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Someday your boss could help you save for emergencies

October 16, 2023 By Liz Weston

When I wrote about employer-provided emergency savings accounts four years ago, the idea was still pretty novel. Some companies were experimenting with ways to help their workers save for short-term needs, but the concept wasn’t even on the radar for many employers.

What a difference the pandemic made. Millions were thrown out of work with little warning, and few had the financial reserves to survive even a few months of unemployment. Big employers, and lawmakers, took notice, says Claire Chamberlain, global head of social impact for investment manager BlackRock. The result: Hundreds of thousands of workers now have options to build emergency savings through their employers, and Congress passed laws to encourage more companies to add short-term savings options.

In my latest for ABC News, learn how your boss could help you save for emergencies someday.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: emergency savings, short-term savings, unemployment

This week’s money news

June 8, 2023 By Liz Weston

This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on making hobbies affordable, and saving money priorities. In other news: What a usury law is and how it affect interest rates, May jobs data shows strong growth, even as unemployment rose, and 3 signs it’s time to pause credit card spending.

Smart Money Podcast: Making Hobbies Affordable, and Saving Money Priorities
This week’s episode starts with our tips about how to make hobbies more affordable.

What Is a Usury Law and How Does It Affect My Interest Rates?
A usury law is essentially an interest rate law. For the most part, loan rates are controlled at the state level.

May Jobs Data Shows Strong Growth, Even as Unemployment Rose
The May unemployment rate is 3.7%.

3 Signs It’s Time to Pause Credit Card Spending
Switching your payment method to cash or debit may help you reach financial goals or pay down debt faster.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: affordable hobbies, pause credit card spending, saving money priorities, Smart Money podcast, unemployment, usury law

This week’s money news

November 7, 2022 By Liz Weston

This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on when your bank stiffs you, and co-signing risks. In other news: Job growth despite slight rise in unemployment, a high cost to stop inflation, and when the Fed hikes interest rates, who gets hurt.

Smart Money Podcast: When Your Bank Stiffs You, and Co-Signing Risks
This week’s episode starts with a discussion about what to do when your bank stiffs you with a low annual percentage yield.

Job Market Still Strong Despite Slight Rise in Unemployment
Job growth continues and wages remain strong despite forecasts predicting job losses in 2023.

A High Cost to Stop Inflation: Sink the Economy and Spark Unemployment
Money News & Moves: Fed interest rate hikes so far this year have been slow to move the needle on inflation.

When the Fed Hikes Interest Rates, Who Gets Hurt?
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said in September that he wishes “there were a painless way” to lower inflation. “There isn’t,” he said.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: fed interest rate hikes, inflation, unemployment

Q&A: If you lost your job, here’s how to find free health insurance

June 1, 2021 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: I have read that the unemployed can qualify for free health insurance through the Affordable Care Act exchanges. I’m trying to confirm whether my state, which did not accept expanded Medicaid coverage, is offering this to its residents. My position was eliminated with no warning because of the pandemic and I’m finding Healthcare.gov rather convoluted to navigate.

Answer: It may be July before the ACA exchanges reflect the extra tax credits that will make comprehensive health insurance free for anyone who receives unemployment benefits in 2021.

Some of the health insurance changes authorized by the American Rescue Plan, which President Biden signed in March, went into effect April 1. Those included providing larger tax credits that lowered costs for most people who buy health insurance on the exchanges and increasing the number of people who qualify for those premium-reducing credits.

In the past, people with incomes above 400% of the poverty line typically didn’t qualify for subsidies that lowered their costs, but now people with incomes up to 600% of the poverty line — up to $76,560 for a single person or $157,200 for a family of four — can qualify, according to medical research organization KFF (formerly Kaiser Family Foundation). The law also created a new special enrollment period that extends through Aug. 15, 2021.

The exchanges have been slower to reflect the increased tax credits for people who receive unemployment benefits at any point during 2021. These credits will effectively allow those who don’t have access to other group coverage to qualify for a free silver plan with a $177 deductible. The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has promised that the credits “will be available starting this summer.”

You shouldn’t be without health insurance, so you could sign up for coverage now and update your information when the increased tax credits become available.

But you may have another option. The American Rescue Plan also requires employers to provide free COBRA coverage from April 1 through Sept. 30 to eligible former employees who lost their healthcare coverage because of involuntary termination or a reduction in hours. (Employers will get a federal tax credit to cover their costs.)

Even if you turned down COBRA coverage when you lost your job — as many people do because it’s so expensive — you could still get free coverage if it hasn’t been more than 18 months since you lost your job. Employers are required to notify eligible former employees by May 31. If you haven’t heard from yours by then but think you’re eligible, reach out to the company’s human resources department.

Filed Under: Health Insurance, Q&A Tagged With: health insurance, q&a, unemployment

When life blows up your well-laid plans

November 12, 2020 By Liz Weston

Job loss, business failure, involuntary retirement, divorce, disability or the death of a breadwinner — these are just some of the ways our finances can force us to come up with a Plan B. That’s never as simple as downloading a list and ticking off completed assignments, however.

Checklists can be helpful, for instance when you’ve just been laid off. But the biggest task after financial loss may be dealing with your emotions after the future you had envisioned disappears. In my latest for the Associated Press, how to handle the unexpected bumps in the road.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: life tips, unemployment, well-laid plans

Monday’s need-to-know money news

November 9, 2020 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: How to get your parent off the hook for your student loans. Also in the news: A new episode of the Smart Money podcast on open enrollment and HSA vs. HFA, getting a side gig while on unemployment, and 5 financial moves you need to make before the end of 2020

How to Get Your Parent Off the Hook for Your Student Loans
Refinancing and co-signer release can get a parent’s name off of student loans.

Smart Money Podcast: Open Enrollment and HSA vs. FSA
Open enrollment is underway.

Can You Get a Side Gig While on Unemployment?
Depends on state law.

5 financial moves you need to make before the end of 2020
Preparing for the new year.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: financial planning strategies, HSA v. FSA, open enrollment, side gigs, Smart Money podcast, Student Loans, unemployment

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