Sheri R. Abrams's Blog, page 16
August 16, 2017
Estate Planning for Families in Virginia: Essentials for Your Young Families
Young families are busy! They are often raising young children and at the beginning stages of their careers. When it comes to estate planning for families in Virginia, it is often at the bottom of their priority list – if it is even on the list at all!
But, I’d like to help bump that priority up by explaining several reasons why young families need estate planning.
Who will raise your children if you can’t?The odds are in your favor here, but there is a chance that something could happen...
August 15, 2017
Senior’s National Park Pass Fee Increase
On August 28, 2017, the price of the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass increased for the first time since 1994. The Senior’s National Park Pass Life-Time pass fee is going to go from $10 to $80. See more information at : https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/senior-pass-changes.htm
Who is eligible for a Senior Pass?
US citizens or permanent residents 62 years or older are eligible for the Senior’s National Park Pass.
What does the Senior Pas...
August 9, 2017
Fairfax Special Needs Planning Lawyer: Decision Making for Your 18-Year-Old Child with Special Needs
When your child reaches age 18, he or she is an adult and has all of the legal rights and responsibilities that comes along with that. He or she can legally enter into contracts and make decisions related to critical issues such as medical care. It is quite a shock to parents when they experience this for the first time. For example, a doctor that you’ve taken them to since they were babies may now ask you to leave the room during your child’s examination and will no longer share informati...
July 28, 2017
Fairfax Virginia Special Needs Planning Lawyer: All Kids Need Legal Planning—But Even More So When Your Child Has a Disability!
As a Fairfax Virginia Special Needs Planning attorney, and a mother myself, I can honestly say that that legal planning is critical for all parents of minor children.
It provides the opportunity to determine who will raise your kids if you can’t, what money will be set aside or used for their upbringing, and even what money will be used to support them as adults.
Yet each of these choices can become even more difficult when the child has a disability , especially if he or she is receiving som...
July 22, 2017
Virginia Social Security Lawyer Says, “No Matter Your Age – It’s Critical to Review Your Social Security Earning Statement”
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has decided to reduce costs by no longer sending out paper earning statements to workers under 60 years of age. This doesn’t seem to concern most people who are still far from their retirement years.
However, every worker should be reviewing their earning statements periodically, which you can do online at “mySocialSecurity”. There are occasionally mistakes made which need to be corrected immediately.
Here are the five most important things to know wh...
July 15, 2017
Have You Been Denied for SSDI in Virginia? Don’t Panic!
Approximately 80% of applications for Social Security Disability benefits are initially denied. If you fall into this category, don’t worry! Being denied SSDI in Virginia is not the end of the world. You have the right to appeal the decision. It is important to read the denial letter carefully, as the letter will explain why you were denied. After you read the letter here are the steps you’ll want to take:
1) File an appeal right away.
You need to file an appeal as soon as possible after bei...
July 6, 2017
Age 62 and on SSI? You’ll Need to Apply for Early Social Security Retirement Benefits – Whether You Want to Or Not!
Over the past few years, there have been some big changes in the Social Security retirement benefits system. For many years, the retirement age at which a person first becomes entitled to full retirement benefits has been 65. However, beginning with people born in 1938, that age has gradually been increasing until it reached 67 for people born in 1960 and later. (Here is a handy calculator that helps you determine at what age you reach full retirement.)
As the full retirement age continues t...
July 5, 2017
Why Does Social Security Say That I Am No Longer Eligible for Disability Benefits?
When you are working, you have FICA tax withheld from your wages. You also earn one Social Security credit for each quarter in which you earn a certain amount of wages.
However, when you stop working, you stop accumulating these quarters of coverage. Normally, five years after you stop working, your insured status expires. It then becomes much more difficult, if not impossible, to receive Social Security Disability benefits since you are no longer insured for benefits. In other words, your “d...
June 29, 2017
Virginia Social Security Disability Lawyer Reveals 7 Common Reasons Why Social Security Disability Benefits Are Denied
If you have been severely injured or are very ill, you may find it impossible to continue working. If you are in this position, you may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability (SSDI) benefits. SSDI can provide you the financial support you need to survive.
It’s important to note that just because you have a medical diagnosis of a disability, it does not mean that you are automatically entitled to benefits. You will have to file an application with the Social Security Administration...
June 23, 2017
Fairfax Estate Planning Lawyer: Legal Planning After a Cancer Diagnosis
The other day, I was asked by a doctor what are the top legal steps a Fairfax estate planning lawyer would advise patients to take after they have been diagnosed with cancer. The answer that I gave to him really applies to anyone that is diagnosed with a serious illness or life-threatening condition. As I explained to the doctor, there are four main areas of concern that patients should address when getting their affairs in order. Here is a brief outline of what we discussed.
1) Who will...
