Effective January 1, 2026, New York State’s minimum wage will increase to $17.00 an hour in New York City, Westchester, and Long Island, and $16.00 an hour for the rest of the state. In January 2027, the minimum wage will increase annually according to the Consumer Price Index.  Go https://dol.ny.gov/minimum-wage for additional details. LocationMinimum Wage as of [...]

The Regular 2025-2026 HEAP season will be delayed until further notice. New York State issued a notice indicating it is awaiting federal funding for the program.Details on the 2025-2026 HEAP Plan, with the revised income guidelines, will be published here.

Medicare Part D, which covers prescription drugs, is available either as a standalone Part D plan which works with Original Medicare, or included in the Medicare Advantage plan benefits package.  In addition to any plan premium, the Part D annual deductible in 2026 is $615. The maximum out-of-pocket cost is $2,100, which includes the deductible, copays [...]

Medicare’s Annual Election period, running from October 15 – December 7, 2025, provides an opportunity for people in Original Medicare with a Part D plan, or those in a Medicare Advantage Plan, to review their plan options for 2026 and make any changes to their coverage.  Beneficiaries with Original Medicare can switch Part D plans; those [...]