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Caregivers

See also:  Caregivers For Disabled Veterans

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For any Caregiver - includes volunteer organizations, organizing tools, etc
For those Caring for Elders
For Parents of People with Disabilities
For Families of those with Mental Illness
For Elders Receiving Care from their Children
For those Caring for Cancer Patients
News & Policy

Related Pages:

 

For Any Caregiver


  Patient Handouts from the CRC

 

  • Caring Bridge - MGH Community News, October 2003
    Offers free websites to keep family and friends in touch during important life events including medical treatment, rehabilitation, childbirth, adoption and end-of-life care.

  • Volunteer Help and Coordination Tools
    • www.lotsahelpinghands.com- MGH Community News, Februrary 2011- Website to organize informal volunteer shifts and services.
    • Neighbor Brigade - uses "neighbors helping neighbors" model to provide free, temporary, non-medical support to those who are experiencing an unexpected emergency such as a critical illness, accident, or family tragedy. Assist with tasks such as transportation, meal prep, light housework, pet care.
    • Share the Care - information and resources to start a "Share the care" caring circle

 

 For those Caring for Elders

Articles and Tips:

 

For Parents of People with Disabilities

  • Practice Note: below is information about a couple of financial planning tools parents may use. This information is meant as an introduction and to begin the education process. We strongly recommend that parents consult a financial planner or attorney with relevant experience to make the best plan for their unique situation and needs. Find a Special Needs Attorney: Special Needs Alliance: Find an Attorney, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA): Find a Lawyer

  • ABLE Accounts
    • MA ABLE Accounts - Special 529 plans that can be used for disability related expenses; an option to protect assets while preserving MassHealth & SSI eligibility
      • To qualify, participants must have become disabled before age 26*, and meet the federal definition of severe physical or mental disability. A key advantage of the new accounts is they allow disabled people to accumulate up to $100,000 without jeopardizing Medicaid coverage or other government-funded services. *Age of disability onset is expected to increase to 46 in 2026 (more info from 1/23 and follow up article from 2/23)
    • In May 2017, the MA Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) became the state sponsor of the  Attainable Savings PlanSM, Massachusetts' ABLE program.
    • 2018 ABLE changes (MEFA)
      • Annual Contribution Limit- Contributions into a single Attainable account are now limited to $15,000, up from $14,000 in 2017. This dollar limit applies to the sum of contributions from all sources into each Attainable account. The contribution limit does not reset or increase if the beneficiary spends down the contribution in the same year.
      • ABLE Financial Planning Act- Provided that the beneficiary is the same individual on both accounts (or one beneficiary is a family member of the other), it is now allowable to transfer funds from a 529 college savings plan into an ABLE account without incurring any tax or penalty. The funds rolled over from the 529 plan are subject to the annual contribution limit of $15,000 into an ABLE account. The rollover may originate from any state’s 529 plan.
      • ABLE to Work Act- The ABLE to Work legislation specifies that ABLE account beneficiaries who work and earn income may now contribute over the annual limit of $15,000 into their ABLE account. The additional permissible contribution amount equals the lesser of the individual’s gross income or the amount equal to the federal poverty line set for one person, currently $12,060. This additional contribution over $15,000 is only permitted if the beneficiary is not participating in his or her employer’s work retirement plan.
    • Details, including comparison with Special Needs Trusts: ABLE Accounts – Additional Details and Comparison to Third Party Special Needs Trusts, MGH Community News, February 2015.
    • For more information about ABLE and to find additional resources, including articles, videos, and webinars, visit the ABLE National Resource Center online at ablenrc.org.
      • Previous Coverage- ABLE Act Closer to Reality (Special 529 plans that can be used for disability related expenses) one way to protect assets while preserving MassHealth & SSI eligibility - MGH Community News, December 2015

  • Special Needs Trusts

  • General Special Needs Planning

    See also:

For Families of those with Mental Illness

For Elders Receiving Care from their Children

 

For those Caring for Cancer Patients

News & Policy