Independent Living for a Family Member with a Lifelong Disability
While many persons with disabilities live at home with their families by choice, others do so because of long waiting lists for traditional residential programs. Families of persons challenged with disabilities are often unaware of the various housing options and in-home supports which enable persons with special needs to live independently. This handout explores alternatives…
How Grandparents Can Help When An Adult Child Has a Child with Special Needs
When I was asked to write this article, it brought back wonderful memories of the help that my mom and dad gave me, my husband and my daughter over the first 24 years of our daughter’s life. My parents passed away prior to Jen’s 25th birthday. The help they provided, especially in the first 10…
Corporate Maintenance obligations just expanded: Are you ready?
A new set of federal disclosure requirements have come into effect as of January 1, 2024. The Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) is a new federal law designed to combat money laundering, tax evasion, and other illicit financial activities by requiring “reporting companies” to disclose beneficial ownership information (“BOI”) about their “beneficial owners” to the Financial Crimes…
Solid Foundation Of An Estate Plan
Read Attorney Poirier’s article in Worcester Business Journal by visiting https://www.wbjournal.com/article/solid-foundation-of-an-estate-plan.
Documents Your Child Should Sign Before Leaving for College
Shortly after registering for school in another state, my niece became very ill and required hospitalization. A friend called my niece’s home and advised my sister-in-law of the name of the hospital where my niece had been admitted. When my sister-in-law called the hospital, because of HIPAA, the hospital initially hesitated to give her any…
The Importance of Incorporating Beneficiary Designations into an Estate Plan
Beneficiary designations are a crucial-and often overlooked- part of estate planning. For parents who have children with special needs, updating your beneficiary designations is of particular importance. A beneficiary designation is a way for you to designate how an asset will be distributed upon your death. Two common types of assets that allow you to…
ABLE Program Launched in MA: The Attainable Savings Plan?
The Stephen Beck Jr. Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014 (known as the ABLE Act) was signed into law by President Obama on December 16, 2014. The ABLE Act amended the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions and to make technical corrections to the IRS code. This legislation, which…
Gift Cards and Gift Certificates – Legal Prohibition?
There are SSA POMS governing the purchase of gift cards for persons receiving SSI. The problem meeting the new rules (partially excerpted below) is often cards do not have a legal prohibition on sale for cash. SI 00830.522 Gift Cards and Gift Certificates Citations: Soc. Sec. Act, as amended, sections 1612(a)(2)(C), 1612(b)(3) and 1612(b)(7); 20…
Future Planning for Adults with Disabilites and the Families that Support Them
Parents often worry about unknowns such as where their adult child with life-long disabilities will live; who will advocate for their child, what kind of vocational, recreation, residential, employment and support services will their child need and receive, etc. Parents will gain great peace of mind if they take the time to plan for their…