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Q. I receive a significant pension from work I have done outside of Social Security. I have not worked enough hours under Social Security to receive a benefit based on my work record. My spouse is retired and receives a generous Social Security benefit.

A few years ago, I contacted Social Security and asked if I was eligible for a spousal benefit. I was informed that because two-thirds of my pension exceeded the spousal benefit I would otherwise be entitled to, that I shouldn’t even apply for a spousal benefit because of the regulations related to the Government Pension Offset (GPO).

So I did not apply. When the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and GPO were repealed at the end of 2024, I filed for a spousal benefit because I was told that the two-thirds reduction was no longer in effect. After I applied, I was told that because I never applied for a spousal benefit prior to the repeal of GPO, I was not eligible for retroactive payments. I am now receiving a spousal benefit, but why am I not entitled to retroactive payments? read more

By CORA LEWIS, Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — As job-seekers look for work in a challenging environment, an increasing number are falling victim to job scams that promise good pay for completing easy online tasks, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

The scams start innocuously, often with a tailor-made text or WhatsApp message, and the scammers take time to build trust with the victim before cashing in on the relationship.

“Most of the people who end up losing money to a scammer are behaving pretty rationally,” said Kati Daffan, assistant director of the Federal Trade Commission’s division of marketing practices. “Scammers are sophisticated, and they keep changing their tactics.”

Reported losses to job scams increased more than threefold from 2020 to 2023. In the first half of 2024, they topped $220 million, according to the FTC. Gamified job scams, or task scams, represented a significant portion of that growth. About 20,000 people reported experiencing gamified scams in the first part of 2024, compared to 5,000 in all of 2023. read more

By AAMER MADHANI

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Saturday announced he’s levying tariffs of 30% against the European Union and Mexico starting Aug. 1, a move that could cause massive upheaval between the United States and two of its biggest trade partners.

Trump detailed the planned tariffs in letters posted to his social media account. They are part of an announcement blitz by Trump of new tariffs aimed at allies and foes alike, a bedrock of his 2024 campaign that he said would set the foundation for reviving a U.S. economy that he claims has been ripped off by other nations for decades.

In his letter to Mexico’s leader, President Claudia Sheinbaum, Trump acknowledged that the country has been helpful in stemming the flow of undocumented migrants and fentanyl into the United States. But he said the country has not done enough to stop North America from turning into a “Narco-Trafficking Playground.”

“Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico has done, is not enough,” Trump added. read more

BRIDGEWATER, New Jersey (AP) — Trump announces 30% tariffs against EU, Mexico to begin August 1.

State-owned Citizens Insurance has sharply increased the number of cases it sends to a special alternative dispute court, but plaintiffs attorneys say it’s unfair because it deprives policyholders of the right to have their cases heard by a jury.

A South Florida Sun Sentinel review of cases handled since early 2024 found that Citizens policyholders are likely to lose if their dispute is sent to this special court, which is run by the state Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH).

And policyholders who need Citizens to insure their homes have no way of avoiding the unique policy terms that allow their cases to be transferred to DOAH.

Records show that Citizens won 47 of 51 DOAH cases that advanced to a final hearing prior to July 10.

Citizens’ board of governors has approved paying $19.3 million to fund the program through 2027 and the company is increasingly relying on DOAH to settle claims disputes. Through July 10, Citizens has sent more than 1,000 cases to the court, compared to about 350 cases sent during all of 2024. read more