In the wake of the pandemic, inflation soared to a degree not seen in decades, wreaking havoc on consumers’ finances and putting pressure on retirees with fixed incomes. But thankfully, inflation has cooled nicely in 2024, leading to some relief in the context of everyday expenses.

At the start of 2024, seniors on Social Security saw their monthly benefits rise by 3.2%. And given that annual inflation has dipped below that level in recent months, the hope is that 2024’s cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) has served seniors reasonably well.

However, given that inflation slowdown, it’s been clear for months that seniors would be looking at a smaller Social Security COLA in 2025 than in 2024. And for quite some time now, there’s been a lot of speculation as to what that raise might entail.

Thursday morning, however, September’s Consumer Price Index was released. And since Social Security COLAs are calculated based on a subset of that index known as the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, we finally have an answer as to what 2025’s COLA looks like.

Your 2025 Social Security COLA will be 2.5%

In 2025, Social Security benefits will rise by 2.5%. And while that raise may read like a disappointment compared to recent COLAs, it’s important to put it into context.

First, it’s not the smallest COLA to ever come down the pike. On more than one occasion, Social Security COLAs have amounted to 0%. So any lift in benefits is better than none.

Secondly, it’s not even fair to compare 2025’s COLA to recent ones because inflation was truly rampant during those first few post-pandemic years. But this year, that wasn’t the case.

Even the Federal Reserve says that 2% annual inflation is an acceptable level and one that lends to economic stability. This year’s inflation levels haven’t been that far off from the Fed’s target. And so it makes sense that 2025’s Social Security COLA would be smaller than the COLAs received over the past few years.

Plus, remember that because Social Security COLAs are linked directly to inflation, what you lose in one regard, you gain in another. Larger COLAs mean higher levels of inflation — and higher prices. Smaller COLAs mean a slower pace of inflation — and prices that don’t rise as rapidly. So all told, things should largely even out.

Medicare is still the wild card factor

You may be ready to crunch some numbers and see how much more money you’ll get from Social Security next year now that we have an official 2025 COLA on record. But if you’re a Medicare enrollee, you may need to sit tight a bit longer.

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Seniors who are enrolled in Social Security and Medicare simultaneously have their Part B premiums deducted automatically from their monthly benefits. But if the standard monthly Part B premium rises a lot this year, it will eat away at your COLA if that’s an expense you’re on the hook for.

In 2024, the standard monthly Part B premium rose by $9.80 compared to 2023. If a similar increase happens this year, it will, unfortunately, leave Medicare enrollees with a less substantial increase in their monthly Social Security checks.

Make the best of 2025’s COLA

All told, Social Security’s 2025 COLA may not be as high as you’d like it to be. But do remember that cooling inflation is a good thing for consumers’ wallets as a whole, and that extends to retirees.

If you’re worried about money in the new year, take some time in the coming weeks to assess your finances and see if it’s possible to make lifestyle changes that give you some breathing room. These could include downsizing your living space or joining the gig economy to generate income that supplements your monthly Social Security benefits.

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What is Statutory sick pay? 

Statutory sick pay (SSP) is a legal requirement in the UK which employers must adhere to, it provides financial support to employees when they are unable to work due to illness. If employees are off work for 4 consecutive days, employers must comply with SSP. 

What is the purpose of SSP? 

SSP is crucial to employees as it provides financial security and prevents job loss during illness. Employees will still receive the minimum level of income available whilst they are away sick, meaning they won’t have to worry about their finances or force themselves into the workforce.  

Complying with SSP also creates a healthier workplace for staff where they can reduce the spread of illness and be assured, they have the freedom to recover. This contributes to a more productive and longer-lasting workforce in the long term.  

How much is SSP? 

You will be paid for all the working days you are off sick, except the first 3 working days which are counted as the waiting period. 

If you are eligible, you can be paid £166.75 a week SSP for up to 28 weeks of the year. 

You will be paid by your employer through the same system as your normal weekly or monthly pay. If you have multiple jobs, you may get SSP from each one.  

SSP eligibility  

SSP is available to those working in the UK under a signed contract. Employees are eligible for 28 weeks of SSP, if you have used this amount already, you will not be provided extra.  

You must be ill for at least 3 days or more, this does include non-working days.  

You must inform your employer within their set time or within 7 days if there is no set regulation on this.  

You could be asked to provide an appropriate fit note to show proof of illness. This can include a printed or digital note from the GP, registered nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist or pharmacists.  

What if my employer is not providing SSP? 

As an employee, you are protected by law and employers who fail to meet SSP obligations could face penalties. If your employer is not providing Statutory Sick Pay and you believe you are entitled to it, then there are steps you can take.  

First, take a look at the criteria again to confirm you are eligible for SSP, then raise the issue with your employer to ask for an explanation. If they do not resolve this themselves then you can contact HMRC for assisstance. They will investigate the situation and if your employer is in breach of their legal obligations HMRC will help you get the SSP you are owed. 

SSP VS. Company sick pay 

While SSP can provide the minimum level of financial support for those unable to work due to illness, some employers will offer a more generous alternative, company sick pay.  

SSP is regulated by the government and there is a set amount which has to be paid to the employee if the criteria is met. However, company sick pay is a benefit offered by the individual business. This will usually cover the employee’s full salary or a higher percentage of their wages for a longer period than the SSP. The employee could receive their full salary for the first 2 weeks of illness, followed by a reduced percentage for any weeks after. 

This should be outlined in your work contract as company sick pay is an optional scheme set up by the employee.  

Recent updates to SSP 

The BBC have reported that stronger protection for employees surrounding sick pay will be coming into action. There have been calls over the past year to increase the current SSP rate as costs of living increase. This would better support those workers living in periods of sickness without financial support. This would also include those working on a zero-hour contract as the criteria stipulates you must earn at least £123 per week.  

The government is working to improve standards including workers being entitled to SSP from their first day of sickness rather than waiting until the 4th. Additionally, they are aiming to increase the SSP rate dependent on salary. 

Ministers have said this would benefit some nine million workers who have been with their current employer for less than two years.  

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The Project’s newest yearbook, State of the Free Press 2024, is now available for preorder.

Highlighting the year’s most significant independent journalism—including reports on toxic chemicals, climate disinformation, and union victories—State of the Free Press 2024 illuminates issues and raises voices that the establishment press have obscured or throttled.

“As they’ve done for nearly a half a century, Project Censored exposes the danger of profit-driven media, honors the brave journalists who keep the ideals of their profession alive, and inspires us all to demand better.”

––Julianna Forlano, host of The Julianna Forlano Show

Balancing critical analysis with optimistic vision, this volume of the Project’s yearbook series shows how independent journalism can promote civic engagement and reconnect people who have otherwise lost interest in sensational “news” that distracts and polarizes us.

Learn more about State of the Free Press 2024 here.

Robin Andersen, who authored the book’s News Abuse chapter, was a featured guest on KCRW’s Scheer Intelligence with Robert Scheer. Andersen discussed how “atrocity propaganda” feeds the manufacturing of consent for Israel’s indiscriminate bombing of Palestinians in Gaza.

Robin also appeared on Zero Hour with RJ Eskow to talk about her recent Project Censored article, How Big Media Facilitate Israeli War Crimes in Gaza, about the corporate media’s failure to provide historical background or context for the Hamas attack on October 7, which has led to the widespread demonization of Palestinians.

Steve Macek, who co-authored the Top 25 and Déjà Vu News chapters in State of the Free Press 2024, was at Busboys and Poets in Hyattsville, Maryland, on October 11 to discuss “The News that Didn’t Make the News: Project Censored on Corporate Media.” The event was co-sponsored by the University of Maryland’s MLAW Programs and also featured spoken word and poetry from JD the PROSE and music by the Emory Diggs Trio.

Adam Bessie and Peter Glanting, the author and illustrator of Going Remote: A Teacher’s Journey, will be honored by the Sacramento Literacy Foundation at the organization’s Authors on the Move event in March 2024.

Kevin Gosztola, author of Guilty of Journalism: The Political Case Against Julian Assange, continues to track and raise public awareness about that case. Gosztola’s Dissenter newsletter—which covers stories of whistleblowers in corporations and government and the obstacles they face—recently featured a report by Chip Gibbons on a letter sent to the Biden White House by a bipartisan group of Congressional members. Their letter represents “the largest congressional effort to date raising concerns with the ongoing prosecution” of Julian Assange, Gibbons reported.

Shealeigh Voitl wrote Considering Bandcamp’s Changing Role in Music Industry Amid Layoffs about Bandcamp’s sale to Songtradr and letting go of roughly half its staff, and what the acquisition could mean for Bandcamp’s loyal artists and users as well as its remaining staff and union.

In her article, Dark Money, Leonard Leo, and the Anachronistic Supreme Court, Mischa Geracoulis explores the impact of dark money in politics and the influence of figures such as Leonard Leo on the composition and traditionalist decisions of the Supreme Court.

The Censored Notebook featured Making Sense of the Establishment News Media’s Distorted Coverage of Gaza by Andy Lee Roth. Reviewing past reporting on Palestine featured by Project Censored, Roth critiqued current corporate news coverage of the violence in Gaza for its “minimization of Palestinian deaths and ahistorical reversals of victim and victimizer.”

Find the complete archives of Project Censored’s Dispatches on Media and Politics series here.

• October 24: A Look At Assange From Inside the CIA, State Department & US Military, with John Kiriakou and Matthew Hoh, interviewed by Eleanor Goldfield.
• October 31: The Israeli-Palestine Conflict: Corporate Media Failure and Big-Tech’s Facilitation of War Crimes, with Andy Lee Roth, Mnar Adley, and Robin Andersen, interviewed by Mickey Huff.
• November 3: Colonialism Today: From The Crisis in Congo to Capsizing Boats in the Mediterranean, with Eugene Puryear and Giulia Messmer, interviewed by Eleanor Goldfield.
• November 10: Context, Connections & Cracks in the Facade of Propaganda: A Deeper Look at Israel/Palestine, with Jacquie Luqman, interviewed by Eleanor Goldfield.

Follow the links for each episode to learn more about the Show’s featured guests and content. Find the comprehensive archive of Project Censored Show episodes here.

Good morning and welcome to US Election Countdown. Today let’s talk about:

• The fight for Latino voters

• Google’s future under a Trump presidency

• Inflation hanging over Harris in Michigan

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are racing to shore up support among Latino voters, a key constituency in the swing states of Arizona and Nevada.

Both candidates will visit the two states — where Latinos make up more than 20 per cent of the population — in the coming days. Harris will take part in a Latino-focused town hall tonight on Univision, while Trump will do the same next week. Latinos make up 15 per cent of the US electorate — double their share in 2000.

The US’s growing Latino demographic was once reliably Democratic, but it has drifted right in recent years. Pollsters say this is a result of voters’ economic concerns and growing disillusionment with the Democratic party’s leadership and policies.

Mark Jones, chair in Latin American studies at Rice University, said Harris was walking a tightrope as she wooed voters in the Midwest and Latino voters in the south-west, especially on immigration, a topic on which she has taken a stance to the right of Biden.

“The difficulty for Harris is she has to avoid any sort of messaging to the Latino community that could be counterproductive among white working-class voters and in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin,” he said.

Earlier this week, the Harris campaign launched an “Hombres for Harris” initiative to court Latino men, who have been attracted to Trump’s strongman rhetoric and economic ideas.

Latino support for the vice-president currently lags Biden’s figure from four years ago: an NBC News/Telemundo poll last month found 54 per cent of Latinos backed Harris, while Biden took 59 per cent of the bloc’s vote in 2020.

Campaign clips: the latest election headlines

Behind the scenes

The US Department of Justice said on Tuesday that it might seek the break-up of Google to end its monopoly on search engines, a move that is unprecedented in modern US corporate history.

The US government tried to break up Microsoft in 2000, but that ruling was ultimately overturned on appeal and the tech giant settled with the business-friendly George W Bush administration.

This Google antitrust saga will be long and filled with appeals, meaning the election could impact the final outcome.

John Kwoka, an economics professor at Northeastern University, told the FT’s Stefania Palma that DoJ officials could “go soft” in a potential appeals process, since Trump was unpredictable and Harris seemed open to a milder antitrust policy than her boss. But, he added:

Big Tech doesn’t have the deference it did five years ago from either party, so . . . some version of this will probably go ahead.

A second Trump administration might not want to undermine the Google case since it originated during the Republican’s first term. Overall, Trump might not threaten Biden’s tough antitrust policy since a new generation of populist conservatives such as his running mate JD Vance have praised Washington’s aggressive stance. Big Tech has also drawn bipartisan anger in Congress.

On Capitol Hill, progressive Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez yesterday promised an “out and out brawl” should Harris axe Federal Trade Commission chair Lina Khan at the behest of Democratic donors, who has spearheaded the Biden administration’s antitrust fight.

Datapoints

Harris has a slim lead in Michigan. But she continues to be dogged by inflation, which has left its mark on voters in the crucial battleground state [free to read].

Michigan is part of the so-called blue wall that was key to Biden’s 2020 victory. He won the state by 154,188 votes, or 2.8 percentage points. And Trump has further fed the economic discontent among the electorate while campaigning in Michigan.

Bill DeJong, owner of Alger Hardware and Rental outside of Grand Rapids, told the FT’s Colby Smith that he was “not 100 per cent there” on voting for Trump again. He didn’t like the former president’s personality or plans to deport immigrants.

But in 20 years running his store, he’d never seen prices rise the way they had in recent years, and blamed some of that on Biden’s stimulus spending:

Prior to Covid, if I had 10 items in a week’s order that I would have to raise the price for, that was a lot. During Covid, it went to three or four pages with 50 items on each. Things aren’t going up as fast any more, but I don’t think anything is coming down.”

Nelson Sanchez, chief executive of RoMan Manufacturing, said his business was also feeling the pinch, which he blamed on slow consumer demand and less business from the automotive industry.

“We were firing on all cylinders, and then in January, it’s like somebody flipped a switch,” said Sanchez. It forced him to cut his workforce.

The vice-president leads Trump by 1.2 percentage points in Michigan, according to the FT’s poll tracker.

Viewpoints

• Economist Burton Malkiel thinks tax proposals coming from both Republicans and Democrats “make little sense and would upend the principles of a fair and efficient tax system”. 

• Screenwriter and journalist Gabriel Sherman shares the wild inside story of the Trump biopic The Apprentice.

• We’re moving away from democracy and towards “emocracy”, in which policy debates are driven by emotions rather than evidence, writes political scientist Catherine De Vries.

• Volatile foreign policy is undermining the US as world leaders wait out the current president until another comes along that’s more to their liking, argues Janan Ganesh. 

• Martin Wolf explains why he thinks Trump’s trade policies would hurt the world.

FIVE major banking changes are coming before the end of the year including account fee increases and savings rates dropping.

Lloyds is pulling its £200 free cash switching offer in December and M&S is making some big credit card changes next month.

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Meanwhile, Nationwide is lowering interest rates on a number of its savings accounts while upping the fee for one of its packaged bank accounts.

Here are all the key changes you need to know about, and what they mean for you.

Lloyds free £200 cash switch offer ending

Lloyds launched its latest switching offer last month, offering new and existing customers up to £200 free cash.

You just have to open a Club Lloyds account and the money will be paid within three days of completing the switch.

There is a £3 monthly fee to maintain the account, however this is waived if you pay in £2,000 or more each month.

The Club Lloyds account also opens up a host of other perks, including a 12-month Disney+ subscription, Odeon or Vue tickets and a magazine subscription.

Anyone looking to snap up the cash bonus will have to act soon though – Lloyds said customers have to switch between October 2 and December 10.

Nationwide Flex Plus account charge

Nationwide is hiking the fee on its popular FlexPlus packaged bank account from December.

The account comes with a number of perks including worldwide travel insurance, breakdown cover and preferential rates on loans and overdrafts.

It also comes with mobile phone insurance and account holders can use their debit card abroad without having to pay non-sterling transaction fees.

Currently, FlexPlus customers pay £13 a month or £156 a year for the benefits.

However, from December 1, the FlexPlus monthly fee will rise by £5 a month to £18 a month – or £216 a year.

This represents a £60 a year increase compared to the current fee charged for the product.

Nationwide cutting savings rates

Nationwide is cutting interest rates on a host of its savings account from next month.

The building society is slashing rates across the board after the Bank of England dropped the base rate from 5.25% to 5% in August.

The base rate is the rate charged to high street banks which is then reflected in mortgage and savings rates.

Nationwide has said it will cut rates on 24 of its savings accounts by up to 0.20 percentage points.

Tom Riley, Nationwide’s director of retail products, said the building society had “worked hard to limit the impact of the recent rate cut on our savers”.

Base rate (predicted) to fall

Economists are predicting the BoE will cut the base rate at its next meeting in November.

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which sets the base rate, will also meet in December.

The BoE cut interest rates to 5% in August for the first time since 2020 but has held them steady since.

However, with inflation being held in check, Governor of the BoE Andrew Bailey has hinted it could be “more aggressive” in cutting rates.

Any drop in the base rate spells good news for mortgage holders who will see home loan rates fall.

However, it also leads to interest rates on savings accounts falling.

M&S credit card changes

M&S Bank is shaking up its Club Rewards scheme for credit card holders within weeks.

The scheme charges customers £10 a month and opens up a host of perks including free next-day delivery and rewards points earned when using your credit card abroad.

But from November 13 these perks will be ditched and instead customers will be issued more M&S vouchers.

In an email sent to customers on October 10, M&S said it was increasing the amount of vouchers shoppers get from £65 to £120 a year following customer feedback.

Customers will also continue to earn two rewards points for every £1 spent, it said.

How do I switch bank accounts?

SWITCHING bank accounts is a simple process and can usually be done through the Current Account Switch Service (CASS).

Dozens of high street banks and building societies are signed up – there’s a full list on CASS’ website.

Under the switching service, swapping banks should take seven working days.

You don’t have to remember to move direct debits across when moving, as this is done for you.

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All you have to do is apply for the new account you want, and the new bank will tell your existing one you’re moving.

There are a few things you can do before switching though, including choosing your switch date and transferring any old bank statements to your new account.

You should get in touch with your existing bank for any old statements.

When switching current accounts, consider what other perks might come with joining a specific bank or building society.

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Some banks offer 0% overdrafts up to a certain limit, and others might offer better rates on savings accounts.

And some banks offer free travel or mobile phone insurance with their current accounts – but these accounts might come with a monthly fee.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories