## Higher Social Security payments coming for millions of people from bill that Biden signed

Authored by apnews.com

Advocates say the Social Security Fairness Act rights a decades-old disparity, though it will also put strain on Social Security Trust Funds, which face a looming insolvency crisis.

The bill rescinds two provisions — the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset — that limit Social Security benefits for recipients if they get retirement payments from other sources, including public retirement programs from a state or local government.

The Congressional Research Service estimated that in December 2023, there were 745,679 people, about 1% of all Social Security beneficiaries, who had their benefits reduced by the Government Pension Offset.

The change is to payments from January 2024 and beyond, meaning the Social Security Administration would owe back-dated payments.

The future of Social Security has become a top political issue and was a major point of contention in the 2024 election.

About 72.5 million people, including retirees, disabled people and children, receive Social Security benefits.

Along with ratifying the Social Security Fairness Act, earlier in his presidency Biden signed the Butch Lewis Act into law, which saved the retirement pensions of two million union workers. »

### New California law prohibits using AI as basis to deny insurance claims

Authored by mercurynews.com

“In 2021 alone, (nationwide) data showed that health insurance companies denied more than 49 million claims,” said Becker, citing data from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

In November 2023, a lawsuit against UnitedHealthcare spotlighted concerns about the misuse of AI in health insurance decision-making, accusing the company of using artificial intelligence to deny claims.

Under the new law, AI tools cannot be used to deny, delay or alter health care services deemed medically necessary by doctors. »

### Zelenskyy: US threats of sanctions before the war were "bullshit"

Authored by pravda.com.ua

I only asked for two things: send us weapons, or better yet, strengthen us with preventive measures so there would be no war.

It wasn't the weapons that I was asking for – I asked for sanctions.

Please don't say ‘If he comes, if he crosses borders, if he kills, we're imposing sanctions.’ Well, this is complete bullshit. »

### Elon Musk calls for Nigel Farage to be replaced as Reform leader

Authored by thetimes.com

Elon Musk has said that Nigel Farage should be replaced as the leader of Reform UK because he “doesn’t have what it takes” in a dramatic collapse of their relationship.

The leader of Reform UK met Musk at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in December and they discussed a sizeable donation to Farage’s party.

Farage said that he did not want Robinson to join Reform UK because of his extreme views, describing him as a “serial criminal”. »

### Gulp! Dune: Awakening beta testers are dying of thirst nearly as often as they're dying of sandworms, and some are even drinking mouse blood to stay alive

Authored by pcgamer.com

It's not a huge surprise to learn that dehydration is a major cause of death among beta testers of survival MMO Dune: Awakening.

Dehydration isn't the only threat in Dune: Awakening, however, or the biggest.

And according to Funcom, dead NPCs aren't the only sources of blood: you can extract it from animals, too. »

## In pictures

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