Retirement Planning News 21 October 2025 - 26 November 2025

On November 26, 2025, the Social Security Administration completes November payments while beneficiaries brace for a 2.8% COLA in 2026, rising Medicare premiums, stricter overpayment rules, and the fallout from a shelved disability eligibility overhaul. Key points at a glance Final November Social Security payments hit accounts today The Social Security Administration (SSA) is wrapping up its November 2025 payment cycle today, Wednesday, November 26, with the final round of retirement, survivor, and disability benefits.AS USA+2The Economic Times+2 Who is getting paid today? Today’s payments go to: Earlier waves this month covered: The vast majority of payments now arrive via direct deposit

November 26, 2025 – Canada Millions of Canadians who rely on the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) are seeing their November pension money land in their bank accounts today, Wednesday, November 26, 2025. According to the Government of Canada’s updated benefits calendar, both CPP and OAS payments are scheduled for this date, with one more round of deposits coming slightly earlier than usual in December. Canada+1 At the same time, families and low‑ to middle‑income households are gearing up for December’s final benefit and credit payments from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), including the Canada Child

As of today, November 24, 2025, the picture for retirees in 2026 is getting clearer — and more expensive. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has confirmed that standard Medicare Part B premiums will rise nearly 10% next year, from $185.00 in 2025 to $202.90 in 2026, while the annual deductible will climb from $257 to $283. CMS+1 At the same time, the Social Security Administration has finalized a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026, lifting the average monthly retirement benefit from $2,015 to about $2,071 — a gain of roughly $56. Social Security+1 Put together, multiple analyses

On the eve of the Autumn Budget, pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves is intensifying over plans to clamp down on salary sacrifice pension schemes – a move now expected to raise between £3bn and £4bn a year and potentially shrink workers’ future pension pots by tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds over a lifetime. Financial Times+2Reuters+2 New briefings today (22 November) and fresh industry research show: At the same time, providers like Fidelity, pensions bodies and business groups are scrambling to explain what salary sacrifice actually is – and who will really pay the price if Reeves presses

The future of the UK state pension is back under the spotlight today as fresh Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) modelling reveals how many people could face a poorer old age if the state pension “triple lock” is cut back — just as Chancellor Rachel Reeves weighs controversial tax changes that critics brand a “raid on pensions”. MoneyWeek The new figures, uncovered via a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by consultancy LCP and former pensions minister Sir Steve Webb, suggest that up to 26.1 million working‑age Britons could be under‑saving for retirement if the triple lock is replaced with

On November 20, 2025, the big 401(k) story is still the IRS’s newly announced 2026 contribution limits and the related Roth catch‑up rules for higher earners—plus fresh data showing a record number of 401(k) millionaires in the U.S. Together, they paint a clear picture: the IRS is giving savers more room to invest, and long‑term investors are already benefiting. Below is a breakdown of what’s changed, what it means, and what you may want to do before 2026. 1. What the IRS Just Did: The Core 401(k) & IRA Announcements On November 13, 2025, the IRS released IR‑2025‑111 and Notice 2025‑67, setting cost‑of‑living adjustments for retirement plans for tax year 2026. IRS+1

As of November 19, 2025, Americans have official IRS numbers for how much they can stash in tax-advantaged retirement accounts in 2026 — and the limits are going up. Key takeaways IRS unlocks more room to save in 2026 On November 13, 2025, the IRS released Notice 2025‑67 and news release IR‑2025‑111, formally announcing cost‑of‑living adjustments for retirement plans that take effect on January 1, 2026. irs.gov+1 The headline change: workers will be able to contribute more to most major retirement accounts, including 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 plans, the federal Thrift Savings Plan and IRAs. For 2026: These adjustments follow the usual inflation-indexed formula the

Published: November 17, 2025 Overview Social Security is heading into one of its most consequential years in recent memory. A 2.8% cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) for 2026 is now official, and Democrats in the Senate are pushing a new Social Security Emergency Inflation Relief Act that could temporarily add $200 a month to millions of benefit checks in the first half of 2026. At the same time, Medicare Part B premiums are jumping, and new data today highlights how much of that COLA will be swallowed by health costs. SSA+2MarketWatch+2 Here’s a detailed breakdown of what’s already locked in, what’s still

On Thursday, November 13, 2025, the IRS released Notice 2025‑67, confirming the official contribution limits for tax‑advantaged retirement accounts in 2026. The headline change: workers will be allowed to defer up to $24,500 into 401(k)s and similar workplace plans next year—$1,000 more than in 2025—while the IRA limit increases to $7,500. IRS+1 The announcement immediately drew coverage from major outlets including MarketWatch, the Wall Street Journal, CNBC, and the Detroit Free Press, all highlighting that older savers get even more room via expanded “catch‑up” contributions and that high earners will face new Roth rules starting in 2026. linkedin.com+3MarketWatch+3The Wall Street

Updated Nov. 11, 2025 Millions of retirees and disabled workers will see their November Social Security benefits arrive in the first wave this week—with payments worth up to $5,108 for those at the top end. Here’s who gets paid on Wednesday, Nov. 12, how the ongoing shutdown affects benefits (it doesn’t), what the new 2026 COLA (2.8%) means for your check, and the official 2026 payment calendar. Newsweek+1 Who gets a Social Security payment this week How much? Maximum monthly benefits in 2025 are $2,831 (age 62), $4,018 (full retirement age), and $5,108 (age 70), per the SSA. Most people

Updated: November 10, 2025 Generation X—Americans born roughly between 1965 and 1980—is staring down retirement with a thinner cushion than other living generations. Fresh coverage in the past 24 hours crystallizes the stakes: just 14% of Gen X feels prepared for retirement, the typical target is about $1.07 million, and the amount they expect to have on hand falls short by nearly $467,000. Meanwhile, two‑thirds of Gen X 401(k) participants have under $100,000 saved, underscoring how fragile many households remain even as the stock market has buoyed balances. Schroders+1 What’s new today (Nov. 10) The numbers behind the headlines Why

In mid‑October 2025 the Social Security Administration (SSA) officially announced a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026 blog.ssa.gov. This means nearly all retired, disabled and survivor Social Security recipients will see their monthly checks rise by 2.8% next year. “Social Security is a promise kept,” Commissioner Frank J. Bisignano said in a statement, noting that the COLA “is one way we make sure benefits reflect today’s economic realities” wilshirehcs.org. On average, the extra 2.8% translates into roughly +$56 per month for an average retired worker (around $2,000/mo currently), or about $672 per year blog.ssa.gov wilshirehcs.org. SSI payments – the flat‐rate

In short, most retirees are stuck in a cash crunch. They need the income now, even though postponing Social Security would boost their checks permanently housingwire.com cbsnews.com. A survey by Schroders (released Oct. 22, 2025) found 37% say they’ll claim early simply to get money sooner, while 36% fear the program might run out housingwire.com. Deb Boyden (Schroders’ head of U.S. retirement) warns that many Americans are anxious about solvency “and yet so few are willing to hold off” taking benefits housingwire.com cbsnews.com. In other words, fears of a social security crash and living paycheck-to-paycheck have outweighed the math: waiting

Why the COLA Announcement Was Delayed Normally the SSA announces the annual COLA in mid-October after the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the September Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W). The COLA is based on the rise in average CPI-W over July–September vs. the same period a year earlier cbsnews.com. Because of the federal government shutdown, the BLS delayed the CPI release to Oct. 24, and the SSA said it will announce the 2026 COLA on Oct. 24 as well cbsnews.com cbsnews.com. In other words, this Friday should be the big day for Social Security. Until the numbers

Recent studies reveal a retirement funding crisis. 90% of U.S. workers say they’ll claim Social Security before age 70, even though waiting boosts benefits by ~30% (an early claim can cost ~$182,000 in lifetime payments) cbsnews.com cbsnews.com. Financial guru Dave Ramsey warns that retiring “too early” (like age 62) is a mistake – “it’s like jumping out of a plane without checking your parachute” kiplinger.com. Credit card debt has exploded (up to $1.2 trillion at ~25% APR) nasdaq.com, a burden experts say “can stand between you and your ideal retirement” nasdaq.com. Surveys show Americans are falling short: 58% feel their savings