Friday, April 12, 2013

Julie Hilbert...

SENIOR MOMENT UPDATE Home Repair The City’s Community Development Department has rehabilitation loans available for homeowners in a limited area that qualify. These loans feature no interest ever, and no monthly payments. They are usually repaid when you decide to move or sell home. Call 322-3445. The Village of North Fond du Lac also has a similar program for residence in the Village of NFDL call 929-3765 and ask for Chris. Family Size Income Can assist with: 1 person $36,750 Windows 2 persons $42,000 Roofing 3 persons $47,250 Plumbing 4 persons $52,500 basements Stairways Siding Furnaces, etc. Home Rehabilitation Program - To qualify must have one structural, plumbing, heating electrical or accessibility problem and meet the income guidelines (single $32,600 - couple $37,250). Rehabilitation loan that provides no interest and deferred payments until your home is sold or you transfer title. Advocap 922-7760 (Pat) Weatherization - If you receive Energy Assistance you may also be eligible for weatherization services. Those services include: insulate attic, sidewalls & water heater. Repair or replace furnace and/or refrigerator, reduce air leakage and health and safety inspection. It is not limited to homeowners, if you're a renter or live in a mobile home, duplex or apt. building you may be eligible. Call: 1-800-323-0150 and ask for Weatherization. Tomorrow’s Home Foundation – Help Hand Assistance Program – Mobile/Manufactured Home Assistance – This program provides assistance to low-income factory-built homeowners that need critical home repairs. Eligibility guidelines exist. Please call Julie at 929-3521 for more information.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Julie Hilbert...

WISCONSIN HOMESTEAD CREDIT By Julie Hilbert, Benefit Specialist Fond du Lac County The Wisconsin Homestead Credit is a tax benefit for renters and homeowners with low or moderate incomes. It is designed to lessen the impact of rent and property taxes. Property taxes do not need to be paid before filing for Homestead Credit. Qualifying persons can get back some or all of their state taxes withheld during the year. Household income that is reported includes all income for tax purposes plus certain nontaxable income. Nontaxable income includes gross Social Security, SSI, Railroad Retirement, pensions, IRA income and income from investments, etc. You have until April 15, 2017 to file for your 2012 homestead credit, and after April 16, 2013, you can receive credit back to 2009. The maximum amount of Homestead Credit can be as high as $1,160. Expect to wait six (6) to ten (10) weeks for the payment from the time it is submitted. To check up on payments you can visit the department’s website at www.dor.state.wi.us. Other assistance is available by calling the Madison office at 608-266-8641. To qualify for Homestead credit you must: • Be a legal Wisconsin resident for all of 2012 • Have a household income less than $24,680 • Be a owner or renter of the homestead during 2012 • Not be claiming farmland preservation credit for 2012 • Not be living in a nursing home and receiving medical assistance • No claim may be filed on behalf of a person after his or her death Julie Hilbert the Benefit Specialist for Fond du Lac County will be conducting Free Homestead Tax Clinics during the month of February. Please see below for dates and locations. If you are unable to make it to one of the clinics please schedule an appointment by calling 920-929-3521. What to bring: 1099’s from Social Security, banks, pensions, and any other statements of income and a copy of your property tax bill or a completed rent certificate. HOMESTEAD CLINICS Riverview Apartments – 101 Western Avenue, Fond du Lac – February 4, 2013 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Grand Court Apartments – 630 W. Arndt St., Fond du Lac – February 5, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Westnor Apartments – 653 W. Arndt Street, Fond du Lac – February 5, 2013 from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. Heather Meadows – 235 Winnebago Street, North Fond du Lac – February 6, 2013 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Northgate Apartments – 350 Winnebago Street, North Fond du Lac – February 6, 2013 from 12:30 – 2:00 p.m. Waupun – 301 E. Main Street, Waupun - February 7, 2013 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Brandon – Grand Vista Apartments, 552 E. Washington, Brandon – February 7, 2013 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Ripon Senior Center – 100 E. Jackson St., Ripon – February 11, 2013, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Campbellsport – 163 E. Main Street, Campbellsport – February 12, 2013 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Julie Hilbert...

SENIOR MOMENT UPDATE Part B Premiums and Deductibles for 2013 • Part B premium for most people will be $104.90 per month. • Medicare Part A Premium: Part A covers inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care, and some home health care. Only about 1 percent of people with Medicare pay a premium for Part A services—you need to have paid Medicare payroll taxes for 40 quarters of employment or be married to someone who did. For those few affected, the 2013 Part A premium is decreasing to $441, down from $451 in 2012. • Medicare Part A Deductible: This deductible is the cost to people with Medicare for up to 60 days of Medicare-covered inpatient services in the hospitals for each benefit period (a benefit period starts the day a patient is admitted and ends when the patient has been out of the hospital for 60 days in a row.) This will increase to $1,184 in 2013, up from $1156 this year (an increase of 2.4%). • Medicare Part B Deductible: The deductible will increase to $147 in 2013, from $140. This is still $15 below the deductible in 2011. • Income-related Adjustments: People with Medicare who report 2011income above $85,000 a year ($170,000 filing jointly) are legally responsible to cover a larger portion of the cost of their coverage. These premium adjustments range from $42.00 to $230.80 a month for Medicare Part B.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Julie Hilbert

SENIOR MOMENT UPDATE Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA): Based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) from the third quarter of 2011 through the third quarter of 2012, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries will receive a 1.7 percent COLA for 2013. If beneficiary is receiving Social Security benefits prior to reaching full retirement age in 2013 you can earn up to $15,120 annually without a reduction in benefits. Earnings are either wages or net earnings from self-employment. For every $2 in earnings above that limit $1 in benefits will be deducted from their social security benefits. In the YEAR the beneficiary reaches full retirement age they can earn up to $40,080 in 2013. For every $3 in earnings benefits are reduced $1. In the MONTH the beneficiary reach full retirement age there is no limit in earnings. Fond du Lac County Caregiver Conference – Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012 at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Fond du Lac. The day begins at 8:30am and ends by 3:15pm. Cost is $15 for professional caregivers and $5 for Family Caregivers. This conference is for both, Family Caregivers- those that care for a loved one at home and Professional (Paid) Caregivers. The keynote speaker will be Greg Giles, Director of the Fond du Lac YMCA, presenting “Take this Job and Love It!” There will also be two workshops sharing helpful information, a community resource panel, time to visit the exhibits and ask questions of the providers and lunch! Respite is available, if you need someone to care for your loved one so you can attend, but please call ahead so we can make those arrangements. Please let us know you are coming by Monday, November 5! Registration forms are available up in Senior Services, 160 S. Macy St., the Senior Center, the YMCA or by calling Ginny at 920-838-1311 or Lori , Senior Services 906-4792

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Julie Hilbert...

SENIOR MOMENT UPDATE Upcoming When I’m 65 Presentations: • September 25, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. at the Ledgeview Memorial Park & Shrine of Rest Mausoleum • October 1, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at the Fond du Lac Senior Center Part D Plans for 2013 – The preliminary information for the 2013 stand-alone drug plans have come out. There are 15 insurance companies offering 31 separate drug plans. Plans range from the cheapest $18.50 to $119.70 per month. Three of the companies from 2012 are not offering plans for 2013, Medco, CCRX and Health Net. Four new companies have entered the arena for 2013, they are Destiny Health, Express Scripts, Health Markets and Smart D. Please review your plans 2013 information carefully to see if you need to make a switch for the coming year. Appointments can now be made with Julie Hilbert by calling 929-3521. Medicare Advantage Plans for 2013 – There are four companies offering 13 Medicare Advantage plans some with prescription drug coverage some without. Anthem BC/BS Preferred Select plan will not be offered in 2013, the Core plan will still remain. All of the Network as well as Humana plans will be offered again in 2013 and the AARP endorsed UHC plan has remained the same as in 2012. Premiums as well as maximum out of pocket limits have changed so please make sure you review your materials. If you need to review those changes or have questions please call to schedule your appointment. Energy Assistance Madison Number to set apts – 800-506-5596 Meet with rep. In FDL - 920-929-3445 104 S. Main St. Suite 711 Fond du Lac, WI 54935 Apply times run from October to May 15th (Not guaranteed because of funding) To Qualify SS cards of people in home Utility bill All gross income for previous 3 months (everyone in home) Income 2011-2012 Season: $2,024 a month or $24,288 per year for individuals $2,646 a month or $31,752 per year for couples *Crisis funding – if get grant but doesn’t cover costs they can still get additional funding

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Julie Hilbert...

SENIOR MOMENT UPDATE Upcoming When I’m 65 Presentations: • September 11, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at the Fond du Lac Public Library • September 25, 2012 at 5:30 p.m. at the Ledgeview Memorial Park & Shrine of Rest Mausoleum • October 1, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. at the Fond du Lac Senior Center Wisconsin Foodshare income guidelines increased – If you are having difficulty making ends meet and would like assistance with getting help with food costs, the Foodshare Program may be able to help. If your income is at or below for a single person $1,862 per month and for a couple $2,522 per month, please call 1-888-446-1239 to apply. Energy Assistance Madison Number to set apts – 800-506-5596 Meet with rep. In FDL - 920-929-3445 104 S. Main St. Suite 711 Fond du Lac, WI 54935 Apply times run from October to May 15th To Qualify SS cards of people in home Utility bill All gross income for previous 3 months (everyone in home) Income 2011-2012 Season: $2,024 a month or $24,288 per year for individuals $2,646 a month or $31,752 per year for couples *Crisis funding – if get grant but doesn’t cover costs they can still get additional funding.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Julie Hilbert...

SENIOR MOMENT UPDATE Are you a Hospital Inpatient or Outpatient? If you have Medicare ASK! In the past, hospitals were able to “write off” self-administered drugs given to patience when they were labeled as an outpatient. Even if you stay in the hospital overnight and/or up to 3 days, you may still be considered an “outpatient”? An “outpatient” is defined if you are getting emergency department services, observation services, outpatient surgery, lab tests, or x-rays and the doctor HASN”T written an order to admit you to the hospital as an inpatient. Your hospital status affects how much you pay for hospital services (like x-rays, drugs and lab tests) and may also affect whether Medicare will cover care you get in a skilled nursing facility. Here are some things to consider and questions to ask: • If you’re in the hospital more than a few hours, always ask your doctor or the hospital staff if you’re an inpatient or outpatient. • Any prescriptions you take can be brought into a hospital. o Keep a current list of your medications o Let family members know where your medications are kept if they need to get them to you in a hospital setting. o Know what kind of insurance you have (i.e. Part D, Supplemental, Advantage Plan, SeniorCare, etc.) For more information on this, please contact Julie at 929-3521. Beware of This Utility Bill Assistance Scam - The scam claims the Obama administration will provide credits or apply a payment of $1,000 to utility bills through a new stimulus program. The scam tells customers a new federal program will pay their utility bills, if they give their personal information, including their Social Security numbers. The victims are given fake bank information to use when they pay their bills online. Utility officials said they do not make unsolicited phone calls, texts or emails asking for customers' personal information. Consumer Protection officials said they adamantly advise consumers to keep their Social Security numbers and other person information private. If customers have fallen victim to this scam, they should call the Wisconsin Consumer Protection hotline at (608) 224-4953.