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CNET
2 days ago
- Business
- CNET
SSI June 2025: No Payment Will Arrive This Month
Getty Images/Viva Tung/CNET Supplemental Security Income recipients won't receive a check during the month of June, and for a good reason. The payment schedule can vary, and that's what's happening this month. We'll explain. Supplemental Security Income is a program designed to help individuals with low income or resources, or those with qualifying disabilities. The application process can take time and requires several pieces of information to determine if you qualify, but once approved, monthly payments will be sent as long as you're still eligible. There's also a cap on how much you can receive in SSI money each month, which depends on your income and resources. Whether you're about to apply or just trying to find out more about SSI, we'll lay out the payment schedule for the rest of 2025. For more, don't miss how to apply for Social Security benefits. Read more: Social Security Has a 'Maddening' New AI Phone Bot. Here's How to Deal With It The SSI payment schedule for 2025 Here's when you can expect to receive your SSI payments for the rest of 2025: Friday, May 30 (for June) Tuesday, July 1 Friday, Aug. 1 Friday, Aug. 29 (for September) Wednesday, Oct. 1 Friday, Oct. 31 (for November) Monday, Dec. 1 Wednesday, Dec. 31 (for January 2026) Since June 1 falls on a Sunday this year, you should have received your payment on Friday, May 30. This will happen a few more times this year, too. Will other Social Security benefits come early? No. For the most part, each Social Security benefit has a straightforward schedule, with only a couple of instances where it can differ from the typical timetable. For your reference, the Social Security payment schedule for June is below. If you've received Social Security before May 1997 June 3 If your birthday falls between day 1 and 10 of the month June 11 If your birthday falls between day 11 and 20 of the month June 18 If your birthday falls between day 21 and 31 of the month June 25 For more, don't miss how your Social Security benefits can be suspended if you do these things.
CNET
3 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Ever Brought Up Siri Accidentally? You Might Be Eligible for Apple's Big Privacy Settlement
Apple is now accepting claims for its major Siri privacy settlement and you could get a piece of the $95 million payout. Viva Tung/CNET Accidentally turning on Siri is probably one of the more annoying parts of owning Apple products -- at least, if you're me it is -- but you know what might definitely make up for that? Getting paid for it. Years after it was initially sued for allegedly having voice assistant Siri listen in on conversations, Apple at the start of 2025 chose to settle the class-action suit to the tune of $95 million. Now, some of that money could be yours as a claims website has been launched. Here's everything you'll need to know. The settlement period covers a full decade and given the ubiquity of Apple products, there's a good chance you'll be eligible for a piece of the payout. If you meet the eligibility standards, you can claim a payment for up to five Siri-enabled devices, with a cap on how much you can receive per device. We'll get into the specific amount a little bit later. The impact of this settlement has the potential to be wide-ranging, given the reach of Apple's product ecosystem. According to a Business of Apps report from November, citing company and market research data, there were roughly 155 million active iPhones in the US as of 2024, a number that's been steadily increasing since the product's debut. Similarly, active Apple TV streaming boxes in the US have also been increasing year to year, with more than 32 million active in the US as of 2023. To find out if you're eligible for this settlement, read on. For more, find out what's up with the recent delay of T-Mobile data breach settlement checks. Who sued Apple and why? This class action lawsuit, Lopez et al v. Apple Inc., was first brought against Apple in 2019, with plaintiffs alleging that they were routinely recorded by their Apple devices after unintentionally activating the Siri virtual assistant, violating their privacy in the process. They further alleged that these recordings were then sold to advertisers and used to target them with ads online. Specific incidents mentioned in the suit include plaintiffs seeing ads online for brands like Air Jordan and Olive Garden after Apple device users discussed them out loud. In some instances, plaintiffs claimed that their devices began listening to them without them having said anything at all. At least one plaintiff involved in the case was a minor when it was first filed. Though it agreed to the settlement, Apple hasn't admitted any wrongdoing. "Siri has been engineered to protect user privacy from the beginning," Apple said in a statement sent to CNET. "Siri data has never been used to build marketing profiles and it has never been sold to anyone for any purpose. Apple settled this case to avoid additional litigation so we can move forward from concerns about third-party grading that we already addressed in 2019. We use Siri data to improve Siri and we are constantly developing technologies to make Siri even more private." Who is eligible for this class action settlement? The eligibility requirements for this settlement are fairly broad, as it's open to anyone who owned a Siri-enabled Apple device between Sept. 17, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2024. In order to opt in, you'll have to swear under oath that at some point during that period, you accidentally activated Siri on each device you want to get a payment for, and that these activations occurred during a conversation meant to be private. Siri-enabled devices include iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, MacBooks, iMacs, Apple TV streaming boxes, HomePod speakers and iPod Touches. How can I opt in to this Apple settlement? As of Thursday, May 8, a website has been launched where Apple customers can claim a portion of the settlement, if they believe they qualify. If you're looking to submit a claim, you have until July 2, 2025, to do so. It's not clear at this time when payments will be disbursed to approved claimants but it will surely be sometime after Aug. 1, 2025, when a final approval hearing is scheduled. How much can I get from the class action settlement? Payments per device are to be capped at $20, although depending on how many people opt in to the settlement, claimants could receive less than that. Each individual can only claim payments for up to five devices, meaning the maximum possible payment you could receive from the settlement is $100. For more on Apple, see why a majority of users don't care for Apple Intelligence and find out which iOS setting can stop apps from tracking you.
CNET
4 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Don't Lose Your Social Security Benefits: These Mistakes Will Cost You
Keep your Social Security benefits intact by avoiding the scenarios that put them in jeopardy. Getty Images/Viva Tung/CNET More than 70 million Americans currently rely on Social Security benefits, and countless more expect to take advantage of the program when it's their time to retire. Knowing when the best time to start collecting benefits is important, but once you've applied and your monthly payments start being sent, not much should change, outside of the annual COLA increase, which is a good thing for you. Something you might be less familiar with is how you can actually lose your benefits if you're not careful. While people pay into the Social Security system most of their working lives, these benefits aren't guaranteed for life, and you could have them taken away in certain situations. In particular, there are four things that can get your benefits terminated or suspended. Below, we'll break down the ways you can lose your benefits and whether or not you can get them back afterward. For more, don't miss the Social Security and SSDI cheat sheet. Benefits will be reduced or stopped if you make too much money While you can still work and receive Social Security benefits, if you begin to make more than the annual income limit, your benefits may be reduced or paused completely in certain situations. The limits change depending on certain factors, like whether you're under or over the age of 62 -- the minimum retirement age. Below is an overview of the income limits imposed on specific benefits. Income limits for Supplemental Security Income Eligibility for SSI typically requires that you earn less than $1,971 per month from work. The limit is increased for couples, but if you exceed that limit, you may no longer be eligible for SSI. You should be notified of any benefit reduction or whether you become ineligible due to reaching the income limit. Note: For every $2 you earn from work, $1 will be reduced from your SSI payment. Working includes any job you have. You're required to promptly report changes to your monthly income and living situation. Income limits for Social Security Disability Insurance SSDI beneficiaries have more to work with when it comes to making money from work. If you get a job while receiving SSDI, you'll be able to retain your benefits for up to nine months, which the Social Security Administration calls a "work trial period." For 2024, any month you bring in over $1,110 in gross wages will count toward this nine-month trial period. Note that months don't have to be consecutive, either, but within a rolling five-year period. During these nine months, there's no limit on how much you can earn while retaining your benefits. After your work trial period, you'll enter into a 36-month "extended period of eligibility." During this time, if you exceed the EPE earnings limit, you won't qualify for your SSDI payment for that month. In 2024, the EPE limit is $1,550 per month or $2,590 for disability due to blindness. If you continue to earn over the limit after your EPE is up, your SSDI payments will cease completely, but if you can't continue to work, you can restart your benefits. Resource limits could also impact your Social Security In addition to an income limit, to be eligible for SSI, you need to fall under what the administration calls a "resource limit." Resources that do count toward the limit include cash, bank accounts, stocks, mutual funds, US savings bonds, land, life insurance, personal property, vehicles and anything else you own that could be changed to cash and used for food or shelter, the administration said. Resources that do not count include the home you live in and the land it is on, one vehicle (if you or a member of your household use it for transportation), household goods and personal effects and life insurance policies with a combined face value of $1,500 or less. To be eligible, the SSI resource limit is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. If you exceed that limit, you need to spend down your resources to be eligible. According to a recent study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 70,000 beneficiaries on average lose their benefits each year because they exceed the limit. Congress has proposed legislation that would, for example, raise the limit to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for married couples but so far, changes have not been signed into law. Divorce will change your Social Security status Your marital status can and will affect your Social Security benefits, and that includes getting a divorce. A few things would prevent you from collecting your ex-spouse's benefits: You weren't married for 10 years or more. If you remarry, you won't be able to get benefits from your previous marriage. This can change if your current marriage ends through divorce, annulment or the death of your partner. You qualify for benefits and the amount you receive would be more than your ex-spouse's. You can lose Social Security if you're arrested or sentenced to prison If you go to jail or prison, your Social Security benefits can be affected. If you're incarcerated for more than 30 days, the administration may suspend your Social Security and SSI benefits. Social Security and Social Security Disability Insurance while incarcerated If your benefits are suspended, you can request to have them restored for the following month after you're released from jail or prison. Something to note is that even if your benefits are suspended while incarcerated, your spouse or children will continue to receive them as long as they remain eligible. Supplemental Security Income While incarcerated, your SSI benefits will be suspended, but payments will resume when you're released, and you won't have to wait until the following month. Your payment amount will be determined by your release date and would only be a partial payment. If you're in jail or prison for over 12 consecutive months, the administration will terminate your SSI benefits. When you're released, you will need to reach out to the Social Security Administration and start a new application. For more, here's the Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance payment schedules.
CNET
5 days ago
- Business
- CNET
Should You Buy the iPhone 16E Now or Wait for the iPhone 17?
Apple's newest phone, the $599 iPhone 16E launched in February and offers a unique appeal: Get some of the iPhone 16's best features (a 48-megapixel camera, iOS 18 and an A18 chip for Apple Intelligence) for $200 less than the $799 iPhone 16. But the iPhone 16E isn't the only phone Apple will release this year. We expect the rumored iPhone 17 to debut in September, rumors are indicating that it might get a new ultra-thin design. The iPhone 16E is basically a scaled-down version of the iPhone 16 that lacks certain features, like MagSafe charging and a second rear camera to help keep the price low. But September is just a few months away, and it could bring several new iPhones with it. Best Memorial Day Deals CNET's team of shopping experts have explored thousands of deals on everything from mattresses and TVs to everyday essentials and outdoor fun so you can shop the best Memorial Day deals in one place. See now So that begs the question: Should you buy an iPhone 16E now or wait four months for the iPhone 17? Unfortunately, the answer isn't black and white -- it depends. Watch this: iPhone 16E Review 07:20 iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 17: today The iPhone 16E is meant to be a slightly more affordable version of the iPhone 16. Apple/CNET The iPhone 16E has the distinction of being Apple's most affordable phone (before carrier discounts and deals) despite costing $170 more than the company's previous cheap phone, the iPhone SE from 2022. The 16E is aimed at those who want to get the newest cheapest iPhone with all the Apple perks they expect, like a good camera, services like iMessage and FaceTime, and years' worth of software upgrades. The iPhone 16E carries the iPhone SE's old mantle and uses parts of old iPhones to create an affordable one. For example, the 16E's screen and body are similar to the iPhone 14 and it has the same processor that the iPhone 16 has. On paper, the 16E is an upgrade in nearly every way to the last iPhone SE. The iPhone 16E releases at the end of February. But if you want the iPhone 17, you're going to have to wait because it doesn't exist. Apple hasn't announced the iPhone 17, and you can't preorder it yet. The next iPhone is just a bunch of rumors that paint the picture of a mythical newer phone that's better than what's available now. But the chances are high that Apple will release an iPhone 17 in September, just months from now. For me, I haven't encountered a phone that is worth waiting four months for, so I wouldn't wait for the 17. iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 17: September 2025 The iPhone 17 hasn't been announced yet. In this picture, we used an iPhone 16 Pro and put the number 17 behind it since there aren't any photos from Apple of its unreleased phone. Apple/Viva Tung/CNET What will the iPhone 17 have that the new iPhone 16E doesn't? I have no idea because Apple hasn't announced anything yet. But we can look at some of the many iPhone 17 rumors and postulate why it may or may not be worth waiting four months for. The biggest rumor is that Apple might debut a new iPhone model with an extremely thin design, as reported by The Information. Nicknamed the iPhone 17 Air or iPhone 17 Slim, it would have the usual year-to-year additions, like a new processor and new software, but its main appeal will likely be its new design. Every phone Apple has launched since 2020 has looked similar to the iPhone 12 and had flat sides, except for the iPhone SE. That same iPhone 12 design can seen in the iPhone 16 series including the new iPhone 16E. And while many Apple enthusiasts want an iPhone with a truly new design, there is logic to Apple keeping what works for its large base of iPhone users. The iPhone 17 Air's thin design could have a large 6.6-inch display that slots in-between the 6.1-inch screens on the iPhone 16 and 16 E and the 6.9-inch display on the 16 Pro Max. The iPhone 17 Air is also expected to have Apple's C1 5G modem, the same one that debuted in the iPhone 16E according to noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. But even if the iPhone 17 were out today, it's meant for a different person compared with the affordable iPhone 16E. iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 17: Budget or flagship? The iPhone 16E is the only phone Apple sells that has a single rear camera. Apple/Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET The true complicating factor between deciding between Apple's brand-new cheap iPhone and its next unannounced flagship model is just that: Do you want a budget-version of the iPhone 16? Or do you want one of Apple's more expensive premium models? And if so the real question should be do you want an iPhone 16 or wait for an iPhone 17? Even though the only things we know about the iPhone 17 series are based on rumors, it will likely have a regular base model that starts around $800 and a more premium Pro model that starts at $1,000. Like the iPhone 16, the iPhone 17 has a different value proposition and will likely be aimed at a different user than the iPhone 16E. It's also unclear if Apple will release an affordable version of the iPhone 17 in 2026 -- maybe the 17E? The iPhone SE series got updates every two to three years compared with the annual updates that Apple's flagship line gets. Buy a phone when you need it The iPhone 16E will no doubt be the most affordable way to get an iPhone before carrier discounts and deals. Apple/CNET Ultimately, if your current phone is broken or has a cracked screen and you need to buy a phone now, then do so. Apple's regular iPhone 16 is an amazing option and, if you're looking to buy Apple's cheapest phone, go with the iPhone 16E. If you are due for an upgrade from your carrier, then things get more tricky. Four months is a long time to wait, especially for a phone Apple hasn't even announced or told us about. But if your current phone is working fine, hold onto that upgrade until September and reevaluate your situation then.
CNET
6 days ago
- Business
- CNET
SSI May 2025: Your Second Payment This Month Arrives This week
Getty Images/Viva Tung/CNET Supplemental Security Income recipients will be receiving another payment this week, thanks to how the payment schedules line up. This can be a fairly common occurrence and happens when the payment date for the following month falls on a weekend or holiday. Supplemental Security Income is a program designed to help individuals with low income or resources or those with qualifying disabilities. The application process can take time and requires several pieces of information to determine if you qualify, but once approved, monthly payments will be sent as long as you're still eligible. There's also a cap on how much you can receive in SSI money each month, which depends on your income and resources. Whether you're about to apply or just trying to find out more about SSI, we'll lay out the payment schedule for the rest of 2025, why recipients will get two payments in May and whether this will happen again this year. For more, don't miss how to apply for Social Security benefits. Read more: Social Security Shifts to X for Official Updates Amid Phone and Website Access Woes The SSI payment schedule for 2025 Here's when you can expect to receive your SSI payments for the rest of 2025: Thursday, May 1 Friday, May 30 (for June) Tuesday, July 1 Friday, Aug. 1 Friday, Aug. 29 (for September) Wednesday, Oct. 1 Friday, Oct. 31 (for November) Monday, Dec. 1 Wednesday, Dec. 31 (for January 2026) Since June 1 falls on a Sunday this year, the payment will be sent on Friday, May 30. Will other Social Security benefits come early? No. For the most part, each Social Security benefit has a straightforward schedule, with only a couple of instances where it can differ from the typical timetable. For your reference, the Social Security payment schedule for May is below. If you've received Social Security before May 1997 May 2 If your birthday falls between day 1 and 10 of the month May 14 If your birthday falls between day 11 and 20 of the month May 21 If your birthday falls between day 21 and 31 of the month May 28 For more, don't miss how your Social Security benefits can be suspended if you do these things.
