Navigation On October 10, 2024, the Social Security Administration announced a 2.5% benefit increase for 2025. This cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is smaller than last year’s COLA which saw a benefit increase of 3.2%. Over the last decade, the COLA increase has averaged about 2.6%. Beginning in January of 2025, approximately 68 million Social Security beneficiaries will […]
'Gardberg & Kemmerly Blog' Category Archives
VA Text Messaging System
Veterans have recently been receiving text message communication from the VA regarding their VA care and benefits. In the age of phishing scams and internet fraud, many Veterans understandably have concerns that these text messages are some form of trojan horse designed to steal your information. However, please be aware that the text messages have […]
The Holidays Can Be Difficult, But What Can You Be Thankful for This Year?
As we have finally entered the “BER” months of September, October, November, December, we are reaching closer to the Holiday season. We just had Labor Day in September, Fall is upon us, Harvest season in October, Thanksgiving in November, and Christmas/Hannukah/Kwanzaa Holidays in December. The holidays can be especially taxing for those without income. Many […]
VA Enacts New Grant Program to Help Veterans and Spouses Transition to Civilian Life
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has announced the allocation of $5 million in grants to organizations dedicated to supporting recently separated members of the Armed Forces and their spouses. This funding aims to provide employment-based resources and tools to facilitate a smoother transition to civilian life for Veterans and their families. Through the […]
Why blue-collar workers may need help applying for SSDI benefits
There are two mistakes that blue-collar workers often make when they develop disabling medical conditions. The first is that they ignore the early warning signs of their conditions. Many blue-collar professionals pride themselves on their work ethic and may go to great lengths to show up to work consistently and exceed their employer’s expectations. They […]