Mentioned during Iran war address April 1st: During a national address on the war in Iran from the White House Cross Hall, Trump reaffirmed his "no tax on Social Security" promise — but the "Big Beautiful Bill" didn't eliminate Social Security taxes outright, instead giving seniors 65+ an additional $6,000 deduction per taxpayer from 2025-2028, which means 88% of seniors won't owe taxes on their benefits.

Income thresholds still apply: Social Security benefits become taxable once provisional income exceeds $25,000 for single filers or $32,000 for married couples filing jointly — up to 85% of benefits may be taxable above these thresholds, so the deduction helps many stay below them.

Watch retirement account withdrawals: Retirees should review their total income carefully because withdrawals from retirement accounts, pensions, or part-time work could increase provisional income and push them above the taxable threshold — even with the new deduction, managing income sources is critical to avoid taxes on benefits.

Coverage started Wednesday despite lawsuit: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) started covering up to $500 annually of hemp-derived CBD products (with up to 3mg THC per serving) for patients in three Medicare innovation models — Smart Approaches to Marijuana and nine other groups filed suit Monday seeking to immediately halt the program.

Lawsuit claims administrative violations: Prohibitionist groups argue CMS violated rules by not publishing a proposed rule for public comment, conflicts with its own 2025 rule declaring cannabis ineligible for Medicare coverage, and exceeds authority by covering Schedule I substances without congressional authorization.

How it works if allowed to proceed: Participating doctors in ACO REACH, Enhancing Oncology, and LEAD models can recommend CBD for eligible beneficiaries (must be 18+, not pregnant/breastfeeding) — products must be sourced from compliant farms, tested for cannabinoid content, and provided directly by physicians (no retail purchases or reimbursements).

Typical retiree gets about $25,000 annually: The average retirement benefit is $2,076.41 per month, which isn't a lot to live on — but you can increase this by earning more during your career (up to a certain cap), working at least 35 years, and making sure those are your most profitable years.

Delay claiming for permanent 8% annual boost: Your full retirement age is 67 if you were born in 1960 or later — but for each year you delay claiming past that until age 70, your benefits get a permanent 8% increase, which can add up to significant extra monthly income.

Don't plan to retire on Social Security alone: Even if your benefit is larger than the average, retiring on Social Security alone could mean scaling back your lifestyle dramatically and risking financial struggles — modest monthly contributions to an IRA or 401(k) over time can provide crucial supplemental income.