Both the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) launched efforts to save the at-risk mortgage interest deduction, which is at risk of being cut or eliminated.
In a press release, NAR claimed that any changes to the mortgage interest deduction “could critically erode home prices and the value of homes by as much as 15 percent.”
The group also cited a recent survey, which found that of about 3,000 homeowners and renters polled, nearly three-quarters of homeowners and two-thirds of renters said the mortgage interest deduction was “extremely” or “very important” to them.
The NAHB went a step further in creating a website dedicated to the cause, called SaveMyMortgageInterestDeduction.com.
It includes information about the mortgage interest deduction, the threat to do away with it, and a twitter feed to keep track of related news.
“Home owners who itemize their taxes can deduct 100 percent of their mortgage interest payments on a first or second home for up to $1 million of mortgage debt and $100,000 of home equity loans,” the NAHB said on its new website.
“For most home owners, this means they can deduct ALL of their mortgage interest on their home. This particularly makes the cost of owning a home much more affordable for first-time home buyers and those who have been in their home for just a few years, since the bulk of their monthly house payments go toward interest, which is fully deductible.”
However, the mortgage interest deduction is estimated to cost the government roughly $100 billion this year (mortgage interest deduction by state).
The homebuyer tax credits have come with a price tag of about $22 billion, which many have argued simply pushed would-be buyers into the fold a little earlier.
American Express is offering a sign up bonus on the consumer Green card as follows:
Get 60,000 points signup bonus when spending $3,000 within 6 months.
Get 20% back as a statement credit on eligible Travel and Transit purchases within the first six months of Card Membership, up to $200 back.
Card Benefits
Annual fee of $150 (not waived first year)
Card earns at the following rates:
3x points on
Restaurants worldwide
Travel including flights, hotels, transit, taxis and ridesharing services.
1x points on all other purchases
$189 CLEAR credit per calendar year
$100 Loungebuddy credit per calendar year
No foreign transaction fees
Our Verdict
This is the best public offer we’ve ever seen on this card and is a really terrific deal. I was able to find this offer via referral link as well, useful for someone in 2-player mode. Best offer we saw in the past was 60k; this time there’s the added $200 statement credit deal.
There are also increased offers on select cards only via referral link: the Platinum card, Gold card, Blue Cash Preferred. See this post for more details on those offers.
Keep in mind the sign up bonus is once per lifetime. See this post to learn about whether the Green card counts as one of your AmEx spots. As always please read this post on everything you should know about American Express cards. We’ll add this bonus to our List of Best Credit Card Signup Bonuses.
Your transaction seems to be taking forever to process as the line at the register grows behind you. The terminal emits a loud beep and that dreaded word, “declined,” appears on the screen.
You feel like everyone is staring at you, including the cashier, as you hastily log into your banking app to check your available credit.
As you fumble with your phone, you close your eyes and purse your lips. You think: “Why is my credit card being declined right now, and is there something I could have done to stop it?”
Reasons Your Credit Card May Have Been Declined — & How to Stop It From Happening
Your card can be declined for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately, most of them are (at least, partially) your fault. But there’s a silver lining: It’s in your power to prevent credit card declines too. You just have to understand why they happen and how to stop them.
Insufficient Funds
Some credit card companies accept transactions that put your card over its credit limit. That forces you to pay an over-the-limit fee on your next bill but allows your purchase to go through. Unfortunately, if you exceed the limit too many times or the transaction would put you hundreds of dollars over the limit, the credit card issuer may decline the transaction.
To avoid insufficient funds declines, track your running credit card balance throughout the month. If you pay off your bill in full when it comes due, you don’t pay finance charges and also start with a clean slate each month.
If you plan to make a big-ticket purchase that will exceed your credit limit, you can request a credit limit increase. If you have a good credit score and have made all your payments on time, you have a solid chance of getting it.
Suspicious Activity
Today’s banks and credit card companies have extensive fraud detection technology to protect your hard-earned money and your credit score. But sometimes, these robust systems mistakenly flag legitimate transactions.
For instance, Chase Bank once declined my $300 Target purchase. The problem? I live on Long Island and was shopping in a New Jersey mall on a weekday, which deviates from my normal spending habits.
You can avoid having your account flagged for suspicious activity by calling your credit card provider and letting them know if you plan to travel or make a large purchase that would seem unusual based on your typical behavior.
Also, if you receive a text alert, email, or push notification from the credit card company, respond promptly. The bank may be asking you to verify you authorized the transaction before declining it.
Late Payments
If you’ve missed a credit card payment, your credit card company might decline your next transaction even if it’s within your credit limit.
To avoid this problem, set up automatic payments to be deducted from your checking account on the same day every month. Making payments on time also avoids late fees and potentially boosts your credit score.
Expiration Date
Credit cards have an expiration date, which you can find printed on the front of the card, though some modern cards have it on the back. Your card expires on the last day of the month and year printed on the card. For instance, if your card’s expiration date reads 12/23, you can use the card through Dec. 31, 2023. Most credit cards expire three to five years after the issue date.
Keep an eye on your cards’ expiration dates. Stores decline expired cards in person and online. If your card is about to expire, keep checking the mail for a new card.
For security, most credit cards come in plain white envelopes without the bank’s name or any indication of what’s inside. It can be easy to miss your new card if you aren’t looking for it.
When you receive your card, promptly activate it by calling the number on the sticker or using the app associated with your account.
If you have your credit card number stored in online accounts to pay bills or make purchases, you must update the expiration date once you receive your new card. Otherwise, those retailers will decline your transaction.
Typos in Your Account Information
This is definitely one of those head-desk moments. You find that perfect pair of sneakers you want on a new website. You grab your credit card or generate a virtual card number through your credit card app. You’re so excited about your find that you accidentally type the account number wrong.
To avoid such a scenario, store your cards in Google Wallet or Apple Pay and select that as a form of payment. Or you can copy and paste your virtual card number from the app to avoid typos.
Other times, the decline happens because the billing address you entered doesn’t match the one on file with your credit card company. Have you moved since you opened the card? Take a look at your account and ensure you use the right address.
If you’re sure all your information is correct and the transaction still doesn’t go through, call your credit card company or the merchant to help.
Technical Issues
Earlier this year, Discover reported unidentified “technical issues” causing some customers to have their cards declined for no reason. That same day, the website Downdetector also reported problems with Visa, Mastercard, and Chase card payments as well as the Square payment platform.
The companies fixed the problems quickly. So if you’ve investigated every other possibility and your card still gets declined, reach out to your bank or credit card company. It may not be your fault after all.
Final Word
As technology advances, so does our ability to avert credit card declines.
Set up account alerts so you can keep tabs on your credit limit, available credit, and due dates for your credit cards. That way, you know you’ve done everything in your power to prevent your card from being declined.
Most important, don’t let it ruin your day if a retailer declines your card. Always have an alternate form of payment, such as another credit or debit card, handy so you can whip out another card, digital wallet, or even cash to complete the transaction.
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Dawn Allcot is a freelance writer and content marketing specialist who geeks out about finance, technology, and travel. Her lengthy list of publishing credits include TheStreet, Chase Bank, Forbes, and MSN. She is the founder and owner of Allcot Media Marketing and GeekTravelGuide, where she shares her love for roller coasters, family travel, healthy living, and keto foods.
If you’re actively enrolled in any sort of accredited higher education or certification program, you’re eligible for a whole slew of student credit cards.
Sorting through all your options can be a chore, but take my word for it: You want to consider the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students. It’s one of the best student credit cards on the market — if you qualify.
And qualification is just one of this card’s curveballs. Before you apply, make sure you understand all its ins and outs.
What Is the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students?
The Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students is a student credit card with no annual fee and a flat-rate rewards program.
Notable features include a better-than-average sign-up bonus and an unusually long 0% intro APR promotion on purchases and balance transfers. If you have a Bank of America checking account, you can (but aren’t required to) use your card for overdraft protection. There’s no transfer fee for this service, but interest begins to accrue right away.
What Sets the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students Apart?
While not wildly unique, the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card isn’t a typical student credit card. It stands out for several reasons:
Unusually generous sign-up bonus. This card has the best sign-up bonus of any student credit card on the market. If you can meet the reasonable early spending requirement, it’s an excellent incentive to open an account.
Unusually long 0% intro APR promotion. This card also has a category-leading 0% intro APR promotion: 18 months for purchases and balance transfers. Whether you’re planning a big purchase ahead of the semester or need to pay down existing high-interest credit card debt, there’s no better student card.
High credit standards. This card has unusually picky underwriting standards, at least compared to other student cards. You need good credit to qualify.
Key Features of the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
The Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students has is a basic rewards credit card with student-friendly features like an above-average sign-up bonus, an average rewards program, and a very impressive 0% intro APR promotion.
Sign-Up Bonus
Earn 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. That’s worth $250 when redeemed for a statement credit toward travel and dining purchases.
Earning Rewards
All eligible purchases earn 1.5 points per $1 spent. There’s no limit to how many points you can earn, and points don’t expire as long as your card remains active and in good standing.
Redeeming Rewards
The best way to redeem is for statement credits against eligible travel and dining purchases. Each point is worth $0.01 when you redeem, so a 20,000-point redemption is worth $200.
0% Intro APR Promotion
This card has a 0% intro APR promotion on purchases and balance transfers for 18 months from account opening. After that, variable regular APR applies, currently 17.74% to 27.74%. You must make qualifying balance transfers within the first 60 days of account opening.
Important Fees
This card has no annual fee or foreign transaction fee. The balance transfer fee is 3% of the transfer amount.
Overdraft Protection (Balance Connect)
If you have a Bank of America checking account, you can link it to your credit card for overdraft protection. When your bank account balance goes negative, Bank of America charges your credit card for the difference, negating the overdraft.
There’s no transfer fee for this service, but transfers immediately begin accruing interest, so you should pay them off as soon as possible to reduce your cost.
Credit Required
This card requires good or better credit to qualify. If your FICO score is much below 700, you could have trouble qualifying. This is an unusually strict requirement for a student credit card.
If you opt in, you can get your FICO score monthly through your Bank of America account dashboard. This doesn’t affect your approval chances (you already have the card, after all), but it’s a nice way to keep tabs on your credit for free.
For more information, see our article on good versus bad credit.
Advantages
This card has several things going for it, including no annual fee, unlimited rewards, a very impressive sign-up bonus, and a category-leading intro APR deal.
No annual fee. This card has no annual fee, which is ideal if you don’t use it all the time or don’t spend enough to offset a recurring charge.
Unlimited rewards. There’s no limit to your rewards-earning potential with this card. Some student cards cap earnings, so this is notable.
Impressive sign-up bonus for a no-annual-fee card. This card has the best sign-up bonus in the student credit card category. In fact, it’s one of the better sign-up bonuses of any no-annual-fee rewards card.
Category-leading 0% intro APR promotion. This card’s 18-month 0% APR promotion on purchases and balance transfers is another unusual and appealing selling point for a student credit card. It blows other student cards’ 0% intro APR deals out of the water.
Low-cost overdraft protection. If you have a Bank of America checking account, you can use your credit card to back it up if (or when) your checking balance goes negative. Many credit cards don’t offer an overdraft protection option at all, and Bank of America’s is notable for being transfer-fee-free.
Disadvantages
Watch out for this card’s picky underwriting, capped rewards rate, and limited value-added perks.
Picky underwriting. By student credit card standards, the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students is difficult to qualify for. You need good credit or better, which many students can’t swing.
No way to earn above the 1.5x baseline. This card has no bonus rewards categories or tiers. Your earning rate tops out at 1.5 points per $1 spent, no matter what you spend your money on — lower than many competing cards.
Few value-added perks. This card has little in the way of perks and benefits. Most travel cards offer extras like airport lounge access or hotel freebies, but not this one.
How the Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students Stacks Up
The Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students is a good student credit card, but not so good that you shouldn’t consider any others before applying. See how it compares against the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card, another popular (and relatively generous) option.
Bank of America
Capital One
Annual Fee
$0
$0
Sign-Up Bonus
Generous
Less generous
Rewards Rate
1.5x
Up to 8%
0% Intro APR
18 months
None
Foreign Transaction Fee
$0
$0
Credit Needed
Good or better
Fair or better
Final Word
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students has some notable perks that aren’t common in the student credit card space. Its sign-up bonus beats out many adult cash-back credit cards, its 0% intro APR promotion is also category-leading, and it earns rewards on all eligible purchases.
The catch: This card is unusually difficult to qualify for. That’s a potential problem for students with limited (or nonexistent) credit histories. By all means, try your luck — but don’t be surprised if you need to settle for a less generous card until your credit is in better shape.
The Verdict
Our rating
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
Sign-up bonus: Yes
Rewards rate: 1.5x points
Redemption: Dining and travel statement credits
Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 18 months
Annual fee: $0
Credit needed: Good or better
Editorial Note:
The editorial content on this page is not provided by any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Brian Martucci writes about credit cards, banking, insurance, travel, and more. When he’s not investigating time- and money-saving strategies for Money Crashers readers, you can find him exploring his favorite trails or sampling a new cuisine. Reach him on Twitter @Brian_Martucci.
It’s the middle of the year: do you know who’s paying more in rent, right now?
Here at Apartment Guide, we thought we’d take a look at our data about apartment rentals and determine just that.
Using information provided by the apartment communities which advertise with us, in July 2014, Apartment Guide calculated the median price for an entry-level apartment unit in about 250 metros areas (CBSAs) nationwide.
Check the interactive map above for the results.
[find-an-apartment]
The Top Ten Most Expensive Metros this July These metro area rents ranked most expensive.
CBSA Name
Median Entry Price
Williston, ND
$2150
Dickinson, ND
$1700
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$1658
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT
$1565
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
$1409
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$1400
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$1387
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA
$1335
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$1277
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$1250
Williston, ND
Even several months after our initial coverage on the subject, Williston, ND, remains an expensive market in which to rent an entry-level apartment. Our findings about apartment rental prices in Williston have been covered by news agencies including ABC News, Business Insider and the Associated Press.
The Confluence at Harvest Hills, Williston, ND
San Jose, CA
Domain, San Jose, CA
Tucson, AZ
Encantada at Dove Mountain, Tucson, AZ
Methodology In July 2014, Apartment Guide determined median prices for an entry-level apartment (studio or one-bedroom) in CBSAs (metros) nationwide.
Photo credits: Shutterstock / Andrew F. Kazmierski, ApartmentGuide.com
If you’ve built up a bit of a nest egg and you’re ready to upgrade your banking experience, you have plenty of options. One that should definitely be on your radar is the BMO Harris Premier™ Account, a premium bank account that gets even more rewarding as your balance grows.
Let’s be clear: The BMO Harris Premier Account isn’t the best fit for every banking customer. Before you apply for one, make sure you understand what you’re getting into.
What Is the BMO Harris Premier Account?
The BMO Harris Premier Account is a high-end checking account from BMO Harris Bank. It has a $25 monthly maintenance fee that BMO waives when you meet a minimum balance requirement.
There’s no minimum balance to qualify for this account, but higher balance tiers — starting at $25,000 and ascending from there — qualify for additional perks and benefits, like credit card spending bonuses and discounts to BMO mortgage closing costs. The balance requirement is cumulative across all eligible BMO accounts, including savings, money market, and CDs.
Even if you have less than $25,000 with BMO, the Premier Account is quite generous. Benefits include up to $25 in non-BMO ATM surcharge rebates and a $10 monthly credit when you spend a minimum amount on a linked BMO credit card.
Note that the BMO Harris Premier Account is not the same as BMO Harris Premier Banking Services. Premier Banking Services is a private banking service that requires at least $250,000 in combined eligible deposits with BMO. Premier Banking Services clients also qualify for Premier Banking Accounts, but they’re also entitled to a wider range of benefits, including financial planning and wealth management.
What Sets BMO Harris Premier Apart?
The BMO Harris Premier Account has a few notable features that many competing accounts lack:
Quarterly credit card spending bonuses. When you spend at least $3,500 in purchases on an eligible BMO credit card during a calendar quarter, you qualify for a spending bonus of at least $10. At higher relationship levels, the bonus ranges as high as $75 for the same amount of spending.
Closing cost credits and interest rate discounts on BMO home loans. As a BMO Harris Premier account holder, you’re entitled to two valuable benefits when you get a mortgage loan through BMO: a $500 discount on your closing costs and a 0.50% interest rate discount when you set up automatic payments.
Generous ATM fee reimbursements. As at most banks, BMO Harris customers pay no fees at the bank’s own ATMs. But BMO Harris Premier goes farther and reimburses up ATM fees charged by other banks up to $25 per month. That’s enough to offset this account’s monthly maintenance fee (if you haven’t done that already).
Key Features of BMO Harris Premier
The BMO Harris Premier Account has all the features you’d expect from a traditional checking account, including multiple ways to waive the monthly maintenance fee and potentially valuable perks for heavy users.
Account Opening Bonus
Open a new BMO Harris Premier Account by July 14, 2023, and get a $350 cash bonus when you receive a total of at least $7,500 in qualifying direct deposits within the first 90 days your account is open.
Monthly Maintenance Fee & Waiver Options
The BMO Harris Premier Account has a $25 monthly maintenance fee. BMO waives this fee in any statement cycle where you meet one of the following criteria:
An average daily balance of at least $10,000 in your Premier Account
A monthly combined balance of at least $25,000 across all eligible BMO accounts, including savings and investment accounts
Participation in BMO’s employee benefits program, which is limited to certain BMO employees and thus isn’t a common waiver option for the general public
ATM Network & Fees
BMO is part of the Allpoint ATM network, which has tens of thousands of ATMs around the United States. As a Premier Account customer, you pay no ATM withdrawal fees at Allpoint ATMs.
BMO also reimburses third-party ATM surcharges up to $25 per month. So unless you make a lot of cash withdrawals each month, you don’t have to worry about ATM fees with BMO Premier.
Interest on Balances
All BMO Harris Premier Account balances earn 0.01% APY. Balances held in linked savings and money market accounts earn at higher rates, depending on your relationship level.
Credit Card Spending Bonus
As a Premier Account holder, you get a $10 bonus credited to your account in any quarter where you spend at least $3,500 in eligible purchases on a linked BMO credit card. You need to qualify for the credit card separately — having a Premier Account doesn’t entitle you to one automatically.
Mortgage Lending Benefits
The BMO Harris Premier Account comes with two benefits for mortgage borrowers who set up autopay out of the account:
A $500 credit to the loan’s closing costs
A 0.50% interest rate discount
The interest rate discount can add up to many thousands of dollars over the life of the loan, so it’s a big incentive to pay your mortgage out of your Premier Account.
Relationship Tiers & Balance Requirements
The BMO Harris Premier Account has three higher relationship tiers based on your total combined balance in eligible BMO accounts. Each tier offers benefits on top of the ones you get just by being a BMO Premier customer:
Premier Gold: Requires $25,000 to $99,999.99 in combined eligible balances. Additional benefits include up to $30 in domestic and international wire transfer fee rebates, a $25 quarterly credit card spending bonus with $3,500 in qualifying purchases, and a 0.75% bump to the base yield (currently 1.00% APY) on a linked BMO money market account.
Premier Platinum: Requires $100,000 to $249,999.99 in combined eligible balances. Additional benefits include up to $60 in wire transfer rebates, a $50 quarterly credit card spending bonus with $3,500 in qualifying purchases, and a 1.50% bump to the money market base rate.
Premier Platinum Elite: Requires $250,000 or more in combined eligible balances. Additional benefits include up to $90 in wire transfer rebates, a $75 quarterly credit card spending bonus with $3,500 in qualifying purchases, and a 2.25% bump to the money market base rate.
Advantages
The BMO Harris Premier Account has several notable advantages that can collectively offset the monthly fee (if it’s not waived already). The advantages grow along with your balance.
Above-average account opening bonus. BMO Harris Premier’s account opening bonus is worth gunning for. You do need to receive at least $7,500 in direct deposits during the first 90 days your account is open, but that should be doable for many users.
At least $25 in ATM surcharge fee reimbursement per month. If you regularly withdraw cash from ATMs, regardless of who owns them, you could qualify for a monthly ATM fee reimbursement big enough to offset this account’s maintenance fee.
At least $10 in quarterly credit card spending bonuses. Meet spending requirements set by BMO and you can earn at least $10 in quarterly bonuses. You earn even more at higher relationship levels, up to $75 per quarter.
Lending benefits for all relationship levels. All BMO Harris Premier account holders enjoy two mortgage lending benefits: $500 off closing costs and a 0.50% interest rate autopay discount.
Additional benefits at higher relationship tiers. BMO Harris Premier’s benefits grow as your balance increases. North of $25,000 in combined balances across all eligible BMO accounts, you qualify for potentially valuable perks not available to entry-level account holders.
Disadvantages
The BMO Harris Premier Account has some important downsides, starting with a monthly maintenance fee that requires a five-figure balance to waive.
Has a $25 monthly maintenance fee. BMO Harris Premier has a $25 monthly maintenance fee that requires a hefty minimum balance (at least $10,000 in the account or $25,000 across all eligible BMO accounts) to waive. This is fine if you have a lot of extra cash, but it doesn’t work for many people.
Very low yield on balances. This account has a microscopic yield: just 0.01% on all balances. If you want to earn substantial interest on your checking balances, look to a legit interest checking account instead.
Lending benefits remain the same as your balance grows. All Premier Checking customers get the same lending benefits on BMO home loans: $500 off closing costs and a 0.50% interest rate discount with autopay. These are nice for entry-level users, but other banks offer more generous benefits for higher-asset borrowers.
How BMO Harris Premier Stacks Up
Before you open a BMO Harris Premier Account, compare it against other full-service checking accounts. One popular competitor is Chase Total Checking, which has some overlapping features but is different enough to warrant closer inspection.
BMO Harris Premier
Chase Total Checking
Monthly Maintenance Fee
$25, but can be waived
$12, but can be waived
Waiver Requirements
Yes, based on BMO balance
Yes, based on direct deposit or balance
ATM Fee Reimbursement
Up to $25 per month
None
Credit Card Benefits
Up to $75 in quarterly spending bonuses
None
Mortgage Benefits
Closing cost and interest rate discounts
None
Interest on Balances
0.01% APY
None
Final Word
As its name implies, the BMO Harris Premier™ Account is somewhat exclusive. It has a hefty monthly fee that requires a balance of at least $10,000 to waive, so it’s not appropriate for folks just starting out on their financial journeys.
But if you can clear the waiver requirement, BMO Harris Premier is a very good bank account. It has generous benefits like up to $75 in quarterly credit card spending bonuses, up to $25 in monthly ATM fee reimbursements, and valuable loan perks like closing cost and interest rate discounts.
BMO Harris Premier offers strong incentives to do more with BMO too. Its relationship tiers offer progressively more attractive benefits, with the best reserved for people who have at least $250,000 across all BMO deposit and investment accounts. If you don’t have that kind of money yet, it’s at least something to aspire to.
The Verdict
Our rating
BMO Harris Premier Account
Minimum balance/deposit: $0
Monthly fee: $25, but can be waived
Waiver options: Yes, based on eligible balance
ATM fees: Reimbursed up to $25 per month
Credit card bonus: Up to $75 per quarter
Loan benefits: $500 off closing costs and 0.50% off APR
Editorial Note:
The editorial content on this page is not provided by any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Brian Martucci writes about credit cards, banking, insurance, travel, and more. When he’s not investigating time- and money-saving strategies for Money Crashers readers, you can find him exploring his favorite trails or sampling a new cuisine. Reach him on Twitter @Brian_Martucci.
To qualify for Medicare under age 65, you generally need to have a disability that makes you unable to work for at least a year. Examples include certain cancers, respiratory illnesses and musculoskeletal disorders.
The Social Security Administration, or SSA, calls its definition of disability “strict.” But there still are some options if your condition doesn’t appear on the official list to qualify for SSDI.
🤓Nerdy Tip
The Social Security Administration administers two income assistance programs for people with disabilities: Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, and Supplemental Security Income, or SSI.
While they have similar names and purposes, the two programs don’t work the same when it comes to Medicare. SSDI can qualify you for Medicare under age 65. In most states, SSI can qualify you for Medicaid, instead.
What medical conditions qualify for Social Security disability?
There’s no exhaustive list of conditions that do or don’t qualify for SSDI. For adults, the SSA has a list of impairments in 14 categories that might qualify for SSDI if they’re sufficiently severe.
Examples of individual impairments on the list include limb amputations, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic heart failure, loss of speech and chronic liver disease. Meeting certain clinical and functional criteria on the list is one way to qualify for SSDI.
Not having a condition on the list doesn’t mean you can’t qualify. There’s also a process to determine whether other conditions are severe enough to meet the SSA’s requirements.
How to determine whether your condition qualifies
There’s a five-step process to determine whether your condition meets the required definition to qualify for the SSDI program. If you qualify for SSDI, you can later become eligible for Medicare based on disability.
Here are the five questions the SSA uses to evaluate the disability status for SSDI applicants
:
1. Are you working?
If you’re working, there’s an income cap to qualify for SSDI. In 2023, you generally can’t make more than $1,470 per month. If you’re blind, it’s $2,460 per month
.
2. Is your condition “severe?”
Your condition must significantly limit your ability to do “basic work activities” for at least 12 months because of changes to things like strength, mobility or memory.
3. Is your condition found in the list of disabling conditions?
If your condition is on the list and you satisfy the first two questions, you have a qualifying disability. The next questions don’t apply.
If your condition isn’t on the list, you’re not necessarily disqualified. The SSA has to determine whether your condition is as severe as those that are on the list. If so, you will continue through the process.
4. Can you do the work you did previously?
If your condition isn’t on the list, the SSA considers whether it prevents you from performing any of the work you’ve done in the past. If so, you continue through the process.
5. Can you do any other type of work?
If your condition prevents you from doing work you’ve done before, the SSA also considers whether there are other kinds of work you could still do.
Your medical condition isn’t the only factor here. The SSA also considers age, education, work experience and skills.
If there’s no other work you could do, then you have a qualifying disability.
Medicare disability work requirements
You must have a qualifying disability to receive SSDI benefits, which can make you eligible for Medicare based on disability. But having a qualifying disability isn’t enough on its own. SSDI also has requirements for your work history.
The SSA measures work history with the same Social Security work credits needed for Social Security retirement benefits.
Most people applying for SSDI need 40 work credits, or 10 years of work, to qualify. A work credit is a metric used by the federal government to measure time in the workforce; one credit is equal to a quarter of work, subject to certain income minimums. Half of that qualifying work — 20 credits’ worth, or five years — needs to have been within the 10 years before the year your disability began
.
You can earn a maximum of four credits per year. In 2023, you earn one credit for every $1,640 in wages or self-employment income. You would need to make $6,560 to earn all four credits in 2023.
The number of work credits you need depends on your age. If you’re under 60, you can qualify for SSDI with fewer than 40 work credits.
How long does it take to receive benefits?
For most applicants: 24 months after qualifying
After you become entitled to SSDI benefits, there’s generally a 24-month waiting period before you qualify for Medicare based on disability
.
There are special exceptions for people who receive SSDI benefits and have certain conditions.
For those with certain conditions: Sooner
Lou Gehrig’s disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
If you have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, you become eligible for Medicare the first month you receive SSDI benefits.
End-stage renal disease
If you have end-stage renal disease, or ESRD, you generally become eligible for Medicare on the first day of the fourth month of your dialysis treatments. It could be sooner if you undergo training for home dialysis.
Kidney transplant due to ESRD
If you have ESRD and you’re getting a kidney transplant, you become eligible for Medicare the month you’re admitted to a Medicare-certified hospital for the transplant. You’re covered for a maximum of two months before the transplant takes place, so your eligibility might change if the transplant is delayed or rescheduled.
If you’ve spent any time around TPG, you know that the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is one of our most beloved cards. We often recommend it as a great travel rewards card for beginners and travel rewards veterans alike for its solid earning potential, excellent point redemption options and relatively low annual fee.
We love the card so much that it made multiple appearances on our list of cards TPG staffers can’t live without.
If (for some reason) you haven’t gotten it yet, make that your next move.
Official application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card with a sign-up bonus of 80,000 points after you spend $4,000 in your first three months of account opening
But if you’ve already listened to us and gotten the Chase Sapphire Preferred, your next card decision might seem more daunting. If you ask a few of us which card you should get next, you will likely hear different answers. It can feel like choosing your next card is complicated when, in reality, there are just a lot of really good options of cards you can get to take you to the next phase of your points and miles journey.
Today we’re going to break down the three major schools of thought on which card you should get to pair with your trusty Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Three approaches
Your options fall into three categories:
There’s no single right answer that applies to everyone, so you’ll want to consider your own situation to identify which makes the most sense.
Related: The power of the Chase Trifecta
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Option 1: A card to earn additional Ultimate Rewards points
This is a great choice if you love the options to redeem and transfer the Chase Ultimate Rewards points from your Sapphire Preferred. With one of the Chase Freedom cards, you can maximize your spending categories to earn even more of these points from your everyday spending.
On their own, the Chase Freedom Unlimited and Chase Freedom Flex are marketed as cash-back cards. If you also have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, though, you’ll be able to combine your Chase Ultimate Rewards points and transfer them to the full range of Chase transfer partners.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
WYATT SMITH/THE POINTS GUY
Annual fee: $0.
Sign-up bonus: Earn an extra 1.5% on all purchases up to $20,000 spent in your first year.
Rewards rate: Earn 5% on travel booked through the Ultimate Rewards portal, 3% on dining and drugstores, and an unlimited 1.5% on all other purchases.
Why this card pairs well: This card is excellent to pair with your Chase Sapphire Preferred because it earns 1.5% (or points per dollar spent) on all purchases, which is 50% more than the Chase Sapphire Preferred (1 point per dollar spent on purchases outside of its bonus categories).
Even with my own more advanced card portfolio, this is a card I reach for often. It allows me to earn a decent return on purchases that don’t fall under most bonus categories, such as auto repairs and specialty items. With a current bonus of earning an additional 1.5% back on all purchases (up to $20,000 spent) in your first year, it’s a no-brainer for most Chase Sapphire Preferred cardholders.
Related: Chase Freedom Unlimited: A great card for beginners and pros alike
Official application link: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Chase Freedom Flex
THE POINTS GUY
Annual fee: $0.
Sign-up bonus: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Rewards rate: 5% (or 5 points per dollar) cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. You’ll also get 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on drugstore purchases and dining, and 1% on all other purchases.
Why this card pairs well: With this card, you’ll get 5 points per dollar on qualifying purchases in merchant categories and at specific retailers that change each quarter. For example, during the second quarter of 2023 (April 1 through June 30), the bonus applies to Lowe’s and Amazon purchases — perfect timing for your spring cleaning and graduation gift purchases. This card gives you a great way to earn more Chase Ultimate Rewards points on different spending categories.
If you find yourself ready to juggle a few cards but want to keep earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can use all three cards (Sapphire Preferred, Freedom Unlimited and Freedom Flex) to maximize your points earning potential on all your purchases. Just be sure to time your applications carefully to maximize your approval chances.
Option 2: A card to earn additional points with a Chase transfer partner
If you consistently transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards to a specific transfer partner, like United MileagePlus or World of Hyatt, you can get a cobranded card to maximize your points.
United Quest Card
THE POINTS GUY
Annual fee: $250.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.
Rewards rate: Earn 3 miles per dollar spent on United Airlines purchases (immediately after earning the $125 United purchase credit) and 2 miles per dollar on all other travel, including airfare, trains, local transit, cruise lines, hotels, car rentals, taxicabs, resorts, ride-sharing services and tolls. You’ll also earn 2 miles per dollar on dining and select streaming services and 1 mile per dollar on all other purchases.
Why this card pairs well: Since United is one of the most valuable Chase travel partners, this card will greatly improve the value you receive when you transfer your Ultimate Rewards points to United. For example, when you have a United Quest card, your miles will go much further due to the additional award availability offered to all United cardholders.
You’ll also receive a free first and second checked bag for yourself and a companion, priority boarding and access to Premier upgrades on award tickets. Other benefits include two 5,000-mile anniversary award flight credits, 25% back on United inflight purchases and up to a $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit. A $125 annual United purchase credit will take the sting out of this card’s $250 annual fee.
If you fly United regularly, the United Quest card and Chase Sapphire Preferred combination offers valuable flexibility.
Related: 4 reasons to get the new United Quest Card
Official application link: United Quest Card
World of Hyatt Credit Card
THE POINTS GUY
Annual fee: $95.
Sign-up bonus: Earn up to 60,000 bonus points, including 30,000 points after you spend $3,000 on purchases within three months from account opening and another 30,000 points by earning 2 points per dollar on purchases that normally earn just 1 point per dollar in your account’s first six months (on up to $15,000 spent).
Rewards rate: Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt properties; 2 points per dollar at restaurants and on airline tickets purchased directly from the airline, local transit and commuting as well as fitness club and gym memberships; and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.
Why this card pairs well: The World of Hyatt program is easily the most valuable hotel transfer partner offered by Ultimate Rewards, so you’ll want to enjoy as many perks as possible when redeeming your rewards for stays at Hyatt. You’ll receive Hyatt Discoverist status for as long as your account is open and five qualifying night credits toward your next tier status every year. Plus, you can earn two additional qualifying night credits every time you spend $5,000 on your card, making it much easier to reach the next tier of elite status even if you’re not on the road constantly.
Another popular benefit on the card is the annual free night you receive after your cardmember anniversary (valid at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort), as well as an additional free night at any Category 1-4 Hyatt hotel or resort if you spend $15,000 in a calendar year.
Related: The most award-friendly hotel program: Everything you need to know about World of Hyatt
Official application link: World of Hyatt Credit Card
Option 3: A card that diversifies your rewards
This is the one that opens the door to other options.
Suppose you feel comfortable using your Chase Ultimate Rewards and want to unlock even more possibilities. In that case, you’ll want to open a card that will build you another set of transferable points. Here are some great choices:
American Express® Gold Card
THE POINTS GUY
Annual fee: $250. (See rates & fees)
Welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $4,000 within six months of account opening. However, check the CardMatch Tool to see if you’re targeted for an even higher welcome offer (subject to change at any time).
Rewards rate: Earn 4 points per dollar spent on restaurants and 4 points per dollar spent at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar). Earn 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or on Amex Travel and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Why this card pairs well: The Sapphire Preferred doesn’t offer a grocery bonus, so this is an excellent card to use at U.S. supermarkets.
Most importantly, you diversify your rewards by accessing American Express Membership Rewards, including unique transfer partners that Chase doesn’t have, such as Hilton, Delta Air Lines, ANA, Hawaiian Airlines and Qantas. Other benefits include up to $120 in annual dining credits and up to $120 each year in Uber Cash that you can use toward Uber Eats purchases or Uber rides in the U.S.
Related: American Express Gold card review
Official application link: American Express® Gold Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture card is packed with features and a solid welcome bonus. ISABELLE RAPHAEL/THE POINTS GUY
Annual fee: $95.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Rewards rate: Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on all purchases.
Why this card pairs well: The Sapphire Preferred has incredible transfer partners, but they can’t account for all travel purchases. However, the miles you earn from your Capital One Venture can be redeemed for statement credits toward nearly any travel purchase.
Capital One also offers you the ability to transfer your miles to a lengthy list of airline and hotel programs, which have little overlap with Chase’s partners. Valuable additions include Wyndham Rewards, Turkish Airlines, Qantas and Choice Privileges. However, you also have access to some shared transfer partners like British Airways and Avianca LifeMiles, so pairing the Venture with the Sapphire Preferred could accelerate your potential earnings with these programs.
This card also offers you up to $100 in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit.
Related: Capital One Venture Rewards credit card review
Official application link: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Citi Premier® Card
THE POINTS GUY
Annual fee: $95.
Sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first three months of account opening.
Rewards rate: Earn 3 ThankYou points per dollar spent at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, air travel and hotels, and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases. For a limited time, earn 10 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions (excluding air travel) when you book through the Citi Travel portal through June 30, 2024.
Why this card pairs well: The Citi ThankYou Rewards program offers several transfer partners that Chase doesn’t, such as Qatar, Etihad and Turkish. It also offers valuable bonus earning rates at supermarkets and gas stations, which the Sapphire Preferred doesn’t. This card also comes with a hotel savings benefit worth $100 off a $500 single hotel stay (excluding taxes and fees), once each calendar year. However, that stay must be booked through Citi’s travel portal, limiting its utility to some extent.
Related: Sizable rewards, manageable annual fee: Citi Premier credit card review
Official application link: Citi Premier® Card
Bottom line
The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is excellent on its own, but it’s even better when paired with other cards. Whether you want to focus on earning more Chase Ultimate Rewards points, build out your stash of points or miles with one of Chase’s transfer partners or diversify into another set of transferable points, you have great options available to you.
Remember, there is no wrong choice when choosing your next card. Regardless of your choice, you’ll build on the knowledge you’ve obtained through the Chase Sapphire Preferred and take another step toward paying for your next trip with points and miles.
Related: Why the Chase Sapphire Preferred should still be the first rewards card in your wallet
Additional reporting by Jason Steele.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card please click here.
Here at Apartment Guide, we wanted to get a local sense of life in the Valley of the Sun, Phoenix, Arizona.
We reached out to three Phoenix area bloggers to get their varied takes on the city. These notable, local Phoenix experts share from their own points of view the details you need to know to understand the city a bit better. How Phoenix is changing, where to visit, how to get around, great spots to eat… it’s all here!
David Bickford is the author and creator of the top-rated blog PHX Rail Food, “devoted to good eating along the light rail line that connects Phoenix, Tempe, and Mesa.” David’s is the number one Phoenix food blog as ranked on Urbanspoon.com.
Scott Dunn of VisitPhoenix.com and The Hot Sheet Blog is a former journalist and now Senior Director of Marketing and Communications for the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Gwen Ashley Walters of Pen&Fork.com is a food journalist, professional chef, and award-winning cookbook author. She lives in Scottsdale, a nearby suburb of Phoenix.
[find-an-apartment]
Describe Phoenix in three words.
David: Reinventing, surprising, maturing.
Scott: Dreamy outdoor living. (Eight months out of the year, anyway.)
Gwen: Diverse, fun, home.
How long have you lived in Phoenix?
David: I’ve lived in Phoenix for 25 years. I came here right after graduate school for a job opportunity, ended up marrying a native, and now feel fully embedded here.
Scott: 8 years.
Gwen: 19 years. Moved to Phoenix to go to culinary school and never left.
Urban Graffiti in Phoenix, Arizona (Chris Curtis)
What’s exciting or changing about the city?
David: Phoenix is becoming more dense, more walkable, and more multimodal in terms of transport. Using a car for every trip is no longer as essential as it once was. It’s also becoming more aware of its own history and the need to preserve its past.
Scott: The renaissance of downtown and preponderance of new businesses in adaptively reused buildings.
Gwen: Our culinary scene is growing, both at the high-end and in the affordable, mom-and-pop ethnic joints.
Do you live in an apartment?
David: No, my family lives in a house that we’ve owned for the past decade; however, I rented apartments during my first decade in Phoenix. I started with a modest one-bedroom within walking distance of work. Then, when I wanted to upgrade, the only real option at the time was to move several miles north. I didn’t mind because the new place was closer to my favorite hiking trails, but I’m pleased that there are now a lot of better apartment options available Downtown for those who want a more urban lifestyle.
Scott: No.
Gwen: I live in a condo.
If you could move tomorrow (and money is no object), which Phoenix neighborhood would you choose to live in, and why?
David: I would live in one of Phoenix’s historic districts. Those neighborhoods combine shaded, walkable streets with independent businesses and easy access to public transit. The housing there is a mix of well-maintained vintage homes and newer infill apartment buildings.
Scott: I’m perfectly happy where I am — the Coronado District — because of its diversity, walkability, neighborhood eateries/bars and proximity to my downtown workplace.
Gwen: I already live in Old Town Scottsdale, and I don’t ever want to move. I’m within walking distance to great restaurants, shopping, galleries and museums.
When out-of-town friends come to visit, where are three locations you take them in the city?
David: 1) The Heard Museum, because its emphasis on Native American art makes it a unique cultural attraction.
2) The Roosevelt Row and Lower Grand arts districts, because they show what small-scale, fine-grain reuse of old buildings can do to create authentic urban revitalization.
3) Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home, now turned into an architecture school.
How do you get around in Phoenix? Light rail? By car?
David: Light rail, my bicycle, walking, the bus, UberX, and our family car — like people, transportation should be diverse. A healthy city supports many ways of getting around.
Scott: Both. And on foot and bicycle.
Gwen: I walk whenever I can but otherwise by car. Light rail is a long way from where I live.
Do you have a favorite green chile dish?
David: The pork chile verde at St. Francis restaurant with a side of corn bread is excellent. It’s also offered at the Downtown Phoenix Public Market Cafe, the more casual cousin of St. Francis.
Scott: No. (Green chile is more of a New Mexico thing.) My favorite local food is carne asada street tacos.
Gwen: Green chile pot pie at the Phoenix Public Market Cafe in downtown Phoenix.
Both Scott and Gwen also commented on Phoenix’s weather.
Scott: “Dry heat” is a well-worn cliche for a reason: the low humidity really does make a 105-degree summer day here feel more comfortable than an 85-degree day back home in Tennessee.
Gwen: From November through May, Phoenix has near perfect weather. Summers are hot but so are the deals for both travelers and locals who want to take advantage of stay-cations.
Gwen Ashley Walter’s picks for four great Phoenix restaurants:
FnB for Chef Charleen Badman’s veggie-centric menu
Pizzeria Bianco for Chris Bianco’s hand tossed pizzas and his mother’s homey desserts
Binkley’s for a special night of molecular gastronomy influenced cuisine
Andreoli’s for the best handmade pastas
David Bickford’s picks for four great Phoenix restaurants:
La Piazza Locale — The latest arrival in Downtown Phoenix’s vibrant wood-fired pizza scene. The pizza is great, especially the Montanara, a pie made with fried dough, but don’t skip the excellent pasta dishes.
Umami — Downtown Tempe’s ramen restaurant has recently reopened after a fire. It’s back better than ever with its own broths, off-menu specials, and shareable bentos.
Republica Empanada — This restaurant in Downtown Mesa goes south of the border, farther south than Mexico to Central America, offering not only empanadas with all sorts of fillings, but also arroz con pollo and daily specials.
Clever Koi — A new pan-Asian restaurant in Midtown Phoenix. A summer ramen special with corn and asparagus goes great with one of the refreshing cocktails offered at the bar.
Domus, Phoenix, Arizona
Special thanks to our contributors for sharing their Phoenix knowledge, opinions and experiences!
More Phoenix links on the Apartment Guide Blog:
Check Out These Entertainment Venues in Phoenix
Moving in Phoenix
Where to Find Nice, Cheap Furniture in Phoenix
Welcome to Phoenix
Photo credits: Shutterstock / Andrew Zarivny, Chris Curtis / Shutterstock.com, spirit of america, J. Norman Reid, Bill Florence / Shutterstock.com, Karen Grigoryan, ApartmentGuide.com