Deadlines & Dates
When the money moves, when the window closes, and what happens if you miss it.
FOMC decision October 2026: what a rate move costs you
The Fed meets October 27-28, 2026, with a decision due at 2pm ET — here's what a hike, cut or pause means for your bills.
HealthCare.gov open enrollment 2027 opens Nov 1
HealthCare.gov opens Nov 1, 2026, and runs through Jan 15, 2027. Enroll by Dec 15 for coverage starting Jan 1. State deadlines vary.
Debt ceiling X-date 2026: when Treasury runs out of room
Treasury's borrowing cushion is projected to run out around November 2026, though the exact date shifts as spending comes in.
Midterms 2026 set for Nov 3, control of Congress at stake
Election day is fixed for November 3, 2026. Whoever controls Congress in January decides what happens to tariffs, the debt ceiling, and tax cuts.
Fed raises rates to 3.75%–4%: what the Sept. 16 decision means
The Fed raised its benchmark rate a quarter point on Sept. 16, 2026, its first increase since 2023. Most officials expect one more hike this year.
October 14 is the day the 2027 COLA stops being a guess
SSA is expected to announce the confirmed 2027 cost-of-living adjustment on October 14, 2026, once September CPI-W is published.
You get 54 days to change your Medicare plan. Then it locks
Medicare open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7. Changes made in that window take effect January 1; miss it and you generally wait a year.
The law holds your whole refund if you claim the EITC
The PATH Act requires the IRS to hold the entire refund of EITC and ACTC filers until mid-February, not just the part tied to the credit.
Filing opens in late January. Filing early does not mean paid early
The IRS is expected to start accepting 2026 returns around January 25-27, 2027. For EITC and ACTC filers, an early return does not mean an early refund.
SNAP's new amounts start October 1, and you do not have to apply
The FY2027 SNAP cost-of-living adjustment takes effect October 1, 2026. New maximums and income limits apply automatically to October benefits.