Fact check 2022: The 5 most-read money stories of the year

From numerous settlements to knowledge breaches to the IRS, the VERIFY group answered your questions and fact-checked dozens of monetary claims in 2022. 

To look again on 2022, the VERIFY group reviewed which money stories you learn the most. Here’s the high 5:

#5: No, Social Security recipients won’t obtain a bonus cost in September

Social Security was created in 1935 to pay retired employees age 65 or older a seamless revenue after retirement. Currently, one in five Americans receives a Social Security profit from the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).

Typically, these are set funds that come every month. But VERIFY viewer Tom needed to know whether or not Social Security recipients will get a bonus cost in September 2022.

We VERIFIED that whereas Social Security recipients have been as a result of get two funds in September, it wasn’t a bonus cost. Instead, the second deposit was the October cost, acquired a day early. Typically, recipients get their funds on the first of the month, however when the first falls on a vacation or weekend, the schedule is shifted. This year, Oct. 1 fell on a Saturday, which defined why social safety recipients acquired two funds in September.  

Social Security funds are despatched out on a strict schedule. Most retirees get their funds on the second, third or fourth Wednesday of every month, relying on their start date. 

#4: Yes, the Internal Revenue Service did purchase almost $700K in ammunition in early 2022

Earlier this year, a number of politicians claimed the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) bought a whole lot of hundreds of {dollars} value of ammunition. In July, VERIFY viewer Ian requested us to substantiate if that was true.

 We checked it out and located that between March 1 and June 1, 2022, the felony division of the IRS ordered $696,000 in ammunition. The IRS confirmed the complete in an e mail to VERIFY.

The order was for the IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) division, which is a federal legislation enforcement company that conducts felony investigations, together with tax violations, money laundering, cyber crimes, and arranged crime involving medicine and gangs. There are greater than 2,000 sworn particular brokers in the division. 

An IRS spokesperson advised VERIFY particular brokers inside the division have been carrying firearms all through the company’s greater than 100-year historical past.

In 2018, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a report on what the IRS spent on firearms and ammunition from 2010 via 2017.

From 2010 via 2017, the IRS has spent a median of $675,000 on ammunition a year, the report reveals. During that point, the IRS spent the most in 2011, with $1,100,000 in spending. 

#3: Yes, victims of 2019 Capital One knowledge breach may get money with current settlement

In May, VERIFY viewer Tamara reached out to us after she acquired an e mail a couple of Capital One knowledge breach and settlement and requested our group to substantiate whether or not it was actual or not. We VERIFIED the knowledge breach and settlement have been legit, and stemmed from a July 2019 cyber assault.

On a webpage that gives information about the 2019 assault, Capital One instructs prospects affected by the breach to go to capitalonesettlement.com for added particulars about the settlement. The web site is legit and was nonetheless energetic as of Dec. 29, 2022.

According to the settlement administrator, Capital One was required to ascertain a settlement fund of $190 million. The settlement fund could be used to:

• Make money funds for out-of-pocket losses and misplaced time;
• Purchase id protection companies;
• Purchase restoration companies for all settlement class members, regardless of whether or not they make a declare;
• Pay the prices of notifying settlement class members and administering the settlement;
• Pay service awards to settlement class representatives and every other settlement class member who was deposed in the motion, as permitted by the courtroom;
• Pay attorneys’ charges, prices, and bills, as permitted by the courtroom.

To affirm you’re a settlement class member, and eligible for advantages, you possibly can name 1-855-604-1811 or contact the settlement administrator at [email protected]. 

#2: Yes, you will get a refund in case you bought recalled Jif peanut butter merchandise

The second-most learn money story at verifythis.com, sandwiched proper between the first and third, was about peanut butter. 

On May 20, the J.M. Smucker Co. introduced a voluntary recall of dozens of Jif peanut butter products for potential salmonella contamination. 

Following the announcement, folks on social media have been questioning if they might get a refund in the event that they purchased a jar of the recalled peanut butter. The VERIFY group discovered you may get a refund in case you bought the recalled product. 

Affected prospects needed to fill out a reimbursement kind on the Jif web site – which is now not energetic as a result of the recall interval has handed. During the eligibility interval, prospects may return the recalled merchandise at the grocery retailer the place they bought the peanut butter. 

#1: No motion required to obtain money from TurboTax settlement

VERIFY’s high money story of 2022 was about how eligible folks may obtain a pay-out from tax service TurboTax. 

In May, attorneys general for all 50 states and the District of Columbia introduced they reached a $141 million settlement with Intuit, the creator of TurboTax, over misleading practices relating to its free tax-filing companies.

At the time, folks have been questioning how they’d know in the event that they have been eligible for any funds awarded. 

We VERIFIED that individuals who certified for the settlement didn’t need to file a declare to obtain money from the TurboTax settlement. Eligible prospects ought to have acquired checks in the mail.

Each individual would have acquired a check for about $30 for each year they have been deceived into paying to file their federal tax return, the (*5*) mentioned.