Beat Procrastination by Changing Your Direct Deposit Early
By Vonda Vantil, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist September 6 is National Fight Procrastination Day. With our busy lives, it is easy to fall into that cycle of constantly postponing some tasks because of other things we need to address right now. This may be true for you when it comes to changing your payment method for Social Security benefits. How can you change your … Continue reading Beat Procrastination by Changing Your Direct Deposit Early
Social Security Q&A Part 12
By: Vonda VanTil, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist Question: What is the benefit amount a spouse may be entitled to receive? Answer: If you are eligible for both your own retirement benefit and for benefits as a spouse, we will always pay you benefits based on your record first. If your benefit as a spouse is higher than your retirement benefit, you will receive a combination … Continue reading Social Security Q&A Part 12
Everyone Needs a Will
By Denise Keiser, Fund Development Specialist Recently we learned that celebrity icon, Aretha Franklin, died with no will or trust in place to instruct the disposition of her wealth, which has an estimated value of over 80 million dollars. So this brings a question to light – at what level of wealth do you need a will? No matter how much – or how little – money or assets you … Continue reading Everyone Needs a Will
September is Hunger Action Month: Take Action and Fight Hunger!
By Sara Jackson, MiCAFE Network Specialist When September hits, many people start to think of fall. We start to see a lot of red, orange, and yellow in décor, clothing, and food. However, orange has another meaning during the month of September, which is Hunger Action Month. Here are some statistics from Feeding America associated with Senior Hunger across our country: Nearly 5 million seniors face hunger in our country. The rate of hunger among … Continue reading September is Hunger Action Month: Take Action and Fight Hunger!
Meet the Team, Staff Spotlight: Christine Steinmetz
By Sandra Wisnewski, J.D., Director of Client Assistance Christine Steinmetz is a part-time hotline attorney at Elder Law of Michigan. Christine has been with Elder Law of Michigan since 2011. Before working for Elder Law of Michigan, Christine used to be a plumbing assistant. People are surprised when she uses the trade’s terminology. Although she loved being a plumbing assistant, she is currently not interested in taking on any plumbing jobs … Continue reading Meet the Team, Staff Spotlight: Christine Steinmetz
Building a Future for Your Pet
By Jadranko Tomic Bobas, J.D., Managing Hotline Attorney and Angela Quinn, Legal Hotline Intern It is still debated in the legal world as to whether pets should be treated as property or as family members. Once you die, the question often becomes, who “inherits” or “adopts” your pet? Either way, the safest way to provide care for your pet after you die, is to consider them in your estate planning. What happens to my pet if I die? The best circumstance is that a family member volunteers to care for … Continue reading Building a Future for Your Pet
What Happens If I’m Arrested and Cannot Afford a Lawyer?
By Jadranko Tomic Bobas, Managing Hotline Attorney, and Lauren Sutter, Legal Hotline Intern Getting arrested can be overwhelming and scary, but those feelings can be even greater for seniors who are arrested. According to the Michigan Incident Crime Report, 2,925 of the arrests occurring in 2016 were people age 65 and above. This age demographic represents only 1.22% of arrests, but this still could leave many seniors facing criminal charges with no … Continue reading What Happens If I’m Arrested and Cannot Afford a Lawyer?
Social Security Q&A Part 11
By: Vonda VanTil, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist Question: I served in the military, and I’ll receive a military pension when I retire. Will that affect my Social Security benefits? Answer: You can get both Social Security retirement benefits and military retirement at the same time. Generally, we don’t reduce your Social Security benefits because of your military benefits. When you’re ready to apply for … Continue reading Social Security Q&A Part 11
Basic Funding for Stair Lifts
By Michelle Goetz, J.D., Project Coordinator Are stairs getting hard to climb? Do you find yourself going up or down stairs less often? If navigating your home has become a challenge, you may want to consider having a stair lift installed in your home. Doing so could prevent you from having to sell your home or move into an assisted living facility. Factors to contemplate include arranging installation and paying for the lift. Residential stair lifts previously had the same installation regulations as commercial elevators, which were … Continue reading Basic Funding for Stair Lifts
2018 Summer Internship Reflection
By Ashley Jayne, Legal Hotline Intern My experience at Elder Law of Michigan was not what I expected. As a legal intern, I thought I would be spending my summer writing briefs and doing legal research. I was not very familiar with the role of a legal aid organization and had little expectations to interact with clients. Though my experience at Elder Law of Michigan was not what I expected, it has been more valuable than I could have imagined. At the beginning … Continue reading 2018 Summer Internship Reflection