Security benefits cap at 50% of the spouse's primary insurance amount and cannot grow beyond this maximum, unlike individual benefits which increase 8% annually when delayed past full retirement age.
US politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

Workers at top 20 US low-wage firms rely on public assistance, report says

Millions of workers at major US corporations earn wages so low they qualify for government assistance, while companies spend billions on stock buybacks instead of raising pay.
Public health
fromABC7 San Francisco
1 month ago

Trump's new Medicaid work mandate could leave thousands of homeless Californians uninsured

Trump's new Medi-Cal work requirements and increased verification frequency will likely cause over 90% of unhoused Californians to lose health insurance coverage starting in 2027.
Relationships
fromSlate Magazine
2 months ago

I Know My Best Friend Isn't a Charity Case. But I Still Want to Give Her My Extra Cash.

Offer financial help transparently and respectfully: ask permission, discuss needs and boundaries, and provide sustainable support without stigma or unsolicited gifts.
California
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months ago

Letters: Tax the rich' scheme won't fix broken health system

Taxing the wealthy alone cannot fix structural flaws in U.S. health care and may have mixed outcomes, including possible billionaire departures.
Psychology
fromSilicon Canals
2 months ago

You know someone grew up without money when they do these 8 things at grocery stores-and they have no idea how obvious it is - Silicon Canals

Childhood financial scarcity creates lasting grocery-shopping behaviors—habitual price-checking, full-cart preference, and mental arithmetic—even after financial circumstances change.
fromSilicon Canals
2 months ago

8 things lower-middle-class people do to feel safe that wealthy people don't even think about - Silicon Canals

Growing up outside Manchester, I remember watching my mum count out exact change at the supermarket checkout, keeping a running total in her head as she shopped. Meanwhile, my university roommate would just toss things in his trolley without a second thought. That's when it hit me: Financial security isn't just about having money. It's about the mental space that money creates.
Mental health
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months ago

Opinion: California families face deadly health care cuts. Billionaires can afford to pitch in.

Doctors told us my grandson wouldn't live past three months, but they didn't know Elijah was capable of. Today he's 7 years old, stubborn as ever and fighting every day to prove them wrong. Elijah was born with cerebral palsy. Caring for him is a full-time, all-hands-on-deck operation that includes in-home nurses, physical and occupational therapy, school support and a small pharmacy's worth of medications.
California
US news
fromSilicon Canals
2 months ago

New data shows wealth inequality reaching unprecedented levels - Silicon Canals

Wealth inequality is historically extreme: the top 1% hold nearly 32% of net worth while the bottom 50% hold just 2.5%.
fromMedium
2 months ago

The Future Where No One Works-Except the Billionaires Who Still Do

If a world without work is paradise, why are its architects still working? Our ability to create has exploded, but our ability to feel meaning in what we create has collapsed. Billionaires tell us AI will free us from work, but they still show up to the office. That's the clue we're ignoring. The danger isn't job loss, it's loss of purpose. As friction disappears, so does the proof that our actions matter. And without those tiny moments of impact, we don't become liberated.
Mental health
US politics
fromThe Atlantic
2 months ago

Democrats Need to Take Welfare Fraud Seriously

Massive welfare fraud in Minnesota exposed systemic oversight failures that demand stronger state and federal safeguards to prevent large-scale abuse and restore public trust.
Healthcare
fromThe Atlantic
1 month ago

The Cost of Not Having Health Insurance

A woman survives a burst brain aneurysm and undergoes emergency surgery, with family members gathering to support her recovery in the ICU.
fromThe Atlantic
1 month ago

Four Conditions Make Cash Transfers Save Lives

Cash transforms health when four particular conditions are met. Most U.S. cash-transfer pilots have lacked them. But one major American policy does come close: the federal food-assistance program SNAP. Its success offers a road map for what effective cash assistance can look like in this country, if we choose to build on it.
Public health
Public health
fromSan Jose Spotlight
2 months ago

Future of Santa Clara County guaranteed income programs uncertain - San Jose Spotlight

Santa Clara County piloted four guaranteed basic income programs providing $1,200 monthly for two years to selected low-income residents; future funding remains uncertain.
Healthcare
fromBusiness Insider
1 month ago

Waiting for Medicare and skipping prescriptions: Meet the Americans on the brink of losing health insurance

Expiration of enhanced ACA subsidies on December 31 caused monthly premiums to spike hundreds of dollars, forcing over 1 million Americans to cancel marketplace plans between early 2025 and 2026.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Universal basic income could be used to soften hit from AI job losses in UK, minister says

Introduce a universal basic income and lifelong retraining to protect workers from AI-driven job losses.
fromEmptywheel
2 months ago

It's the Inequality, Stupid: Why Test, Trace, Isolate Won't Stop Covid-19 in America

Everything is changing, and in the face of that, America is failing. Over 90,000 souls have paid for our failing. Millions more are living in terror for their livelihoods and their families. But Covid-19 isn't a technology problem, or a science question, or a supply chain issue, or even a question of doctoring. This challenge is public health, and that is something we've been failing at for a damn long time.
US politics
fromwww.independent.co.uk
2 months ago

Millions of vulnerable people missing out on benefits, Martin Lewis' charity warns

Around £24 billion in benefits goes unclaimed annually as millions, especially those with mental health problems, lack access to overstretched, inconsistent local support.
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months ago

Can AI help make homeless Bay Area residents healthier?

Akido Labs, a Los Angeles-based health care technology company that runs clinics and street medicine teams in California, plans to start using its AI model on homeless and housing insecure patients in the Bay Area next month. The program generates questions for outreach workers to ask patients and then suggests diagnoses, medical tests and even medication, which a human doctor then signs off on remotely.
Public health
US politics
fromwww.aljazeera.com
2 months ago

Struggling to get by: Behind the US underemployment crisis

Economic policies and federal funding cuts left nonprofit workers vulnerable, causing layoffs, hiring freezes, and prolonged financial hardship despite extensive job searching.
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