It’s the Strictly semi-finals! In last week’s dance-off, the series’ best-ranked couple, Tasha Ghouri and Aljaž Škorjanec, had to dance against Montell Douglas and Johannes Radebe, with the judges sending the latter pair home. This means Tasha and Aljaž join Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell, Sarah Hadland and Vito Coppola, JB Gill and Lauren Oakley, and Pete Wicks and Jowita Przystal for a 12th week of competition – and this week, they had two dances each to perform. See how Saturday night unfolded below and who is in trouble ahead of tomorrow night’s dance-off. 08:22 PM GMT Next stop – the Strictly Grand Final! There’s just one dance-off between the couples and next week’s final. The bookies suggest we’ll see Sarah and Vito there due to the stats around the tango and the jive, but if the last few weeks have shown us anything, it’s that nothing is guaranteed. Sunday night’s results show features two pro dances accompanying two musical guests: Raye and Becky Hill. Watch it all on BBC One at 7.20pm – and join me back here next Saturday for the Strictly final which starts bright and early on BBC One at the earlier time of 6pm. Have a lovely week (and get voting!) 08:17 PM GMT JB and Lauren top the leaderboard All couples have danced both their routines and here is how the leaderboard looks at the end of the show. JB and Lauren top the board on an almost-perfect 79 with Pete and Jowita bottom on 65. There are no guarantees on who makes next week’s final – so cast your votes before 8.45pm! JB and Lauren – 79 Tasha and Aljaz – 75 Sarah and Vito – 72 Chris and Dianne – 69 Pete and Jowita – 65 08:12 PM GMT Pete and Jowita smoulder on a boulder in their Argentine tango “I know I’m not the best dancer here,” says Pete in his VT. “But I just have to focus, not give up and keep going.” And that, really, is why the audience loves him. Production design clearly had a struggle trying to figure out how to illustrate The Verve’s Bittersweet Symphony, which must be why Pete and Jowita appear to be dancing on a giant rock formation with a built-in waterfall while in sexily undone black tie (a smoulder on a boulder?) There are some terrific lifts in the dance, but, as Craig points out, that is more show dance, and there is minimal Argentine tango content. The other judges hazily overlook the lack of actual tango in favour of how the dance feels and how sexy it is. Hey ho! 08:02 PM GMT Sarah and Vito’s spaceman jive nets them four 9s Silver and tassels make a lovely visual but, as we all know, the correct theme for I’m So Excited is Crunchie bars being shot out of a rocket. Still, fans of Vito’s trousers have another picture to add to the album for this year. This is a high-energy and delightful jive that gives us another chance to enjoy such a great partnership. A lovely surprise came from Craig being wildly enthusiastic compared to Anton. The other judges comment that Sarah seemed a bit off the beat compared to Vito, but this may be down to the sheer volume of Sarah’s trousers which are so highly decorated that they appear to stop time. 07:53 PM GMT Chris and Dianne’s Metallica waltz captivates the judges More hideous costuming for Chris and Dianne, decked out like the Ugly Sisters in a symphony of burgundy, dirty violet and a sash for Dianne that looks like it’s covering up a Bolognese stain. Chris, again, looks quite hesitant in the steps. Learning two dances in one week is too much when you can’t use video and other visual aids. Yet, watching him and Dianne, I don’t ever just see the steps. I see dedication, hard work and inspiration sailing across the floor. “He is the spirit of the show,” says Dianne, rightly. Claudia gives singer Jamie a shout-out for singing Nothing Else Matters so beautifully, which will please my mother, who is always cross that the singers so rarely get named and credited. 07:43 PM GMT JB and Lauren’s salsa is a 40-scoring birthday banger JB and Lauren are back for a salsa to Basement Jaxx’s 1999 hit Red Alert. Their costumes match the brief – red, red, red – and their routine is packed with lifts that show off Lauren’s ridiculous core strength and dance ability. They’re both enjoying themselves enormously – there is big Charleston energy to this salsa – and JB has relaxed into the groove and is able to give it everything. Craig calls JB over (“Come to Daddy”) and gives him a congratulatory Hollywood handshake à la Bake Off before smoothly waving at Paul Hollywood, who’s sitting in the audience next to Strictly alumna Angela Rippon. JB looks totally thrilled. He’s done everything he can, and whatever happens on the results show, this is enough for him; and this is the first salsa in six years to score 40. 07:35 PM GMT No holding Tasha and Aljaž back from a perfect score Tasha and Aljaž have been given one of the wardrobe department’s infrequent handicaps. Tasha’s burgundy dress has a hideous clashing blue underskirt and nude heels, while Aljaž has diamante arm clips (?!) to go with his waistcoat, tie and tie clip. Further estate agent vibes after Pete. Still, if we’ve learnt anything this year, it’s that this couple are total pros, immune to everything the show can throw at them. This is a lovely waltz filled with joy, grace and story. If I close my eyes I can just about see them dancing without having to look at the costumes. The judges are wildly enthused by this routine. “Sick,” says Craig, in what is undoubtedly a bet with a nibling or godchild who will shortly have to cough up a tenner. 07:28 PM GMT Scores after the first dances Here’s how the leaderboard looks as we go into the second round of dances – JB and Lauren at the top, with Pete and Jowita at the bottom. No joint scores for the first time in a while! JB and Amy – 39 Sarah and Vito – 36 Tasha and Aljaž – 35 Chris and Dianne – 33 Pete and Jowita – 32 07:25 PM GMT Shirley hails Pete as “Mr Strictly Come Dancing” I am temporarily distracted from Pete’s estate agent get-up by the absolutely jaw-dropping mosaic set that production has created for his foxtrot with Jowita to Beyond the Sea. For the first half of the dance, he carries off a debonair persona well, with a lovely topline and great character – and this dance definitely feels more comfortable for him than last week – then after a few charming spins, he breaks out into a huge grin, and it is so lovely to see. Jowita has done a remarkable job as his partner, coach. “The trouble is, you’re going to run out of weeks,” says Anton. “By June you’ll be there.” This couple has been a joy to watch. As Craig says, they’ve given us a lot of grace and class. And as Motsi points out, there is the competition between the dancers, and then the personal competition that is just the celebrity coming on. “You are Mr Strictly Come Dancing,” says Shirley, hitting the nail on the head. Pete couldn’t dance when he came in, he’s worked his socks off, he hasn’t made a fuss, and he’s been very funny and honest about the whole process. 07:17 PM GMT Electrifying tango brings Sarah and Vito to four 9s Sarah and Vito have had some really tedious under-marking this year which belies how strong their partnership and their dancing have been. This isn’t helped by Shirley in the VT with them praising Sarah warmly for being so good as a mum and as a woman in her 50s. The cheek! I couldn’t have done the things Sarah has done with Vito in my teens, twenties, or thirties. She’s just brilliant. Their electric blue (and simply electrifying) tango to Big Love by Fleetwood Mac is just tremendous. The drama is compelling, angular and assured. They get brilliant comments from the judges and it’s a shame there isn’t one 10 among the scores. This felt on a par with JB and Lauren if not better. 07:07 PM GMT Chris and “Diana” lift off with a jolly Charleston On the sofa, Chris politely reminds Craig that he liked a Charleston to be messy, so that’s what he’ll be getting this week. He and Dianne kick off their gorgeous dance in the basket of a hot air balloon, but fortunately this has happier connotations than Pixar’s Up. Chris feels less confident with the dance moves in the Charleston than what we’ve seen from him in recent weeks. This could be learning two dances in one week, being tired – one thing’s for certain, his being blind has long dropped to the bottom of reasons. He is extraordinary, and Dianne’s partnership and tuition is equally magical. Craig says it isn’t a messy Charleston but feels underpowered. “This is the semi-final, this is your opportunity to say something nice,” quips Chris. “People’s opinion of you is pretty low.” The back and forth between Chris and the judges, most especially Craig, has been a real joy (as has Craig, let’s be honest). Less of a joy is Shirley who says rather grandly, “If you’ll allow me to be your eyes for a moment,” and then calls Our Dianne, “Diana.” Hmmm. And how lovely that “Diana”’s parents are in the audience again – fingers crossed they’re staying for next week too! 06:57 PM GMT JB and Lauren bring fierce dancing (and scoring) to their paso JB and Lauren have done amazingly well this season. It isn’t easy having to change your partner (fingers crossed that Amy Dowden is doing well), and Lauren has done brilliantly in quickly building a rapport that has done so well. Their first dance is a paso doble, an audience favourite for its drama, glamour and fierce shapes. Below the neck, JB is terrific at the paso. Above the neck, it comes across as pure Joey Tribbiani from Friends. It’s all a bit reminiscent of his “smell the fart” attitude to performing drama. Still, high praise from all the judges who enjoyed its epic quality (spot on) and presumably couldn’t see his face. A really lovely moment for tonight’s show is celebrating JB’s birthday with a gorgeously ugly cake with a picture of JB on it, and one of his turkeys (he’s a farmer as well as a Songs of Praise presenter AND in JLS – amazing) sitting on his shoulder. 06:46 PM GMT Tasha and Aljaž start the show with a rocketing salsa Semi-finals week means full glam and the last week that the judges’ scores have any impact on the week’s outcome. Tess and Claudia’s clashing black-and-white sequins have reminded me how urgently I need to book my follow-up appointment with my optician. The judges have gone for velvet and more sequins, with Motsi the winner in a gorgeous green gown that more than makes up for her lack of interest in or rhythm when dancing to The Final Countdown. In addition to the rehearsal VT, there’s some “God, we’ve got a really long show to fill” padding with all the judges on the sofa telling the contestants how they’ve done this season. First up are Tasha and Aljaž, who have done the most brilliantly all season and with a consistency that almost guarantees them a place in the final. Their salsa to Something New by Girls Aloud is so stunningly capable that, even without Tasha in disguise with enormous, waved hair and the obligatory party streamer salsa skirt, it’s incredibly hard to tell who the professional dancer is. Perhaps this is why Craig and Anton picked holes in their transitions: Tasha and Aljaž were in last week’s dance-off, and they will need support from the audience to ensure another favourite doesn’t go home. 06:32 PM GMT And we’re off! Lights, camera, Glitterball Trophy tantalisingly within reach... Now all our couples need to do is dance their socks off – twice. What’s so hard about that! (She says, leaning further back into the sofa and putting her slippered feet up while reaching for the tea...) 06:25 PM GMT Sarah Hadland: ‘On Strictly, I’ve done things I didn’t know were possible’ Bit more pre-show reading? . 06:15 PM GMT This week’s songs and dances The celebrities have had to learn two new dances each this week: one Latin, one ballroom. Music-wise, I am hugely looking forward to Chris and Dianne’s Viennese waltz to Nothing Else Matters by Metallica, one of their most epic songs. As anyone who watched the Finnish group Lordi win Eurovision in 2005 can attest, metal has so much theatre about it that it’s the perfect match for Strictly. As Chris writes in his Strictly Diary this week: “It’s a beautiful song with a dark edginess. I love a bit of heavy metal. I probably own more guitars than I know chords, mind. But that’s the music that I grew up on. I remember me and my mate Neil, age 15, screaming the words to a Nirvana song in his bedroom. Let’s just say, his neighbour wasn’t best impressed!” I will be incredibly impressed by the Strictly singers doing Metallica, however it turns out. God bless them, they’ve got range. A certain other funny man with neat dancing feet also performed to Metallica in the semi-final. A good omen? Here’s Bill from 2020: : Waltz - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (Aretha Franklin) and Salsa - Something New (Girls Aloud) : Tango - Big Love (Fleetwood Mac) and Jive - I’m So Excited (The Pointer Sisters) : Salsa - Red Alert (Basement Jaxx) and Paso Doble - Requiem for a Tower (Clint Mansell) : Charleston - When You’re Smiling (The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn) and Viennese Waltz - Nothing Else Matters (Metallica) : Argentine Tango - Bittersweet Symphony (The Verve) and Foxtrot - Beyond the Sea (Bobby Darin) 06:00 PM GMT Could Pete and Jowita make it through to the final? Thanks to coming across as a thoroughly decent chap who’s put the work in, Pete Wicks has had some impressive backing from viewers at home this year – he and Jowita haven’t been in the dance-off once – and data crunched by the bookies shows that they could potentially be finalists in spite of their low scores. Research from SlotsCalendar shows that the tango and jive – Sarah’s dances with Vito – have been responsible for 16 of the past 72 eliminations since 2018, the highest proportion of any of this week’s combinations. Chris may also have problems as he is performing the Charleston and Viennese waltz with Dianne and these have led to 11 of the past 72 eliminations. Pete and Jowita, however, are dancing the Argentine tango and the foxtrot and these have been responsible for just three eliminations. Also feeling lucky are Tasha and Aljaž, with their waltz and salsa combining for just three eliminations, while JB’s salsa and paso doble combo with Lauren has been responsible for five exits. It should be emphasised that bookies don’t want anyone to make money. Sarah and Vito could be in the dance-off on Sunday – but as with Montell and Johannes, the only good thing about that would be seeing them dance once more. As ever, the answer lies in the audience votes as well as, if not more than, the judges’ scores. 05:45 PM GMT Chris’s Strictly Diary: What it really takes to get through Strictly Some truly appalling detail from Chris McCausland this week, especially about how wardrobe sews pants to shirts to keep everything neat. “I was getting changed for our q2uickstep for Saturday’s Musicals Week, and was stood there in what was essentially a child’s sleepsuit. Then they whacked a bow tie on me as well. I ended up looking, and feeling, like a posh baby. “There’s obviously a lot of nerves involved with dancing on live TV, and the one thing you do need is the toilet beforehand – you have to make sure that you’re fully... empty. Just another thing to think about, eh?” Thank you for those beautiful images, Chris, unforgettable. The secret sauce to his and Pete’s success is clear: “My attitude has been to take the dancing itself seriously. People love Strictly. You want to do your best, for yourself and your pro partner. That said, as soon as my dance is over, it’s an opportunity for me to take the mickey out of Craig and have a laugh. And you can only do that if the viewers believe you’ve dedicated yourself to the show.” Chris and Pete have been a joy to watch throughout the series, giving it their all and improving beyond all recognition. As Chris says, “Nevertheless, people seem to think that this is a dancing competition. If it really was then there is no point, because, undoubtedly, Tasha [Ghouri] is the best dancer on the show, but me and Pete have tried to bring a little bit of comic relief to the competition as well.” . 05:30 PM GMT Welcome to the Strictly 2024 semi-finals! The celebrities have had 12 weeks of rehearsals and hard graft to get to this point and it’s not been without its surprises. Last week, Montell and Johannes went home – but it was a first-time dance-off for Tasha and Aljaž, this year’s most consistently high-scoring couple, and the outcome was all but inevitable. It was a shame to say goodbye to Montell who has been a brilliant contestant and given it her all – she’s been a credit to Johannes. Roll on season two of Gladiators in the New Year when she returns as Fire. With a place in the final up for grabs, the couples need to up their game this week. They have learnt two new dances each, one Latin and one ballroom, which will be performed tonight. The question is, have they had enough practise together to pull off such an intense test of their dancing? (This doesn’t apply to Tasha who could probably learn a new routine with only a YouTube video and half an hour in the green room.)

Kiwis are in for an early dose of later this week - with temperatures pushing past 30C in parts of the country. MetService is forecasting highs of 28C, 31C and 29C for Napier, Hastings and Gisborne respectively on Thursday. “That’s well above average for this time of year – but we’re of course knocking on the door of summer,” MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said. That warmth will be felt in most regions: Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and Whangārei are likely to experience highs in the early to mid-20s over the remainder of the week. Further south tomorrow, the mercury is likely to rise as high as 27C in Christchurch – well past its November average of 19C – while Timaru is in for a toasty maximum of 26C. “Those day-time temperatures are certainly on the warm side, but some of the overnight temperatures also don’t dip too low,” Makgabutlane said. Aucklanders were in for balmy lows of 16C and 17C over the next few nights, with high humidity likely to hamper sleep across the city. “But even parts of Southland have minimum temperatures in the mid-teens, which is fairly warm.” Makgabutlane said the heat was coming with a ridge of high pressure meeting a northwesterly air flow – drawing warm, moist air over New Zealand. On Thursday, a frontal system was also forecast to begin bringing rain and wind to the South Island, with the wettest weather expected in the west. But little of that was likely to reach parched northeastern areas like Hawke’s Bay. “If we’re lucky, there may be a little bit of rain from that, but there’s nothing substantial on the cards.” The dry and hot conditions are , months away from the peak of summer. Fire and Emergency New Zealand Hawke’s Bay district manager Glen Varcoe confirmed fire-risk indices were late last week elevated to high across the Ahuriri and Heretaunga districts, including Napier and Hastings and coastal regions north to Wairoa. Last Thursday, police said both fire safety officers and police had been investigating five bush and scrub fires in Northern Hawke’s Bay, in some cases suspected deliberately lit. are likely to be warmer than average through to January, with frequent northwesterly winds leading to more days above 25C. Also raising the odds for hot summer weather was the potential for marine heatwave conditions – already occurring in seas to the east of New Zealand – to expand and intensify.Luke Humphries bid for back-to-back World Championship titles on track after win

Tasha Ghouri dealt crushing blow from Strictly judges in live semi-final as she makes major blunder

On Monday, farmers in Punjab staged a statewide bandh, effectively obstructing major roads and disrupting commuter traffic in protest of unmet government demands. This demonstration was organized by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. The bandh, scheduled from 7 am to 4 pm, witnessed farmers holding sit-ins at several key locations, including the Dhareri Jattan Toll Plaza on the Patiala-Chandigarh National Highway. Entry points like Amritsar's Golden Gate and Bathinda's Rampura Phul bore the brunt of the protest as roads were blocked. Even as the bandh halted normal operations, essential services were allowed to continue with exemptions for emergency cases, such as medical emergencies, airport journeys, and weddings. Meanwhile, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal's hunger strike reached its 35th day, as farmers persisted in their demands, including a legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP), debt waivers, and justice for victims of past violence. (With inputs from agencies.)South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial law

Arizona Democrats set to reinstate death penalty after two-year halt on executionsSyrian insurgents reach the capital's suburbs. Worried residents flee and stock up on supplies BEIRUT (AP) — Insurgents’ stunning march across Syria is gaining speed with news that they have reached the suburbs of the capital of Damascus. The government on Saturday was forced to deny rumors that President Bashar Assad had fled the country. The rebels’ moves around Damascus were reported by an opposition war monitor and a rebel commander. They came after the Syrian army withdrew from much of southern part of the country, leaving more areas, including two provincial capitals, under the control of opposition fighters. The advances in the past week were among the largest in recent years by opposition factions. The factions are by a group that has its origins in al-Qaida and is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S. and the United Nations. An archbishop's knock formally restores Notre Dame to life as winds howl and heads of state look on PARIS (AP) — France’s iconic Notre Dame Cathedral has formally reopened its doors for the first time since a devastating fire nearly destroyed the 861-year-old landmark in 2019. The five-year restoration is widely seen as a boost for French President Emmanuel Macron, who championed the ambitious timeline, and brings a welcome respite from his domestic political woes. World leaders, dignitaries, and worshippers gathered on Saturday evening for the celebrations under the cathedral's soaring arches. The celebration was attended by 1,500 dignitaries, including President-elect Donald Trump, Britain’s Prince William, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. For Catholics, Notre Dame’s rector said the cathedral “carries the enveloping presence of the Virgin Mary, a maternal and embracing presence.′′ Trump is welcomed by Macron to Paris with presidential pomp and joined by Zelenskyy for their talks PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron has welcomed Donald Trump to Paris with a full dose of presidential pomp. And they held a hastically-arranged meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy on a day that's mixing pageantry with attention to pressing global problems. The president-elect's visit to France is part of a global a celebration of the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral five years after a devastating fire. Macron and other European leaders are trying to win Trump’s favor and persuade him to maintain support for Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s invasion. Trump isn't back in office but he's already pushing his agenda and negotiating with world leaders NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump is making threats, traveling abroad, and negotiating with world leaders. He has more than a month-and-a-half to go before he’s sworn in for a second term. But the president-elect is already moving aggressively to not only fill his Cabinet and outline policy goals, but also to try to achieve his priorities. In recent days, Trump has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, two of the country’s largest trading partners. That led to emergency calls and a visit. And he's warned of “ALL HELL TO PAY” if Hamas doesn't release the hostages still being held captive in Gaza. South Korea's president avoids an impeachment attempt over short-lived martial law SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol has avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law. Most of Yoon's ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify protests calling for Yoon’s ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea. A survey suggests a majority of South Koreans support the president’s impeachment. Yoon’s martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party. But the party also apparently fears losing the presidency to liberals. Days after gunman killed UnitedHealthcare's CEO, police push to ID him and FBI offers reward NEW YORK (AP) — Nearly four days after the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, police still do not know the gunman’s name or whereabouts or have a motive for the killing. But they have made some progress in their investigation into Wednesday's killing of the leader of the largest U.S. health insurer, including that the gunman likely left New York City on a bus soon after fleeing the scene. The also found that the gunman left something behind: a backpack that was discovered in Central Park. Police are working with the FBI, which on Friday night announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. UnitedHealthcare CEO's shooting opens a door for many to vent frustrations over insurance The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare's CEO has opened the door for many people to vent their frustrations and anger over the insurance industry. The feelings of exasperation, anger, resentment, and helplessness toward insurers aren’t new. But the shooting and the headlines around it have unleashed a new wave of patients sharing such sentiments and personal stories of interactions with insurance companies. Conversations at dinner tables, office water coolers, social gatherings and on social media have pivoted to the topic. Many say they hope the new amplified voices can bring about change for companies often accused of valuing profits over people. 2 Pearl Harbor survivors, ages 104 and 102, return to Hawaii to honor those killed in 1941 attack PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — The bombing of Pearl Harbor 83 years ago launched the United States into World War II. Two survivors returned to the Hawaii military base on Saturday for a remembrance ceremony on the attack's anniversary. Both are over 100 years old. They joined active-duty troops, veterans and members of the public for an observance hosted by the Navy and the National Park Service. A third survivor was planning to join them but had to cancel due to health issues. The bombing killed more than 2,300 U.S. servicemen. An explosion destroys an apartment block in a Dutch city, killing at least 3 and injuring others THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — An explosion and fire has rocked a neighborhood in the Dutch city of The Hague, killing three people and injuring other people and destroying several apartments. The cause of the disaster is unclear. Emergency authorities said four people were rescued from the rubble and taken to the hospital. The mayor said rescuers were no longer looking for survivors but for eventual bodies, but could not specify how many people might still be unaccounted for. Residents of the northeastern neighborhood of Mariahoeve in The Hague heard a huge bang and screams before dawn. Dutch authorities have deployed a specialized urban search and rescue team to find victims. How 'Mufasa' rose with Aaron Pierre and Blue Ivy's voices along with new Lin-Manuel Miranda music SAN DIEGO (AP) — When Aaron Pierre was cast as Mufasa, the weight of following in the late James Earl Jones’ legendary footsteps was enough to rattle any actor. But instead of letting the pressure roar too loudly, he harnessed his nerves to breathe fresh life into his young lion character. Pierre found parallels between himself and his character while filming his leading role in “Mufasa: The Lion King,” which opens in theaters Dec. 20. He took the reigns as the new voice of Mufasa after Jones played the iconic King Mufasa in both the 1994 and 2019 versions of Disney’s “The Lion King.” The prequel offers a fresh exploration into Mufasa’s origin story.

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Mercer International vice president Eric Heine sells $167,612 in stockStarting in January 2025, Social Security check payments for individuals over 67 will increase significantly, with the maximum amount available for this age group. Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits will increase in the upcoming year. In 2025, the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will increase the monthly Social Security check by 2.5 percent with each check. It is important to highlight that all benefits for survivors, retired workers, and those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are subject to the COLA rise. Additionally, beneficiaries will be able to obtain larger maximums in 2025. Americans over 67 years will receive a new Social Security check increase in 2025 An eligible individual may receive up to $967 in federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments per month; an eligible individual and their eligible spouse may get up to $1,450, and an essential person may receive up to $484. In contrast, the SSA projects the following growth in average payouts in 2025: Workers can receive Social Security benefits as early as age 62. However, at that age, they do not receive full compensation. The Social Security Administration recommends that people wait until they reach full retirement age (67 for those born in 1960 and older) to collect their payments in full or until they reach age 70 to get more money. According to the official SSA pay table, the maximum Social Security check for 2025 is $2,831 at age 62, $3,374 at age 65, and $3,795 at age 66. At age 65, however, it is $3,374; at age 66, it is $3,795. For payments claimed at full retirement age, the maximum amount these workers can expect next year is $4,043. After the age of 67, Social Security recipients can get additional benefits. Those who delay retirement until the age of 70 are eligible for a maximum reward of $5,108. The actual amount sent varies for each beneficiary; the Social Security check payments are computed on an individual basis. To estimate your payouts for next year, add 2.5% to your present benefits. Social Security will deliver beneficiaries their updated benefits through their My Social Security account in December. Social Security will make an important change for some beneficiaries To address inflation and the financial security of almost 70 million recipients, the Social Security Administration has announced several adjustments that will take effect next year. The changes will affect those who rely on Social Security payments, including retirees, those who receive disability and Veterans Affairs benefits, and others. One of the key adjustments that will most likely have the most impact is the cost of living adjustment (COLA) , which is designed to maintain Social Security check payments increasing in line with inflation. The increase is intended to preserve financial stability and is projected to be about 2.5 percent based on this year’s GDP data. The Social Security system will undergo several important modifications next year. The change in the age at which Americans can start receiving Social Security check payments is one of these. The current range for full retirement is between 66 and 67 years, depending on the year of birth, even though Americans can start receiving reduced benefits at age 62. Full retirement may eventually be advanced to approximately age 68, and possibly even higher. Maintaining the system’s long-term viability and modifying it to account for Americans’ increased life expectancies are the objectives of the reform.