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Senior And Other Discounts from stores etc. Click here to go to the list.   01-16----- A ----- AARP Driving Course  The discount is very small.www.state.nj.us/health/advance directive/index.shtml 11-17Advanced Directive www.state.nj.us/health/advance directive/index.shtml 08-16Assistance for Community Caregiving (JACC) (NJ) www.state.nj.us/health/advance directive/index.shtml Under JACC, family members can be paid to provide caregiving services to their loved ones. JACC offers program participants the option to choose their own services providers for several approved services. To avoid confusion, it should be mentioned that this model of care delivery is referred to by a variety of names including participant direction, consumer direction, cash and counseling, participant employed provider and client employed provider. For services such as attendant care, chores and transportation assistance, nearly anyone can be hired to provide assistance including family members and friends so long as they meet the program's requirements. Unlike in many states, in NJ, spouses and the adult children of aging parents are included in the list of relatives that can be paid. The JACC program also covers minor home modifications to improve home access or safety. Examples of this are wheelchair ramps or walk in tub replacements for dangerous showers. www.payingforseniorcare.com/longtermcare/resources/nj_jacc.html 12-16----- B -----  1-20 Banks & Credit Cards While this is a complicated subject and has many permutations, I will talk about problems with linked and joint bank accounts! ! ! While banks can’t prevent you from linking your account to other services, most institutions advise you against it. Major banks warn their customers that giving out bank details can result in compromised accounts. The terms of service at such banks state that the customer is responsible for the loss: the bank may not be liable in cases where an account holder willingly shares account information with third parties. More important are problems having multiple accounts linked to each other in YOUR OWN bank. While it is a little more convenient to have them linked while your online looking at your accounts information, it allows companies to take money from any one of those accounts that are linked together. This can cause problems like overdraft charges if the account does not have enough money in it, not to mention the many hours of talking to the bank and the company that took the money out of the wrong account to get it straighten out ! ! ! In addition they can send late or non payment information to the 3 major credit agencies thus ruining your credit rating. NEVER NEVER NEVER link bank accounts together !!!Joint Checking & Bank Accounts In the case of a your parents checking and saving accounts, Never put their name and yours on her checking, saving, stocks, and other assets or accounts. (ex. Mom smith Son Smith). If you Son Smith, have money problems or someone tries to collect money from you they can take it out of your parents account without any notifications because your name is on the account. Instead the checking, and saving account should read: Mom Smith - POA & POD Son Smith. The bank will make you power of attorney of the account (no fees or lawyer needed) and that will give you full access to the account, same as having both names on the joint account. The difference is, if the Son Smith has problems no one can touch Mom Smiths account ! ! ! POD is payable on death. 1-20Bankruptcy in NJ -- This applies to anyone, Senior or not !!! When all else fails, or before all else fails. Have you lost your job, lost your pension or 401k, used you savings to pay for medical expenses, or to pay exorbitant interest rates on credit cards. Have you been given the run around when you pleaded for help in lowering your interest rate on credit cards or you mortgage? Have you submitted and resubmitted all your income and expenses information, over and over and over and over ??? Did you know that each and every time you ask for help, the banks request a credit report.Each and every time anybody request a credit report it gets added in the report as another request. Even though nothing came about from these requests, It lowers your credit score, and that causes everybody to charge you an higher interest rate for your credit cards, any kind of loan, car insurance rates etc. Some rules to consider before going to the lawyer: First and foremost find yourself a bankruptcy lawyer that does nothing but bankruptcies. First visit is usually free. Don't volunteer ANY INFORMATION !!! Can't have more than $5,000 in banking or saving accounts. Your car can't be worth more than $5,000 ??? There is a Overall amount of assets you can have $12,000 ??? The lawyer will tell you that he is required by law to ask these questions. Can't have transferred assets within the last 12 months. Such as property, stocks, cars, boats, jewelry, or money. More than likely they will not waste their time checking unless your worth millions. He will also ask if you have any collections that are worth money, coins, art, jewelry, guns, figurines, game room stuff, stamps, etc. If you have a safety deposit box, the lawyer will ask you what's in it. If you have excess assets you may have to sell some of them to satisfy the creditors. Any pending lawsuits in your favor, or inheritances may be a problem. Call each company you owe money to, and change the phone number your gave them, to one that goes to another phone. This way when they start calling to harass you, nobody will here the calls and you won't get embarrassed or aggravated !!!Cons: Cost for an average lawyer fee is $2,000. This will ruin your credit rating. Chances are this already the case, or will be soon.Pros: Get everything out of your name in the required time. If everything is one spouses name, then only that spouse goes bankrupt. The other spouse keeps his or hers credit cards, bank accounts, and any business that in his or her name only. Anything that is BOTH names will still be owed by the other spouse that is not going bankrupt !!! Nobody can touch your social security check. Bankruptcy takes about 3 months to be completed. Then you will be free of debt. Foreclosure on your house will take about 20 months. That's 20 months of FREE living (No payments due) in your house that will let you save the mortgage and tax monies, to decide what or where you will go in 20 months.Note: (The 20 months time frame is based on the backlog of the court systems as of August 2010.) Now your will have gotten rid of all the stress, you and everybody around you will be extremely happier !!!!!!!!! 11-17Burglar Alarm Discount On Your Homeowners Policy Having a working burglar alarm entitles you to a 10% discount on your homeowners premium !!! Also if your house is within 100 feet of a fire hydrant you will get an additional discount. 3-20Buying And Selling A Home Check with your state. Some unexpected fees that will shock you ! ! ! Buying a home: Title Insurance: The average title insurance policy carries a one-time premium of about $1,000, which covers all upfront work and ongoing legal and loss coverage. However, premiums vary substantially, ranging from as little as a few hundred dollars to more than $2,000. Mansion Tax: The New Jersey mansion tax is a 1 percent tax imposed on the transfer of certain types of real estate where the consideration paid is more than $1 million. Selling a home: Realty Transfer Fee: The realty transfer fee is a graduated tax of between 1 percent and 1.5 percent of the consideration paid for the real property being purchased. An Exit Tax:: If you don't buy another house in NJ, and sometimes if you do ! ! ! Despite the confusion caused by calling it an exit tax, the law simply requires the seller to pay state tax in advance, calculated as follows: New Jersey withholds either 8.97% of the profit or 2% of the selling price, whichever is higher. If you change your drivers license address to a relative or friends house, and say you are staying there for a year, then after the one year waiting period, the state will send your money that it withheld to that address. NJ Income Tax – Capital Gains: A capital gain is the profit you realize when you sell or exchange property such as real estate or shares of stock. If you are a New Jersey resident, all of your capital gains, except gains from the sale of exempt obligations, are subject to tax. Feb 13, 2018 And you wonder why people are fed up and are leaving NJ ! ! ! 12-18----- C ----- Calculate Your Debt-To-income Ratio For Consolidating Your Credit Cards Or Applying For A Mortgage Your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) compares how much you owe each month to how much you earn. Specifically, it’s the percentage of your gross monthly income (before taxes) that goes towards payments for rent, mortgage, credit cards, or other debt. To calculate your debt-to-income ratio. The 43 percent debt-to-income ratio is the highest ratio a borrower can have and still get a Qualified Mortgage or consolidate your credit cards to lower your interest rate. Use the calculator included in the link below, to check your debt-to-income ratio. Your credit score can affect the banks decision also. www.wellsfargo.com/goals-credit/smarter-credit/credit-101/debt-to-income-ratio 04-18 Cancer Losing hair from chemotherapy Do arctic cold caps work? It is theorized the cooling action may help prevent extensive hair loss in people undergoing chemotherapy. Cold caps and scalp cooling systems work by narrowing the blood vessels beneath the skin of the scalp, thereby reducing the amount of chemotherapy medicine reaching hair follicles. https://arcticcoldcaps.com/how-cold-caps-work Cold Caps During Chemo: Pros & Cons www.headcovers.com/blog/cooling-caps-chemo-patients ============================== Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery Gamma Knife radiosurgery uses high-energy rays to destroy tumors and other diseases. Beams of radiation are aimed at the brain by a machine outside your body. Hundreds of low-dose beams come together at a single point to kill all the cells in the target area while avoiding damage to nearby healthy cells. When a large tumor is being treated, radiation is given in 5 treatments using a mask system. www.mayfieldclinic.com/pe-gammamask.htm 12-18 Capital Improvements Exempt Sales Tax Form (ST-8) MAY BE ISSUED ONLY BY THE OWNER OF THE REAL PROPERTY. MAY NOT BE ISSUED FOR THE PURCHASE OF MATERIALS A registered New Jersey contractor must collect the tax on the amount charged for labor and services under the contract unless the owner gives him a fully completed Certificate of Exempt Capital Improvement. The following are examples of exempt capital improvements: Appliances that are built-in New construction Porch enclosure Paneling, Construction of New roof installation of New heating system installation In-ground swim pool, installation of Tiled bath, installation of Rewiring New central air conditioner installation New bath fixtures, installation of New electrical outlets installed Painting a newly constructed house New kitchen cabinets, installation of New siding, installation of New hot water heater installation New kitchen fixtures installation of Garage, construction of Patio, construction of Paving of driveway Storm doors and windows, original or initial installation of www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/pdf/other_forms/sales/st8.pdf Car Accident With A deer If you ever have an accident with a deer In New Jersey (may not apply in other states), you make it real crystal clear to the officer and insurance company, THE DEER HIT YOU, NOT that you hit the deer. Strange as it seems, the insurance rules are as such that you will not be charged for the accident, and your rates will not go up.. 11-19Charity Care Program In the United States, charity care is health care provided FOR FREE or at reduced prices to low income patients. The percentage of doctors providing charity care dropped from 76% in 1996-97 to 68% in 2004-2005. The New Jersey Hospital Care Payment Assistance Program (Charity Care Assistance) is free or reduced charge care which is provided to patients who receive inpatient and outpatient services at acute care hospitals throughout the State of New Jersey. New Jersey Hospital Care Payment Assistance Fact Sheet - State.NJ.us https://www.state.nj.us/health/charitycare/documents/charitycare_factsheet_en.pdf 12-16Comfort Partners Program The New Jersey Comfort Partners Program is a FREE energy saving and energy education program sponsored by the New Jersey Clean Energy Program. The program is designed to improve energy affordability for income eligible households through direct installation of free energy efficiency measures and education about steps everyone can take to save energy. Participants are asked to partner with the program to develop and carry out a household energy savings Action Plan. For information customers may call 1-866-NJSMART (1-866-657-6278). Program Oversight Provided by New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, 44 South Clinton Avenue, Post Office Box 360, Trenton, NJ 08625-0360. www.njcleanenergy.com/residential/programs/comfort-partners/comfort-partners 11-17Consumer Facts for New Jersey’s Older Citizens The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs was established in 1971 to protect the consumers of New Jersey from dishonest and unscrupulous practices. The Division is responsible for administering and enforcing the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act that protects your rights before, during and after purchasing a product or service. A unit within the division is dedicated solely to investigating fraud against the elderly. Often New Jersey’s older citizens are the intended victims of various types of fraud, scams and other unscrupulous practices. The division’s handbook “New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs Senior Fraud Education and Protection Program (Senior FED•UP)” offers advice and provides information that will help you to make informed decisions and avoid becoming a victim of fraud. Also available are Consumer Alerts to educate consumers about emerging frauds and topics that affect their daily lives. For copies of the consumer publications and more information about your safety and consumer rights, please contact the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, 49 CONSUMER INFORMATION Consumer Facts for New Jersey’s Older Citizens, cont. Division of Consumer Affairs, PO Box 46027, Newark, NJ 07101, telephone toll-free senior hotline 1-877-746-7860. Senior Fraud Education and protection program Handbook -- www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/fedup/NewFedUp.pdf 6-13 Call Corporations That Don't Make Their Phone Numbers Available Tired of trying to find a phone number for corporations that don't want you to talk to a live person? Need to talk to a live person to solve your problem or questions. then this link is for you. https://gethuman.com 05-18 Credit Cards - Lower Your Existing Credit Card Interest Rates Did you know that with a simple 2 minute call to your credit card company, you can ask for a reduction in your interest rate ??? We have done this many times over the years & almost always have gotten our rate reduced. Capital One credit card will consider and most likely reduce your rate every 8 months. (They have dropped our rate by 3 to 4% every 8 months, on each card, even if you have more than one card with the same company ). We have called other credit card companies that we had, and asked them to reduce our rate, and a few said no, so we called back 2 minutes later and got another rep, and they said sure we can reduce your rate. So it pay$ to be persistent !!! 7-18 ----- D ---- Dental: Sponsored by the NJ Dental Association, this agency affords eligible seniors the opportunity of obtaining comprehensive oral health treatment from participating dentists at a minimum courtesy discount of 15 percent. To qualify, persons must be 65 years of age or over and meet the guidelines of the PAAD program (see pages 5-6). To obtain a list of participating dentists for your area, please contact the Division of Aging and Community Services at 1-800-792-8820 (toll-free within NJ) or 609-943-3437. www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/documents/statewide_benefit_2011.pdf Goto page 59 in the document. .gif){kind=small} 11-19 Department of Human Services for NJ - (Services A to Z) Here is a list of over 500 services offered by the the state of New Jersey Department of Human Services. www.state.nj.us/humanservices/services/ 11-19 11-19 Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Devices currently available as part of this program include: Amplified Telephone - Allows the user to increase the volume of the incoming voice up to 53dB. CapTel Hearing Carry Over(HCO) Telephone Smoke Detector Baby Cry Alert System Artificial Larynx Device (ALD) Annual household income must be less than $45,000. www.state.nj.us/humanservices/ddhh/equipment/ 11-19 Diabetic Medicare Therapeutic Shoe & Sneaker Program In an effort to prevent foot ulcers in people with diabetes who are at risk, Medicare will help pay for therapeutic shoes. For those who qualify, Medicare will pay 80% of the allowed amount for one pair of shoes and up to three pairs of molded innersoles per year. (The allowed amount varies depending on the kind of footwear you need.) Most secondary insurers will help pay the other 20%. . www.diabetesselfmanagement.com/managing-diabetes/complications-prevention/how-to-choose-footwear/medicare-therapeutic-shoe-program 01-18 Diabetic - Medicare pays for a foot doctor to cut your toe nails. 01-18 Domestic Partner Insurance Domestic Partner Insurance or Domestic Partner Health Insurance is when an insurance contract extends the definition of spouse to recognize domestic partners. As a result, the health insurance benefits may be extended to the unmarried partner and their children. Couples of the same and opposite sex are able to share insurance under a domestic partner insurance coverage just as a married couple would. The biggest benefit being a reduced insurance rate and the ability to be eligible for the employee benefit package. www.thebalance.com/domestic-partner-insurance-101-2645680 01-19 ----- E ----- Education for Senior Citizens Most all of the public colleges, universities, and community colleges offer senior citizens between the ages of 55-65 and older tuition waivers. Because most do offer these waivers, if a college that you want to attend is not on the list, or is on the list with no tuition waiver information found, call the institution in question and inquire about the possibility of an available waiver. Most colleges and universities permit retired New Jersey residents, age 55-65 or older, to attend courses on a space-available, noncredit basis. This is only a short list of some of them that offer FREE courses. Call any other ones to see if they offer similar programs. Ocean County College - 55 or older. www.ocean.edu/content/public/seniors.html Ramapo - Bergen County Rutgers University - 62 or older. http://ucm.rutgers.edu/about/senior-citizen-audit-program Sussex County Community College - 65 and over. http://sussex.edu/admissions/tuitionandfees William Paterson University - 65 and over. www.wpunj.edu/studentaccounts/seniorwaiver.html Don't forget to ask your tax advisor about Uncle Sam's $10,000 lifetime senior citizen deduction for higher education! www.seniorresource.com/senioreducation.htm 11-17Essential Legal Documents All Seniors & Adults Should Have Every adult -- especially seniors -- should have at least four essential legal documents to protect them and their family. These documents will make sure your wishes regarding your estate are legal and clear, and will help minimize any conflicts and confusion with your family and your health care providers if you become seriously illness or when you die. Here are the key documents you need, along with some tips to help you create them. A Will: This document lets you spell out your wishes of how you'd like your property and assets distributed after you die, whether it's to family, friends or a charity. It also allows you to designate an executor to ensure your wishes are carried out, and allows you to name guardians if you have minor or dependent children.In addition to a will, if you own real estate or have considerable assets, another option you may want to consider is a "revocable living trust." This functions like a will but allows your estate to avoid the time and expense of probate (the public legal process that examines your estate after you die) and helps ensure your estate's privacy. Durable Power of Attorney: This allows you to designate someone you trust to make financial, tax and legal decisions on your behalf if you lose your decision-making capacity. Advanced Health Care Directive: This includes two documents that spell out your wishes regarding your end-of-life medical treatment. The two documents are a "living will" which tells your doctor what kind of care you want to receive if you become incapacitated, and a "health care power of attorney" which names a person you authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to. Do-It-Yourself: If you have a simple estate and an uncomplicated family situation, there are several good do-it-yourself guides that can help you create all these documents for very little money. For creating a will, a top resource is the Quicken WillMaker Plus 2015 software (available at Nolo) that costs $60, works with Windows personal computers and is valid in every state except Louisiana. If you use a Mac, Nolo offers an online will maker for $35. Or, if you only need to create an advance directive you can do it for free at caringinfo.org, where you can get state-specific forms with instructions. Or for only $5, an even better tool is the Five Wishes document, which is valid in 42 states and will help you create a customized advance directive. Get Help: If, however, you want or need assistance or if you have a complicated financial situation, blended family or have considerable assets, you should hire an attorney. An experienced lawyer can make sure you cover all your bases -- especially when writing a will or living trust -- which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you're gone.Costs will vary depending on where you reside, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $200 and $1,000 for a will, or $1,200 to $5,000 for a living trust. www.huffingtonpost.com/jim-t-miller/essential-legal-documents_b_6833046.html? 4-15 E-ZPASS Senior Discount In order to participate in this Program you must be 65 years of age or older, have a New Jersey E-ZPass account, have a valid driver’s license issued by any state, and have a vehicle registered in your name in any state. You do not have to live in New Jersey to open a New Jersey E-ZPass account. Discount is not available to: only disabled persons, unless your 65 or over, and discount doesn't apply to peek hours. Form and Information to receive a 10% discount - www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/nj-Senior-Discount-Program-Application.pdf 02-17----- F ----- Face Down Chair If you need eye surgery for a detached retina, or any surgery that require you to hold your head in the down position, then you will be a lot more comfortable with this chair rental. www.facedownsolutions.com 11-17Farmland Assessment - If you own 5 acres or more. Farmland meeting the requirements for eligibility can receive preferential assessment. The assessment is based on productivity and agricultural or horticultural use of the land. Eligibility Requirements: Applicant must own the land. Owner must apply for Farmland Assessment on Form FA-1 with municipal tax assessor annually on or before August 1 of the year immediately preceding the tax year. Land must be devoted to agricultural or horticultural uses for at least two years prior to the tax year. Land must consist of at least 5 contiguous acres. Gross sales of products from the land must total $600 per year for the first 5 acres, plus $5 per acre for each acre over 5, except in the case of woodland or wetland where the income requirement is $.60 per acre for any acreage over 5. Owner must represent that the land will continue in agricultural or horticultural use to the end of the tax year for which application is made. Change to a use other than agricultural or horticultural results in additional taxes referred to as rollback taxes (taxes that would have been paid had the land been valued and taxed as other land minus taxes paid under farmland assessment).Contact: 609-292-7975 www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/lpt/exam.shtml 02-17 ..... Food Stamps (SNAP) - NJ ----- As of October 1, 2008, the new name for Food Stamps is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) To qualify for New Jersey Food Stamp grants: You must be a resident of the State of New JerseyYou must fall into one of two groups: Those with a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $2,260 Those with a current bank balance (savings and checking combined) under $3,260 who share their household with a person or persons age 60 and over, or with a person with a disability (a child, your spouse, a parent, or yourself) Income: Households have to meet income tests unless all members are receiving TANF, SSI, or in some places general assistance. Most households must meet both the gross and net income tests, but a household with an elderly person or a person who is receiving certain types of disability payments only has to meet the net income test. Households, except those noted, that have income over the amounts listed below cannot get SNAP benefits.(Oct. 1, 2017 through Sept. 30, 2018)
www.fns.usda.gov/snap/applicant_recipients/eligibility.htm 11-17 3-20 Furniture: From Bobs stores Bobs Threshold Delivery - Delivery right inside your front door of your house, apartment or condo building, left in the box or packaging, unassembled. We saved $130 on shipping charges for a living room set !!! www.mybobs.com/delivery-information 3-20 ----- G ----- Getting A Ride To Doctor Offices & Shopping etc. If you live in a different county (other than Ocean County) you will have call that county for information. The information listed below is for Ocean County, NJ ONLY. Ocean Ride The most often requested services is transportation to medical appointments and local shopping. Cost is $3.00 with valid PAAD* ID card. Ocean Ride Fares (all are round trip fares) www.co.ocean.nj.us/Transportation/TransportationReserveRidePage.aspx Riders Guide - www.co.ocean.nj.us//WebContentFiles//1be517d7-bd77-42fc-aeed-2d747949ae32.pdf Make An Appointment: All trip requests are to be handled by telephone by calling (732) 736-8989, then press “1” to speak with a Reservationist. Cancellation Hotline Number: 732-736-8989 and then Press * 100 Main Number 732-736-8989 www.co.ocean.nj.us/Transportation 02-18 Ocean County Board Of Social Services Applicaton is not available online, they will have to mail it to you. 732-349-1500 Ride is FREE 02-18Grandparents Visitation Rights Under the law, grandparents have the right to visit with their grandchildren. Should this right be denied, a grandparent or any sibling of a child residing in this State may make application before the Superior Court, in accordance with the Rules of the Court, for an order for visitation. To make application to the court for visitation, the grandparent(s) should have the assistance of an attorney. For additional information, persons 60 or over should contact his/her Area Agency on Aging at 1-877-222-3737. www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/documents/statewide_benefit_2011.pdf - Page 39 9-2-7.1. Visitation rights for grandparents or siblings - WomensLaw.org 11-19----- H ----- HARP Free government program known as the Home Affordable Refinance Plan (HARP) that could help millions of Americans….... if only they knew about it. By refinancing your home at a lower interest rate, you could save as much as $2,292 a year. Check your eligibility here. www.harp.gov/Eligibility www.harp,gov 08-16Hearing Aid Assistance to the Aged & Disabled (HAAAD) The State of New Jersey offers hearing aid assistance for persons not otherwise qualified for Medicaid who meet the age/disability, income and residency requirements of the Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled Program (PAAD). A person eligible for assistance under the Hearing Aid Assistance to the Aged & Disabled program (HAAAD) is entitled to receive up to $100.00 toward the purchase of a hearing aid. For further information, please contact HAAAD, Division of Senior Benefits and Utilization Management, NJ Department of Health & Senior Services, PO Box 715, Trenton, NJ 08625-0715, telephone, toll-free, 1-800-792-9745 or 609-588-7030. 10-16Hearing Aid Batteries Are you tired of paying $18-22 dollars for 10 pack of hearing aid batteries ? ? ? Stop getting ripped off, go to a Dollar Store and get a 10 pack for one Dollar, if you store doesn not have them then look on ebay. 3-20 11-19 Highly Amplified Volume, And Readable Caption Phone If you are tied of trying to find a phone that is loud enough to hear, then look no further. The volume on this phone can be turned up to 58db, which you can hear two blocks away. To qualify for the FREE CaptionCall phone and service, you must obtain certification from a hearing-care or healthcare professional indicating you have a hearing loss, and need CaptionCall to communicate effectively by phone. One of these companies www.Captioncall.com allows you to get up to two of these phones FREE and extra ones can be ordered on line for $75 each. There is no charge for the phone, delivery, installation or ongoing customer support. If you have purchased a hearing aid from a hearing aid center, then you may not have to fill out any of the forms. https://captioncall.com 11-19Heating Oil Cost Assistance – NJCA Oil Group New Jersey Citizen Action’s Oil Group (NJCAOG) is comprised of thousands of heating oil consumers who have joined together to negotiate a lower price with local dealers. After joining, members are assigned a supplier. They then call that supplier and make arrangement for fuel delivery but at the Oil Group's discounted price. Generally, the prices members pay are 10–30% less than average retail prices. The annual membership fee for persons aged 60 and older is $15. For more information call New Jersey Citizen Action, toll-free, at 1-800-464-8465, www.njcaoilgroup.com . CITGO/Citizens Energy Please Note: The CITGO Energy Oil Heat Program is no longer accepting new applications. For information on the status of this program, please call 1-877-JOE-4-OIL (1-877-563-4645). For information on other energy assistance and energy efficiency programs available in New Jersey contact the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities at 1-800-624-0241, www.bpu.state.nj.us/bpu/assistance/programs . 10-16Homestead Rebate Homestead Benefit Amount for Homeowners Age 65 or Older and/or Disabled on December 31, 2010 The homestead benefit calculation is based on the applicant's: New Jersey gross income, Filing status (single, married, filing jointly, head of household, etc.), Age/disability status (whether applicant was age 65 or older and/or disabled, Property taxes paid on principal residence.www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/homestead/hrhomeowneramounts.shtml 11-17 10-19 Levels of Hospice Care as Defined by Medicare Determining Level of CareIn order to qualify for hospice care, the patient's doctor, and often a hospice doctor as well, must determine that the patient is terminally ill, with a life expectancy of six months or less; the decision to treat someone at a higher level of care falls to the hospice physician. With four levels in place, no terminally ill patient should ever be left without appropriate care. Level 1: Routine Home Care Level 2: Continuous Home Care Level 3: General Inpatient Care Level 4: Respite Care www.verywellhealth.com/levels-of-hospice-care-1132297 10-19 05-19 Hot Water Heater Settings Try this simple hot water experiment. Right now, go turn on the hot water in your shower. Turn the hot water as high as it will go with no cold water at all. Give it some time so that the water reaches maximum heat. Now, stick your hand into the water flow. If you’re afraid to do this because your hand will get burnt, then your hot water heater is set too high and you’re likely wasting a substantial amount of energy. The Department of Energy recommends having your tank-based hot water heater set to 120 degrees Fahrenheit for most people, but if you’ve never adjusted the temperature on your hot water heater, it’s probably set to 140 degrees, which is the default setting from most manufacturers. If you bought or are buying a used home, you can be pretty sure that someone has turned the dial on the hot water heater to the maximum setting, well beyond the recommended 120 degree setting. Any settings above the 120 degree setting usually the lowest setting on the dial will cost you a great deal of extra wasted money over the year, especially if you have a 50 or 75 gallon tank for a jacuzzi tub. https://www.thesimpledollar.com/turn-down-your-water-heater-155365/ 05-19----- I ----- Income Tax Exemption for NJ Veterans - New for 2017 You are eligible for a $3,000 exemption on your Income Tax return if you are a military veteran who was honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States on or any time before the last day of the tax year. www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/military/vetexemption.shtml Veterans Income Tax Exemption Submission Formwww.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/pdf/veteransexemptionform.pdf 1-18Insulin - Lily Patient Assistance Program Ei Lily Will give Insulin either free or at a discount if your family income is less than $48,000. Ei Lily requires you to call each time your prescription needs to be renewed. As of January 2017 a new requirement goes into effect, you must have a $1100 of out of pockets medicine bills. If you don't have the $1100 of medicine bills, then call them and ask them to review your case again & again. They seem to give in and allow you to get your insulin free. Other Insulin manufactures may offer similar programs. 3-17----- J ----- Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving (JACC) JACC is a State-funded program that provides a broad array of in-home services to enable an individual, at risk of placement in a nursing facility and who meets income and resource requirements, to remain in his or her community home. By providing a uniquely designed package of supports for the individual, JACC delays or prevents placement in a nursing facility.What services may be provided? Based on the results of a clinical assessment, a Plan of Care (POC) is developed collaboratively by the participant and his/her Care Manager. All JACC participants receive Care Management services. In addition, the POC specifies other services to be delivered, which may include: Respite Care Homemaker Services Environmental Accessibility Adaptations Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) Home-Delivered Meal Service Caregiver/Recipient Training Social Adult Day Care Adult Day Health Services Special Medical Equipment and Supplies Transportation Chore Services Attendant Care Home-Based Supportive Care www.nj.gov/humanservices/doas/services/jacc/ 11-17----- L ----- Legal Aid Legal Services Providers All Area Agencies on Aging fund legal assistance to provide access to the system of justice to residents 60 years of age and older who have a legal problem which falls within the priorities established for the program. Under the supervision of a lawyer, legal advice, assistance, and/or representation is provided in order to protect and secure the rights of older persons. Legal assistance is provided in priority areas, such as public entitlements, planning/protecting autonomy, health care/long term care, family/domestic, housing/utilities, individual rights and consumer issues. Preference for service is given to individuals with the greatest social and economic need. Community legal education which benefits a large number of clients is an important component of the legal program. For additional information contact the Area Agencies on Aging at 1-877-222-3737. http://www.n4a.org/ 08-16The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Patient Financial Aid Patient Financial Aid Patient financial aid is limited to residents of the United States or its territories and US military personnel stationed abroad. This program is supported entirely by public contributions. Patient Aid funds are subject to availability Patient Aid funds are subject to availability. If you are in financial need you may Contact your local chapter to request a Patient Financial Aid application or Print, complete and return the online application form in English or in Spanish to your local chapter. For more information on the Patient Financial Aid program, please contact your local chapter. Find your local chapter by calling (800) 955-4572 or by visiting www.LLS.org/chapterfind. Patients who participate in the Patient Financial Aid Program may also be eligible for the LLS Co-pay Assistance Program. Co-Pay Assistance AmountsSupport for this program is based on the availability of funds by disease diagnosis. LLS Co-Pay Assistance funds are available for the following diagnoses: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia - assistance is available up to $5,000 Hodgkin lymphoma - assistance is available up to $5,000 Non-Hodgkin lymphoma - assistance is available up to $5,000 Myelodysplastic syndromes - assistance is available up to $5,000 Myeloma - assistance is available up to $10,000 Waldenström macroglobulinemia - assistance is available up to $10,000 Application - http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_page?item_id=4603 -www.lls.org/#/diseaseinformation/getinformationsupport/financialmatters/copayassistance 4-15Lifeline - Utility Assistance You can go in person to the motor vehicle and show them your PADD card.or LIFELINE is a utility assistance program that offers a yearly benefit to persons age 65 years and older, and to certain disabled persons who are receiving Social Security disability payments. You qualify if you meet all of the following: You are a New Jersey resident at least 65 years of age, OR at least 18 years of age and receiving Social Security Disability benefits; You are single, and meet the annually established income requirements OR, you are married or a civil union couple, and your joint annual income meets the annually established income limits. The income eligibility limits are increased by the amount of the maximum Social Security benefit cost-of-living increase for the year. You received utility bills in your name, spouse's or civil union partner’s name, OR you are a tenant and do not receive utility bills, but the cost of your utilities is included in the rent. You will automatically receive a LIFELINE application if you are enrolled in: Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD); Medical Assistance to the Aged Continuation (MAAC); Medical Assistance Only (MAO); or any of the Special Medicaid-Type Programs. In addition, if you are receiving SSI benefits, your check issued by the Social Security Administration automatically includes a monthly amount which is equal to the annual LIFELINE benefit. This amount will help to pay for the increased cost of utilities. For more information, please contact LIFELINE, NJ Department of Health & Senior Services, PO Box 715, Trenton, NJ 08625-0715, telephone, toll-free, 1-800-792-9745 or your Area Agency on Aging at 1-877-222-3737. www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/documents/statewide_benefit_2011.pdf Page 24 08-16 3-20 Light Bulbs Replace all light bulbs the are not LEDS with LED daylight type for maximum light, or if you prefer a softer light then choose a soft white type !!! A LED 60 watt LED bulb that is the equivalent of a old 60 watt type incandescent bulb, ONLY consumes 8-9 watts and produces about a 100% increase in a brighter light output !!! That is a saving of 52 watts per bulb, times how many light bulbs you have in and outside of your house. That will save you a lot of money on your electric bill. Old type incandescent bulbs burn very hot, and generate a tremendous amount of heat. In the summer that will make your air conditioning run longer to fight the extra heat, making your electric bill higher. Don't forget to change the light bulbs outside of your house too. Walmart has very cheap light bulbs. Look for the box that had Great Value on the upper left corner of the box. If you need dimmable bulbs make sure the box states that they are DIMMABLE. 3-20 Lower Your Property Taxes- This applies to anyone, Senior or not !!! Did you know that it is very possible to lower your property taxes each year ???(Especially since the value of your house goes down every day in this economy.) The application MUST be filed before April 1 of the year you want a reduction. You could file and application yourself (not recommended) or you could use a lawyer that specializes in filing the application for you. Their fee is as follows: If he gets your taxes lowered by $800.00 a year, he gets a one time fee of half, $400.00. Your taxes will be stay lowered by $800.00 each and every year thereafter. If he doesn't get your taxes lowered, his fee is $0.00. This is a win win situation, you can't lose !!! We have used Michael many times for many properties, he has always gotten our taxes lowered.Michael A. Vespasiano 331 Main Street Chatham, NJ 07928 www.jerseypropertytax.com 02-19----- M ----- Meals On Wheels How Meals on Wheels works.We deliver hot, nutritious meals to our seniors’ homes Monday through Friday and for our most frail and vulnerable, weekends and holidays. All our menus are approved by a qualified nutritionist, and provide at least one-third of the daily dietary recommendation set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Nutrition education and counseling are also provided under this program. Please note: we do not provide meals for special diets. VIEW THIS MONTHS MENU Eligibility Criteria:The demand for Meals on Wheels is extremely high, and increases each year. As a result, we carefully review each case to ensure our limited resources go to those who need it most. In order to qualify, you or your spouse must be: Age 60 or over Housebound, i.e. incapacitated due to accident, illness or frailty Unable to prepare meals safely, or lack the knowledge and skills to prepare meals Lacking support from family, friends, neighbors, health aides or other caregivers to help secure regular meals Spouses of home bound older individuals if an assessment indicates that receipt of Meals On Wheels is in best interest of the senior Disabled dependent child who resides with an older, eligible individual Help us serve the community.Though no donation is required, each participant is asked to make a small contribution of $2 per meal to help defray food and preparation costs. It costs over $10 to prepare and serve each meal. Every donation helps us ensure that no senior is ever denied because they can’t afford a contribution. Click here to learn more about donations.To learn more about Meals on Wheels, please call us at 732-367-1401 or email info@csimow.org. 11-18Medicaid When you have Medicare and can't afford a secondary insurance.To be eligible you must make less than $16,643. www.benefitsapplication.com/apply/NJ/Medicaid Does Medicaid cover ambulance services? Emergency Ambulance Services Medicaid covers Emergency Ambulance services when provided by providers licensed by the state. The patient must be transported in an appropriate vehicle that has been inspected and issued a permit by the state. Medical Transportation or Non-Emergency Ambulance Services Medicaid covers non-emergency ambulance services with a statement by a doctor that the service is required. www.hhs.gov/answers/medicare-and-medicaid/does-medicaid-cover-ambulances/index.html 07-18Getting Help Paying Your Medicare Costs Low-income beneficiaries can save close to $5,000 a year. Save more than $1,300 annually with a Medicare Savings Program (MSP) Most seniors and individuals with disabilities on Medicare pay between $121.00 and $134.00 each month directly out of their Social Security check for their Part B premium. If your annual income in 2017 does not exceed $16,281 (if single) and $21,924 (if married), and your assets, not including your home and car, total no more than $7,390 for a single person or $11,090 for a couple, you can get the State of New Jersey to pay your Part B premium and save at least $1,300 each year on healthcare expenses. Lower income individuals may save even more. www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/home/gethelpmedicarecosts.html 12-17Medicare Premium Assistance. Not paying the $134 premium for Part Betting Help Paying Your Medicare Costs If you earn equal to or less than these limits, then you may qualify for assistance.2017 for single, $1,025 per month. 2017 for Married couple, $1,374 per month. See chart for more variations.www.healthmarkets.com/resources/medicare/help-with-medicare-premiums 01-18Medicare Part B Covers: What equipment & supplies are included? Commode chairs Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) devices and related supplies Diabetes testing supplies (mail-order only) Enteral nutrient equipment and supplies Hospital beds and related accessories Nebulizers (standard) and related supplies Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) pumps and related supplies Oxygen and related equipment and supplies Patient lifts Respiratory assist devices (RADs) and related supplies Scooter and related accessories Seat lifts Support surfaces (group 1 and group 2) Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) devices Walkers Wheelchairs (standard power or manual) and related accessories www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers/part-b/competitive-bidding-program-areas.html 01-18Medications In Easy Premeasured Dispensable Packs from a dispenser Tired of figuring which pills to take and when ? ? ?CVS and other drug stores will prepackage all your pills in a separate bag for EACH morning, afternoon, or night requirements, that are despenced from a roll in the dispenser one dosage bag at a time. Each bag is clearly marked with the day, when to take the pills, and the names and dosage of the pills. This solves the possibility of taking the wrong pill, more than one, or missing a pill. NOTE: Multi-dose packaging is provided without additional fees. Drug costs may change when prescriptions are transferred to a new pharmacy or change from a 90-day prescription to a 30-day prescription. To align prescriptions on a 30-day cycle, 1 or more additional co-pays may be required by the patients plan. Patients can discuss this with their CVS pharmacy team. 10-189 Ways To Pay Off Your Mortgage Faster All of these methods will save interest and pay off your loan sooner. Monthly Accelerated Monthly Semi-monthly Bi-weekly Accelerated Bi-weekly Weekly Accelerated Weekly Every day you pay your mortgage earlier than the due date. Every extra amount you pay in addition to your mortgage payment. Tell the bank that your extra amount should go toward the principal, NOT the next months payment. https://mortgagecalculatorwithpmi.com/bi-weekly/#Monthly 07-18Medicare: Covers Cataract Surgery & A Pair of FREE GLASSES OR CONTACTS Generally, Medicare doesn't cover eyeglasses or contact lenses. However, following cataract surgery that implants an intraocular lens, Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) helps pay for corrective lenses (one pair of eyeglasses with standard frames or one set of contact lenses). Medicare covers the surgery if it’s done using traditional surgical techniques or using lasers. Note Medicare will only pay for contact lenses or eyeglasses provided by a supplier enrolled in Medicare, no matter who submits the claim (you or your supplier). https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/eyeglasses-contact-lenses.html 01-18New Jersey Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (assistance with heating and cooling costs) (LIHEAP) and Universal Service Fund (USF) APPLICATION AGENCIES. Apply - Division of Family Development, New Jersey Energy Assistance Web page or call 1-800-510-3102 - 06-15 Brochure - http://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/resource/liheap-brochures - 08-16 2014 Fact Sheet -http://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/resource/liheap-fact-sheet-for-fy-2014 - 08-16Motor Vehicle Registration Discount If you have a PADD card, you are entitled to a discount (Usually $15) on your motor vehicle registration. You can go in person to the motor vehicle and show them your PADD card.or You can send in your renewal registration with a copy of you PADD card and a check for the registration amount minus the the discount (Usually $15).www.nj.gov/mvc/Vehicle/Fees.htm 11-17Motor Vehicle Placard The new law, effective August 1, 2013, requires that persons with a disability be recertified every 3 years in order obtain a new placard. Instructionswww.state.nj.us/mvc/Vehicle/handicapped_faq.htm You can download the Application/Renewal form here.www.state.nj.us/mvc/pdf/Vehicles/HDC_Placard_Application.pdf 11-17----- O ----- NJ family Care (obama care) If you are on Medicare you are not allowed by law to get this coverage. Income Eligibility and Cost NJ FamilyCare covers: children, pregnant women, parents/caretaker relatives, and single adults/childless couples. Children 18 and under are eligible with higher incomes up to 355% FPL ($7,189/month for a family of four). Parents still need to renew the coverage each year. Parents/Caretaker Relatives with income up to 138% FPL ($2,795/month for a family of four) must have tax dependent children in their household in order to be eligible under this category. Dependent children in the household must be insured also. Adults without dependent children among ages 19-64 with incomes up to 138% FPL ($1,367/month for a single person and $1,843/month for a couple). Pregnant Women up to 205% FPL ($4,152/month for a family of four). For information on programs for people over 65, blind or permanently disabled click here. New Income and Household Size Calculations Financial eligibility for individuals seeking eligibility for NJ FamilyCare will be based on their Modified Adjusted Gross Income or MAGI. This means the income and household size will be determined by their latest federal tax return which when filed, can be electronically verified. The tax-based household size provides a simplified income calculation. www.njfamilycare.org/income.aspx 11-17Organ Matching From Live People 1-800-385-0422 MatchingDonors.com has become the most successful nonprofit organization that is improving those odds by finding living altruistic organ donors for patients needing transplants.The MatchingDonors.com website can get over 1.5 million hits in a month. Regardless of your need; Kidney, Pancreas, Liver, Lung Bone Marrow or Intestine we may be able to help. MatchingDonors.com may be able to help patients and donors with transplant related expenses not covered by insurance. There are currently 15,204 registered Potential Donors on MatchingDonors.com. There are also currently 3,991 registered Potential Donors willing to be incompatible donors in paired exchanges or chains. http://matchingdonors.com 07-18----- P ----- PAAD Pharmaceutical assistance to the aged and disabled (PAAD), lifeline and special benefit programs. If your income exceeds these limits, you can apply for the Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program, a New Jersey program which assists with the cost of prescription drugs. Call toll free 1-800-792-9745 for more information. Apply Now:AP-2 Application [pdf 237k] -- AP-2A Form [pdf 11k] AP-2 Application [Fillable 645k] -- AP-2A Form [Fillable 34k] AP-2 Application Instructions Here’s what you may be eligible for by filling out the initial application for PAAD/Senior Gold: Prescription drug benefits. PAAD and Senior Gold are state-funded prescription programs that help with the cost of prescribed medication (including insulin, insulin needles, and needles for injectable medicines used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis). If you are eligible forPAAD benefits, you would have a copayment of $5 for generic drugs or $7 for brand name drugs (copayment costs could be lower if a PAAD beneficiary’s Medicare Part D prescription drug plan charges less for a prescription). Medicare Part D (prescription coverage) premium savings. If you are eligible for PAAD benefits, you may be screened for a subsidy from the federal government that pays for Medicare Part D premiums, co-insurance, and other out-of-pocket costs. With this subsidy, a person also could qualify for a lower prescription drug copayment than the PAAD copayment. Medicare Part B (medical coverage) premium savings. If you are eligible for PAAD benefits, you may be screened for the Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) and Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary Qualified Individual (SLMB-QI-1) programs. Both SLMB and SLMB QI-1 are Medicare Savings Programs that pay for a person’s monthly Medicare Part B premium. Utility cost assistance. If you are eligible for PAAD benefits, you may also be eligible for benefits under the Lifeline utility assistance program, the Universal Service Fund (USF), and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Hearing aid assistance. If you are eligible for PAAD benefits, you may also be eligible for a $100 reimbursement for the purchase of a hearing aid. NOTE: Other programs require you to be approved for PADD first, before they will consider your application. In addition, if you are eligible for PAAD benefits, you may also be eligible for other benefits, such as reduced motor vehicle fees, discounted prices for spaying or neutering your cat or dog, and the property tax freeze. Your income for 2019 is less than $27,951 if single or less than $34,268 if married. Application form -- www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/home/ap2.html PAAD co-pay is: $5 per PAAD covered generic drug. $7 per PAAD covered brand name drug. 11-19PACE What does PACE cover?PACE provides all the care and services covered by Medicare and Medicaid if authorized by your health care team. If your health care team decides you need care and services that Medicare and Medicaid doesn't cover, PACE may still cover them. Here are some of the services PACE covers: Adult day primary care (including doctor and recreational therapy nursing services) Dentistry Emergency services Home care Hospital care Laboratory/x-ray services Meals Medical specialty services Nursing home care Nutritional counseling Occupational therapy Physical therapy Prescription drugs Note: If you join a PACE program, you'll get your Part D-covered drugs and all other necessary medication from the PACE program. You don't need to join a separate Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. If you do, you'll be disenrolled from your PACE health and prescription drug benefits. Preventive care Social services, including caregiver training, support groups, and respite care Social work counseling Transportation to the PACE center for activities or medical appointments, if medically necessary. You may also be able to get transportation to some medical appointments in the community. www.medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/help-paying-costs/pace/pace.html 05-16Palliative & Hospice Care Palliative Care "Palliative care means patient and family-centered care that optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing, and treating suffering. Palliative care throughout the continuum of illness involves addressing physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual needs and to facilitate patient autonomy, access to information, and choice. (73 FR 32204, June 5, 2008)." Hospice Care Hospice is a program of care and support for people who are terminally ill. Here are some important facts about hospice: www.state.nj.us/health/advancedirective/palliative-hospice-care/index.shtml#1 05-16Partnership For Prescription Assistance Drug Coverage (Part D): www.pparx.org/prescription_assistance_programs/medicare_prescription_drug_coverage_low_income_subsidy The Social Security Administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services are working together to help patients get extra help with prescription drug costs. To determine if you could be eligible for extra prescription drug help, the Social Security Administration will need to know your income and the value of your savings, investments and real estate (other than your home). Medicare Low Income Subsidy Worksheet.www.pparx.org/sites/default/files/resources/ppa_low_income_sheet_12.4.17.pdf 01-18Project Lifesaver This particular article and link is for Somerset County, but it seems to be available in other counties in NJ. Call or Google for your county is interested. Project Lifesaver, a nationally recognized program, is a joint effort between the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office and the Somerset County Office on Aging and Disability Services.Project Lifesaver is a unique bracelet identification-tracking program for individuals prone to wandering and who have dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease or developmental disorders such as Autism or Down Syndrome. The program does not serve as a “sitter” but rather provides extra support to the caregiver and family to keep the loved one in the community. Project Lifesaver uses a one ounce battery operated radio transmitter that emits an automatic tracking signal every second, 24 hours a day; each bracelet has a unique radio frequency. www.co.somerset.nj.us/government/human-services/aging-disability-services/project-lifesaver 11-17Property Tax Exemption of 100% for Disabled Veterans or Surviving Spouses. Certain permanently and totally disabled war veterans or the surviving spouses (widows/widowers) of such disabled war veterans and service persons are granted a full property tax exemption on their dwelling house and the lot on which it is situated. TO QUALIFY, you must be an honorably discharged veteran, who had active service in time of war in the US Armed Forces, or the unmarried surviving spouse of such a disabled veteran. Surviving spouses of servicepersons who died in active service in time of war also qualify. Disability must be certified as 100% permanent and total by the United States Veterans Administration. You must be the owner and a permanent resident in the dwelling and legal resident of New Jersey. In the case of surviving spouses, the deceased spouse must also have been a legal resident of New Jersey.Claim Form D.V.S.S.E. (PDF 13K) must be filed with the municipal tax assessor. www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/lpt/exam.shtml 6-13..... Property Tax Reimbursement Information (Senior or Disabled Tax Freeze) Property Tax Reimbursement (Freeze) Eligibility Requirements You may be eligible for a reimbursement of the difference between the amount of property taxes you paid for the base year (the year you first became eligible) and the amount paid for the year for which you are applying for a reimbursement if you met all the following requirements for the base year and for each succeeding year, up to and including the year for which you are claiming the reimbursement.Property Tax Reimbursement (Senior Freeze) Program 08-16 ----- R ----- Real Property Tax Deduction for Senior Citizens, Disabled Persons or Surviving Spouses ($250). An annual $250 deduction from real property taxes is provided for the dwelling of a qualified senior citizen, disabled person or surviving spouse (widow/widower). TO QUALIFY, you must be by December 31 of year before year deduction is requested a senior citizen, age 65 or older, or a permanently and totally disabled individual, unable to be gainfully employed, or a surviving spouse, age 55 or more and age 55 at time of spouse's death. You must be a legal resident of New Jersey for one year immediately prior to October 1 of the year before the year for which the deduction is requested. You must be an owner of and a permanent resident in the dwelling on October 1st of the year before the year for which the deduction is requested. Income may be no more than $10,000 during the year for which the deduction is requested, excluding, with restrictions, monies received from social security, or Federal Government pension, disability and retirement programs or State, County, Municipal pension, disability and retirement programs. Claim Form PTD (PDF 15K) must be filed with your municipal tax assessor or tax collector.www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/pdf/other_forms/lpt/ptd.pdf For more information - www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/documents/statewide_benefit_2011.pdf -- Page 34 6-15Reduced Fare Program Senior Citizen/Disabled Resident Transportation Assistance Program Many NJ senior citizens and people with disabilities require assistance in meeting their need for available and accessible transportation. To meet this need, monies from casino tax revenues are made available to the counties for local para-transit services. Services may include door-to-door and fixed route service and, local/user-fare subsidies. Individuals 60 and over can find out about the availability of services in his/her county from his/her Area Agency on Aging by calling 1-877-222-3737. One-Half Fare People with disabilities and senior citizens age 62 and older are allowed round-the-clock discounts on bus fares and trains. The fares are no more than one-half the regular one-way fare on all intrastate bus and rail routes and most interstate bus and rail routes into adjacent states (e.g., New York, Pennsylvania. Excluded are those not accepting the NJ TRANSIT round trip excursion fare. The NJ TRANSIT ID Card, which is not transferable, must be used only by the person to whom it is issued, and must be kept in that person's possession during the entire ride. If the Card is lost or stolen, an application must be made for a replacement card. Reduced Fare Program ID Card In order to be eligible for a reduced fare, elderly or people with disabilities must present either a valid Medicare card or a Reduced Fare Program identification card upon boarding a bus or purchasing a train ticket. The reduced fare card will be valid until age 65, at which time most individuals receive a Medicare card. At age 65, all persons not possessing a Medicare card must submit an application for a (new) Reduced Fare Program ID card whether or not they had one previously. www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/documents/statewide_benefit_2011.pdf 6-15Reverse Mortgage A reverse mortgage is a loan for seniors age 62 and older. HECM reverse mortgage loans are insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and allow homeowners to convert their home equity into cash with no monthly mortgage payments. Pros and cons can be read here. www.reversefunding.com/pros-cons 11-17----- S ----- Section 8 Voucher Program -- Housing for Renting & Home Ownership Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (Renting) Housing Assistance Housing Production Energy Assistance Community Services Neighborhood Programs Office of Housing Advocacy For additional information, call (609) 292-4080 or email Customer Service. Assists in making safe and quality housing in the private rental market affordable to low, and very low-income households by reducing housing costs through direct rent subsidy payments to landlords. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program is based on the premise that housing costs (rent and utilities) should not exceed 30 percent of a household's income. The statewide program is available to residents of all New Jersey counties. Additional Section 8 Existing Housing programs are administered throughout the State by a number of municipal and county authorities. Assistance is provided to low, and very low-income households and individuals. www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/dhcr/offices/section8hcv.html APPLYING FOR SECTION 8 IN NEW JERSEY - www.sectioneightapplication.com/apply/NJ APPLYING FOR SECTION 8 IN NEW JERSEY - www.sectioneightapplication.com/apply/NJ 6-15Section 8 (Home ownership) Program Housing Assistance Housing Production Energy Assistance Community Services Neighborhood Programs Office of Housing Advocacy For additional information, call (609) 292-9025. The Section 8 Homeownership Program is funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Participants in the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs' (DCA) Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program are eligible for this program and could become homeowners provided they meet all Section 8 Homeownership Program eligibility requirements.& The Housing Choice Voucher that is currently used towards rental payments will be applied towards homeownership expenses including principal and interest on mortgage debt, insurance, taxes, utilities and other homeownership expenses. www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/dhcr/offices/section8ho.html APPLYING FOR SECTION 8 IN NEW JERSEY - www.sectioneightapplication.com/apply/NJ 6-15Selling your house ((Capital gains (Exit Tax)) What It Actually Is. Despite the confusion caused by calling it an exit tax, the law simply requires the seller to pay state tax in advance, calculated as follows: New Jersey withholds either 8.97% of the profit or 2% of the selling price, whichever is higher. This estimated tax is adjusted when the seller files a New Jersey tax return for the year of the sale. The seller must pay this tax prior to leaving the state, even if there is no gain from the sale. But the state takes all that into account once the year-end income tax is filed. So, for example, if you lost money on the sale of your house, and 2% tax was prepaid before you left the state, you would receive a full refund when you file your New Jersey state income tax. If you do realize a capital gain on the sale, it would be deducted from the estimated tax payment you have made when exiting and the remainder would be returned to you. For a two people names on the deed there is a $250,000 deduction for each one of them, for a total of $500,000 deduction. Jan 16, 2018 - Any amount that is taxable for federal purposes is taxable for New Jersey purposes. Single filers can qualify to exclude up to $250,000. Joint filers can qualify to exclude up to $500,000. This is true regardless of age, as long as you owned and lived in the residence for 2 of the 5 years prior to the sale. www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/njit10.shtml 11-19Selling your house (Best & Worst Times Of The Year) Best times are February through June, when people are looking to register their kids for school in the new school system. Worst times are July though August, when people are on vacations.Thanksgiving through Christmas, when people are celebrating holidays. 11-19Schedule of Social Security Benefit Payments 2016 The day of the week your check get delivered is based on this calendar.www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10031-2016.pdf 9-16Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program As of 2015, income limits are at least $26,575 and less than $36,575 if single;at least $32,582 and less than $42,582 joint income, if married. Information: www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/home/seniorgolddetail.html Application Form: www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/forms/ap-2.pdf 11-19Senior Pass Getting your one time charge of $10 for your Senior Pass from the U.S. government when you turn 62 (or older) is a must-do because of how much money it can save you at over 2,000 federally managed recreation sites across the nation. www.frugalicity.com/senior-pass.html 11-19Sewer and/or Water Discount Each town offer a Sewer and or Water discount for Senior / Disabled customers.You will have to call your town for more details. Below link is an example for monville, NJ www.montvillenj.org/202/Rates-Payment 11-19Silver Sneakers Silver sneakers is a program that allows to Enjoy unlimited access to 10,000+ locations, where you can use equipment and take fitness classes.If you have Medicare part A & B and a approved supplemental carrier then you can go to a gym completely FREE. In New Jersey, as of 1-17 Blue Cross is not a participating supplemental carrier. participating supplemental carrier are: Eta, Armac,Clover,Humanna, United Health, and Wellcare. Call 1-888-423-4632 for more information. www.tivityhealth.com 11-19 3-20 Sleeping Better If you nose gets clogged while sleeping then you can help by raising the the bed frame under you head. It could help with snoring too. Using a plastic bed riser kit from Walmart for under $11.00 will help immensely. www.google.com/search?q=bed+lifts&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS765US765&oq=bed+lifts&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j0l7.7095j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 3-20Social Security Disability Disability Planner: What Can Cause Benefits To Stop? Two things can cause us to decide that you are no longer disabled and to stop your benefits. Your disability benefits will stop if you work at a level we consider "substantial." In 2015, average earnings of $1,090 or more per month ($1,820 or more per month if you are blind) are usually considered substantial. Your disability benefits also will stop if we decide that your medical condition has improved to the point that you are no longer disabled. You are responsible for promptly reporting any improvement in your condition, if you return to work, and certain other events as long as you are receiving disability benefits. The booklet we send you when your application is approved explains what you need to report to us. Publications: Disability Benefits How We Decide If You Are Still Disabled Working While Disabled—How We Can Help www.ssa.gov/dibplan/dwork2.htm 06-15Stair Chair Lift When you have a hard time going up and down stairs in your home. Companies offer reconditioned as well as reasonably cheap new stair chair lifts. Stair lift - Google Search Stairlifts from $999| Authorized Dealer of AmeriGlide Stair Lifts Used Acorn Stair Lift 120 Battery Powered $1299. If you need a 3 position Lift Chair, look here. AmeriGlide 325M 3 Position Lift Chair lift chairs medicare - Google Search On new chairs, Medicare will pay for the mechanism, but not the chair. 05/18Statewide Benefits for Older Persons This guide was printed in 2011 and provides additional information than is provided in this webpage.www.state.nj.us/humanservices/doas/documents/statewide_benefit_2011.pdf 06-15----- T ----- TSA Pre ✓  TSA Pre✓® is an expedited security screening program connecting travelers departing from airports within the United States with smarter security and a better air travel experience. Passengers considered low-risk who qualify for the program can receive expedited screening either as a member of the program or another specific trusted traveler group. If you’re eligible and approved for the TSA Pre✓® program you will be given a known traveler number “KTN” to use when making flight reservations. Participating airlines will print an indicator on your boarding pass. When you arrive at the airport, look for signs for the lanes. www.tsa.gov/tsa-precheck Screening for Passengers 75 and Older, you may leave on your shoes and light jacket during screening. www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures/screening-passengers-75-and-older ----- U ----- 08-19 Unclaimed Property & Money The Unclaimed Property Administration (UPA) recovers and records abandoned or lost intangible and tangible property. The UPA’s goal is to return this property to the rightful owner and/or heirs. The New Jersey Unclaimed Property Statute ensures that property owners never relinquish the right to this property and the UPA only acts as a custodian until the property is returned. Put you Personal or business name in and it will tell you if there is anything due you ! ! ! https://www.unclaimedproperty.nj.gov 08-19Universal Service Fund The State of New Jersey created the Universal Service Fund (USF) program to help make natural gas and electric bill more affordable for low-income households. The goal of the USF program is to help ensure that income eligible New Jersey utility customers pay no more than 6% of their annual income for their natural gas and electric service combined. Households with income equal to or less than 175% of the Federal Poverty Level are income eligible. Q. How much money will I receive from USF? If you are found eligible for USF, you will receive a USF credit on your utility bill.. The amount of the credit is different for each eligible customer, depending on how much of your income you spend on energy. The USF benefit is designed to help you pay no more than the target amount of 3% on your natural gas bill alone and no more than the target amount of 3% on your electric bill alone (or, if you heat with electricity, no more than 6% of your income on electricity). The USF credit is capped at $1,800 for both electric and gas combined. Please Note: if you receive Food Stamps, your Food Stamp application is also your LIHEAP application and your USF application. Therefore, Food Stamp customers almost never need to complete the separate USF-LIHEAP application.www.state.nj.us/bpu/residential/assistance/usf.html#7 11-19----- W ----- Weatherization Assistance Program Helps seniors, disabled residents and low income households weatherize their homes to improve heating system efficiency, conserve energy and decrease utility bills. The weatherization program can provide you with tools such as insulation, caulking, weather stripping and assistance to repair or replace windows, furnace/boiler, heat exchange or distributions systems. www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/dhcr/offices/wap.html The program also provides for a new refrigerator.www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/dhcr/offices/docs/wap/wb_418_508.pdf 11-17 3-20 Walker & Cane Proper Adjustments When using a cane or walker, you can properly adjust the height of the handgrips, by letting your arms hang down, and adjust the height of the hand grips, to be at your wrist. This will provide a better posture, reduce the tendency of leaning forward and tipping over, and the walker will be closer to your body. 3-20When A Credit Holder Dies When someone dies, the task of notifying financial institutions and closing credit card accounts can easily be forgotten or pushed aside. www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/6-steps-when-credit-card-holder-dies.php 6-18Getting Power Wheelchairs, Scooters, Lift Chairs, And Wheelchair Cushions From Medicare. NOTE: It is next to impossible to get a motorized wheel chair under Medicare, because doctors don't have a clue how to or don't want to fill out the VERY SIMPLE forms. Even if they fill out the forms, they don't read the VERY - VERY - VERY SPECIFIC requirements specified in the forms. When you call a company that is authorized by the state to give you the motorized wheel chair, they tell you what the doctor wrote is not correct, specific enough or incomplete. If you need the motorized wheel chair, than you MUST find a doctor that, knows how to fill out the necessary forms properly, and has done so many times before, and that his or her patients have successfully received the chair FREE without any hassles by the chair vendor or the state. If not, you are wasting your time and money by going to a doctor that says they can fill out the paper work, when they can't or won't do it properly. We have been told by receptionists and nurses that supposedly asked the doctor if he or she can fill out the forms and have done so before, and they said yes. When you get to the doctors office and take x-rays, a MRI, and pay for an office visit, and when you question the doctor he or she tells you that they no idea what your talking about. We have been on this merry ground to many times, still unsuccessful in getting a chair that was desperately needed. You are entitled to a new power wheel chair or Scooter every 5 years. Medicare will only pay for your motorized scooter or wheelchair if you say it is needed and will only to be used in your home. You must get your chair from an approved competitive bidder in order for Medicare to cover the 80% of the scooter. Medicare.gov approved supplier directory search. - www.medicare.gov/supplierdirectory/search.html If you have secondary coverage, it will pickup the balance of 20%, and your scooter or wheelchair should be FREE. If you don't have secondary insurance coverage, you can pay off the 20% balance in $41 payments. Beware !!! Some companies that supply the wheel chair, want you to pay them first, and then its your problem to get the money from Medicare. Keep in mind that the equipment must be necessary for you in the home. You can get only one piece of equipment at a time to address your mobility problem. If you have received a manual wheel chair from Medicare, you will not be eligible for a motorized scooter or wheel chair, until that 5 year period is over. www.medicare.gov/coverage/manual-wheelchairs-and-power-mobility-devices.html Special rules for getting power wheelchairs or scooters in nineteen states. (INCLUDES NEW JERSEY) www.medicareinteractive.org/get-answers/medicare-covered-services/durable-medical-equipment-part-b/special-rules-for-getting-power-wheelchairs-or-scooters-in-nineteen-states
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