SENIOR CONNECTIONS

FARMINGDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY

November/December 2018 Newsletter

Topic of the Month

WHAT THE TAX REFORM BILL MEANS FOR INDIVIDUALS

To inform federal income taxpayers of extensive changes to the tax code prior to upcoming tax preparation period, the Journal of Accountancy in concert with Association of International Professional Accountants, prepared a detailed description of the new Tax Cut and Jobs Act which went into effect 2018. This act, which both houses of Congress passed on December 20,2017 and signed by the President, contains a large number of provisions that affect individual taxpayers. To keep the cost of the bill within Senate budget rules, however, all changes affecting individuals expire after 2025. At that time, if no future Congress acts to extend the provisions, the individual tax provisions would sunset, and tax law would revert to 2017 law. 

The tax law website  provides info on tax rate tables, passthrough income deductions, tax credits, education provisions, itemized deductions, and more.

Visit website: https://www.journalofaccountancy.com/news/2017/dec/tax-reform-bill-changes-for-individuals-201718070.html to view details of the Act or visit us (Senior Connections) at the library.

SENIOR CONNECTIONS

FARMINGDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY

September/ October 2018 Newsletter

Topic of the Month

10 WARNING SIGNS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

It may be hard to know the difference between age-related changes and the first signs of Alzheimer's disease. To help identify problems early, the Alzheimer's Association created a list of warning signs for Alzheimer's disease individuals may experience one or more of these in different degrees.

• Memory loss that disrupts daily life.
• Challenges in planning or solving problems.
• Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure.
• Confusion with time or place.
• Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships.
• New problems with words in speaking or writing.
• Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps.
• Decreased or poor judgement.
• Withdrawal from work or social activities.
• Changes in mood and personality.

SENIOR CONNECTIONS

FARMINGDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY

July/August 2018 Newsletter

Topic of the Month

GETTING HELP PAYING FOR MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

If you have limited income and resources, you may qualify for help to pay for some prescription drugs. EXTRA HELP is a Medicare program to help people with limited income and resources pay Medicare prescription drugs. You may qualify for EXTRA HELP if your yearly income and resources are below these limits in 2018:

• Single person - income less than $18,210 per year and resources less than $14,100
• Married person living with a spouse and no dependents - income less than $24,690 per year and resources less than $28,150

Resources include money in checking or savings account, stocks, bonds, mutual funds and IRA's. Examples of  income: Social Security, interest, dividends and others.

 

If you qualify for EXTRA HELP and join a Medicare drug plan, you will:

• Get help paying your Medicare drug plan's costs
• Have no coverage gap
• Have no late enrollment penalty
• Have the chance to switch plans at any time

You automatically qualify for EXTRA HELP if you have Medicare and full Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

 

If you have employer or union coverage and you join a Medicare drug plan, you may lose your employer or union coverage even if you qualify for EXTRA HELP. Call your employer's benefits administrator before you join a Medicare drug plan.

If you did not qualify for EXTRA HELP, you can apply anytime by visiting socialsecurity.gov/i1020 or calling 1-800-772-1213. To get answers to questions about EXTRA HELP, call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 1-800-701-0501. You can also call 1-800-MEDICARE.

 

Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

 

Senior Connections

Farmingdale Public Library

May/June 2018 Newsletter

Topic of the Month

New Medicare Cards Are Coming

Through their website, Medicare.gov, US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced that "New Medicare cards are coming". For people enrolled in Medicare, as well as new enrollees, Medicare will mail new Medicare cards between April 2018 and April 2019. Your new card will have a new Medicare number that is unique to you, instead of your Social Security number. This will help to protect your identity.

Things to know about your new Medicare card

• You don't need to take any action to get your new Medicare card
• The new card won't change your Medicare coverage or benefits
• Medicare will never ask you to give personal or private information to get your new Medicare number and card
• There is no charge for your new card; destroy old card after receiving the new one

Watch out for scams

Scam artists may try to get your current Medicare number and other personal information by contacting you about your new Medicare card. They often claim to be from Medicare and use various scams to get your Medicare number including:

• Asking you to confirm your Medicare or Social Security number so they can send you a new card
• Telling you there is a charge for your new card and they need to verify your personal information
• Threatening to cancel your health benefits if you don't share your Medicare number or personal information 

If you have any questions about this new card or Medicare in general, call at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or go on line at Medicare.gov.

SENIOR CONNECTIONS

FARMINGDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY

March/April 2018 Newsletter

TOPIC OF THE MONTH

4 BASIC STEPS TO FOOD SAFETY AT HOME

The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has provided info on website FoodSafety.gov to learn how to keep food safe and prevent health issues. Per FDA, one in six Americans could get sick from food poisoning annually. Food poisoning not only sends more than 100,000 Americans to the hospital each year---it can also have "long-term health consequences". Following four simple steps can help keep your family safe from food poisoning at home. Visit CLEAN, SEPARATE, COOK and CHILL pages of the website to see the most effective ways to help keep your family safe from food poisoning. Or visit Senior Connections at library Outreach Services room for above info.

SENIOR CONNECTIONS

FARMINGDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY

 

January/February Newsletter

Topic of the Month

 

Keep Informed About Equifax Data Breach Updates

 

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, an official website of U.S. Government (cfpb.gov) provides useful updates about Equifax data breach. At this website, you can visit a collection of the latest releases, tips, updates and known scams.

Below is a list of resources and public releases from the bureau to help people understand what they currently know, and what steps or actions they can take to protect their personal information.

Resources:  *Credit reports and scores         *Current scams

Latest releases:  *Top 10 ways to protect yourself in wake of Equifax data breach, e.g. free credit reporting     *Service members should secure their identity after Equifax data breach

*Identity theft protection following Equifax breach

If you wish to obtain above info from us (Senior Connections), visit us at library Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays from 10am to 12 noon.

 

SENIOR CONNECTIONS

FARMINGDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY

November/December 2017 Newsletter

 

Topic of the Month

"PROTECTING OLDER PERSONS FROM FRAUD"

 

National Council on Aging offers tips on avoiding fraud at: EconomicCheck.org. Click on "Protect Yourself from Scams". Summary of info provided at website:

 

• Top 10 Scams Targeting Seniors
• Top 8 Ways to Protect Yourself from Scams
• 33 Tips for Avoiding Scams and Swindles

In addition, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in collaboration with FDIC offers a website at: cfpb.gov.  Go to "Practitioner Resources", then click on "Older Adults and Their Families".

 

If you would like to discuss above valuable information with us, feel free to visit us at the library (Outreach Services room) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays from 10am to 12 noon. We will assist in "prevention awareness" and "actions to be taken if scammed.