By Ron Tatro, Director of Michigan Elder Justice Coordinating Council at Elder Law of Michigan There are many challenges to aging such as medical conditions, financial concerns, isolation, and distance from loved ones. As we age, we often reflect on days gone by and how everything has changed. Much of what we knew as a younger person is different today with a new generation taking over. This … Continue reading We Will Be Okay
Via Social Security Administration By Mark Hinkle All local Social Security offices will be closed to the public for in-person service starting Tuesday, March 17, 2020. This decision protects the population we serve—older Americans and people with underlying medical conditions—and our employees during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. However, we are still able to provide critical services. Read the full press release. Continue reading Effective March 17, 2020, Social Security Offices Will Only Offer Phone Service
Via ThinkAdvisor By Gary Anetsberger We all know that saving for retirement is important. As a society, we are living longer than we expected, and this sometimes means that we did not save enough during our working years. Living longer lives is of course a wonderful thing, but it also means that nearly everyone has an opinion on how much to save, through what vehicles, … Continue reading (Mid-America Pension Rights Project): Will the Retirement Crisis Change Our Attitudes Toward Saving?
Elder Law of Michigan’s offices will close at 3:30 pm today, Wednesday, November 23, 2022. We will be closed Thursday, November 24, and Friday, November 25, 2022, for the Thanksgiving. We will resume regular business hours on Monday, November 28, 2022. Happy Thanksgiving Day! Continue reading Office Hours and Thanksgiving Holiday
By Hillary Hatch, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist Question: I am expecting a child and will be out of work for six months. Can I qualify for short-term disability? Answer: No. Social Security pays only for total disability — conditions that render you unable to work and are expected to last for at least a year or end in death. No benefits are payable for … Continue reading Social Security Q&A Part 34
By Vonda Van Til, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist We will offer people the choice to self-select their sex on their Social Security number (SSN) record. We anticipate this option will be available in the fall of 2022. “The Social Security Administration is committed to reducing barriers and ensuring the fair treatment of the LGBTQ+ community by updating our procedures for Social Security number records,” … Continue reading Social Security to offer self-attestation of sex marker in Social Security number records
Previously posted in 2015. By Christine Steinmetz, J.D., Hotline Attorney In our previous posts, we discussed the different types of wills and trusts. There is one other estate planning document that we haven’t discussed that allows you to transfer real estate to your beneficiaries without probate. This document is called a “Lady Bird” deed. A “Lady Bird” deed transfers real estate after your death automatically … Continue reading Wills vs. Trusts: Part 8 of 8
By Christine Steinmetz, J.D., Hotline Attorney This post is the seventh in a series regarding wills, trusts, and estate planning. In our previous post, we discussed how a revocable grantor trust DOES NOT shelter assets, including one’s homestead, for Medicaid eligibility. In addition, the fact that a homestead has been held in the trust for longer than the 5 year look back period doesn’t make … Continue reading Wills vs. Trusts: Part 7 of 8
Previously posted in 2015. By Christine Steinmetz, J.D., Hotline Attorney This post is the sixth part of a series regarding wills and trusts. In our previous posts, we discussed that a will always goes through probate. We also discussed how a trust avoids probate. As previously discussed, probate administration is the court process to distribute property that is owned by an individual at their death. … Continue reading Wills vs. Trusts: Part 6 of 8
By Vonda Van Til, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist Social Security benefits are a crucial part of millions of Americans’ retirement income. If you don’t have enough Social Security credits to qualify for benefits on your own record, you may be able to receive benefits on your spouse’s record. To qualify for spouse’s benefits, you must be one of the following: • 62 years of … Continue reading Do you qualify for Social Security spouse’s benefits?
