To help you stay informed, here are five changes you can look forward to in the new year.
Higher catch-up contributions for some. As of January 1, individuals ages 60 through 63 may be able to make increased catch-up contributions (if offered) to their workplace plan. The catch-up amount for people age 50 and older is $7,500 for 2025, but for people ages 60 through 63, the limit will be $11,250.1
Cap on out-of-pocket Medicare drug costs. A bit of welcome news for people with Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage — a $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket prescription costs takes effect on January 1.2 People with Part D will also now have the option to pay out-of-pocket costs in monthly installments over the course of the plan year instead of having to pay all at once at the pharmacy, which may help make it easier to manage prescription drug costs.
Automatic enrollment for new workplace retirement plans. Businesses that have adopted 401(k) and 403(b) plans since the passage of the SECURE 2.0 Act in December 2022 are now required to automatically enroll eligible employees at a contribution rate of 3% to 10%. After the first year, this rate will increase by 1% each year until it reaches 10% to 15%. New companies in business less than three years and employers with 10 or fewer employees are excluded, and other exceptions apply. Employees may opt out of coverage or elect a different percentage.
REAL ID deadline. The deadline for getting a REAL ID is May 7 (although the TSA has announced that enforcement may be phased in). As of that date, every air traveler who is at least 18 years old will need a REAL ID-compliant drivers license or identification card or another TSA-acceptable form of identification for domestic air travel and to enter certain federal facilities. Other TSA-acceptable documents are active passports, passport cards, or Global Entry cards. Standard drivers licenses will no longer be valid ID for TSA purposes, but enhanced drivers licenses from certain states are acceptable alternatives. Travelers who don’t have a REAL ID by the deadline could face delays at airport security checkpoints. Visit the TSA website at tsa.gov for updates and information.
New credit scoring risk model for mortgages. In late 2025, lenders are expected to begin using VantageScore 4.0 and FICO Score 10 T (instead of Classic FICO) to qualify borrowers. These new credit scoring models will provide a more precise assessment of credit risk.3 Models will consider trended credit data (an analysis of a customer’s behavior over time or historical payment and balance information) and other data not previously considered as part of the Classic FICO score, such as rent, utility, and telecom payments. This change will potentially help more applicants qualify for mortgages.
1–2) These are indexed annually for inflation so may rise each year.
3) Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, 2024
Link to Printable PDF: 2025 01 January Newsletter
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