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Thanks for signing up to get our e-mail updates! 

We're looking forward to guiding you through a world of government services and information, answering your questions, and making your life a bit easier. Be sure to check out our Featured Content, for topics that may be of interest to you.

Be sure to Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, on Instagram, and add us on Snapchat!

You can make changes to your subscriptions or unsubscribe at any time by selecting from the links in the footer of this email. 

Whether you’re expecting a tax refund or not, the U.S. Department of the Treasury may have issued you a check for a variety of reasons. If you do not know why you received a check from the government, it’s important to verify its legitimacy before cashing it or depositing it. To verify your check’s validity, you can contact the government agency listed on the check, or use this infographic to confirm it’s printed with the U.S. Treasury’s security features.

Coughing, sneezing and blowing your nose ? how do you know if it's the flu, or just a really bad cold? It's not easy to tell the difference because the two have similar symptoms. Still, there are some symptoms that tend to be more common with colds than with the flu, and vice versa. In general, flu symptoms tend to be more severe than those associated with a cold. Learn how to tell the difference between these illnesses, how to treat the symptoms, and when is the right time to seek medical attention. 

Maybe you’re getting ready to travel abroad for business. Or perhaps you’re already overseas on vacation. No matter the occasion, losing a passport is a stressful experience for any traveler. Learn how to report a lost or stolen passport, apply for a new one in the U.S. or abroad, and see how long it takes to get a replacement so you can enter and exit the U.S. without an issue with the help of the Department of State.

Are you looking to find a new plan that fits your health needs? Do you need to understand how to use your plan to estimate the cost of a procedure or find a specific doctor? The 2020 open enrollment runs until December 7, 2019. Explore Medicare.gov to find lower premiums, different benefits, or simply a plan that better fits your health needs.

With the upcoming holiday season comes exciting travel, connection with friends and family, and often, a lot of food. While you want to focus on the celebration, you may also come face to face with some not-so-fun times. Food poisoning happens when you consume a contaminated food or drink like an under-cooked piece of turkey, raw milk or seafood. Understand what symptoms may show up after a food poisoning episode, common foods that can heighten the risk, and when to seek medical help.

For about 69 million Americans, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will increase 1.6 percent by January 2020. The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will impact more than 63 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2020 and over 8 million SSI beneficiaries beginning on December 31, 2019. 

Prepare Your Car for Winter Weather

During extremely cold weather or winter storms, staying warm and safe can be a hassle. While it's time to winterize your homes, keep in mind your car too. It’s best to avoid traveling in extreme weather conditions, but being prepared for an emergency is vital.  

Recognize a few things to keep in mind:

• Create an emergency kit to keep in your car. 
• Service the radiator and add antifreeze as needed.
• Replace windshield wiper fluid with a wintertime mixture.
• Check for adequate tread on tires and adjust air pressure.
• Keep the gas tank full or near full to avoid ice in the fuel lines.
• Be sure to check the heater, defroster, brakes, brake fluid, ignition, emergency flashers, exhaust, oil, and battery.

The holiday season often means traveling all over the world to visit friends and family, explore new adventures, and celebrate many of the season's observances. If you're traveling by plane, you may not know that there are some restrictions to what you can carry on in your bag or even check in before going through security. Quiz yourself with the following questions to see if you're ready for your holiday travels:

1. You're ready for a celebration! Which can you bring on a plane in your checked bag: A sparkler or a party popper?
2. Going on a hunting trip? Can you bring antlers on a plane?
3. There are many sights to take in and capture on film. Can you bring a camera and tripod while traveling?
4. Your great uncle is traveling along with the rest of the family. Are you able to check and carry on medications?

Keep Your Animals Safe During the Holidays

This holiday season, while you’re busy decorating, cooking, and wrapping gifts, remember to watch out for your pets. Keep holiday decorations, certain human foods, alcoholic beverages, and holiday plants out of the reach of your furry friends. If your pets get into things they shouldn’t, don’t panic! Call your veterinarian immediately for advice instead of waiting for serious symptoms to develop. Protect your family pet from potential holiday hazards, and enjoy a wonderful and safe holiday season!

A credit freeze restricts access to your credit report and protects you after a data breach or from identity thieves trying to open new accounts in your name. You can freeze and unfreeze your account and those belonging to your children under 16 years of age. To freeze your account, contact all three of the nationwide credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian, and TranUnion. 

Whether you’re getting ready to fly cross-country or around the globe, it’s important to know how to pack your bags according to airport screening requirements. This includes any prescribed medicine you may be bringing with you. Using these tips from the Transportation Security Administration, you can find out about getting medication in pill or liquid form through airport security safely and efficiently to make your journey a breeze.

Maybe you’re a veteran interested in planning your own funeral to ease the future burden on your loved ones. Or maybe you need to know how to arrange funeral honors for a loved one when the time comes. Either way, knowing your burial benefits is key to the process. Learn about:

• Eligibility for burial in a veterans cemetery for vets and some family members.
• Requesting funeral honors and memorial items for a private ceremony.
• Planning for a burial at a veterans cemetery in advance or at time of need.

With the rise of online dating, many people looking for love have fallen victim to scammers who trick them into sending money. Known as romance scams, they typically involve people who say they're doctors or in the military to falsely gain your trust. While you can’t always verify someone’s current employer or track their military record, there are some red flags to look out for. Find out how you can spot a potential romance scammer with these helpful tips from the Federal Trade Commission.

Prevent Porch Pirates From Ruining Your Holiday

As residential package delivery grows, so does the need for you to take precautions against porch theft. Porch piracy is present throughout the year, but tends to spike during the holiday season. Consider these tips to help keep your holiday cards and gifts safe.

• Track your packages so you can retrieve them as soon as they arrive. 
• Send packages to a friend who will be home to accept your deliveries. Or have packages delivered to your work address. Don’t leave packages uncollected for a long length of time.
• Require a signature upon delivery.
• Opt to have packages held at the post office or delivery service location until you can pick them up yourself.
• Install an outdoor security camera, preferably one that will not only film, but also send real-time alerts to your smartphone when the motion detector senses movement.