Stephen Ohlemacher

Former Vice President Joe Biden’s challenge to President Donald Trump will play out against the unprecedented backdrop of a pandemic, economic collapse and civil unrest.

It's just the third time in 40 years that payments will remain flat. All three times have come since 2010.

For just the third time in 40 years, millions of Social Security recipients, disabled veterans and federal retirees can expect no increase in benefits next year, unwelcome news for more than one-fifth of the nation's population.

Checks of $100 million or more have to be processed by hand, increasing the risk of theft, fraud and errors, according to a pair of memos from the IRS and the Treasury Department.

Typical workers would get an extra $1,500 in their paychecks next year under a plan by President Obama to expand a payroll tax cut that is scheduled expire Dec. 31. Higher-paid workers and businesses would get tax breaks too.