What is a Power of Attorney?
A power of attorney covers matters like legal and financial decisionmaking during the principal’s disability or absence. Granting power of attorney gives the appointed person the ability to handle financial matters like bills, banking, rent/mortgage, or other business that might need managing on your behalf if you’re unable.
What is a Health Care Proxy?
A legal document that allows you to designate someone to make health care decisions and end-of-life medical decisions on your behalf if you can no longer do so. Reach out to J&G for assistance.
Medicare versus Medicaid
Medicare and Medicaid are two separate, government-run programs. They are operated and funded by different parts of the government and primarily serve different groups. •
Medicare is a federal program that provides health coverage if you are 65+ or under 65 and have a disability, no matter your income.
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Medicaid is a state and federal program that provides health coverage if you have a very low income.
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If you are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (dually eligible), you can have both. They will work together to provide you with health coverage and lower your costs.
What is an Estate Plan?
Estate Planning is making a plan in advance and naming whom you want to receive the things you own after you die. Your estate is comprised of everything you own including but not limited to your car, home(s), other real estate, checking and savings accounts, investments, life insurance, furniture, personal possessions. It is recommended that you control how those things are given to the people or organizations you care most about. To ensure your wishes are carried out, you need to provide instructions stating whom you want to receive something of yours, what you want them to receive, and when they are to receive it. We can help you plan to incur the least amount paid in taxes, legal fees, and court costs.
What is a Trust?
A trust is a legal contract between at least two parties: a grantor and one or more trustees. The grantor is the person who has assets like real estate, money, and collectibles they would like a trustee to hold for the benefit of one or more beneficiaries. A trustee is appointed in the trust document and manages the trust. The beneficiary is often a child or another relative, but a grantor can choose multiple beneficiaries or institutions such as charities or schools. There can be current beneficiaries who are entitled to payments from the trust now, and future beneficiaries who are entitled to benefit from the trust in the future. If the trustee is a bank, lawyer, or other financial institution, a trust administrator will generally be assigned to your trust account to ensure proper administration. The trust administrator is also often called a trust officer. This option is not subject to probate like a will is.
Documents and tasks you may need when a loved one passes away: 1. 2.
Consult with an attorney Last Will and Testament, Living Will, Living Trust and other estate planning documents 3. Provide cemetery deed or proof of ownership 4. Copy of Birth Certificate 5. Several copies of the Death Certificate 6. Notify Social Security Administration 1-800-772-1213 7. Social Security number may be needed 8. Proof of Citizenship papers 9. Proof of Marriage Certificate 10. Insurance Claim Forms
11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.
Veteran’s Discharge Certificate DD-214 Veteran Financial Benefits Cease Social Security Settle ownership of investment statements Request copies of property deeds from the County Clerk Transfer auto titles or bills of sale from local Department of Motor Vehicle 17. File final income tax returns 18. Pay outstanding bills and cancel accounts for household 19. File claims for pension plans, credit unions and union death benefits
This is not intended to be legal advice. You should contact an attorney for advice regarding your specific situation. Jacobowitz & Gubits, LLP offers legal services in over 30 areas of law including Estate Planning, Wills, Trust, Estate Litigation and Probate and Elder Law.
845-764-8828 jacobowitz.com 158 Orange Avenue, Walden, NY 12586 548 Broadway, Monticello, NY 12701
2022 SENIOR RESOURCE GUIDE ORANGE & SULLIVAN COUNTY
RESOURCE AARP Adult Protective Services – New York State
OVERVIEW & CONTACT INFORMATION A membership organization for individuals 50 and older with information on caregiving, work, retirement, health, and recreation. Protecting adults from abuse and neglect.
Alzheimer’s Association (Hudson Valley Chapter serves Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester Counties)
Association that provides care and support for families of Alzheimer’s or Dementia. Offices in Middletown, NY.
Cornell Cooperative Extension – Orange County
Provide programs for Orange County residents on youth and family development; nutrition, health, and food safety; community and economic vitality; and agricultural.
Cornell Cooperative Extension – Sullivan County
Our programs are developed in direct response to community input, and are based on the most current information available from Cornell and other Land Grant universities from across the nation.
Dial a Bus Federal Trade Commission: Consumer Complaint, Scams and Fraud HOSPICE of Orange & Sullivan Counties Local Real Property Tax Exemption Meals on Wheels
Medicaid
Medicaid Transportation
Medicare
www.aarp.org 1-888-687-2277 www.ocfs.ny.gov/programs/ adult-svcs/aps/ 1-844-697-3505
www.alz.org 1-800-272-3900
www.cceorangecounty.org orange@cornell.edu 1-845-344-1234 www.sullivancce.org sullivan@cornell.edu 1-845-292-6180
www.townofwallkill.com/community/transportation/79-dab.html Reservations – 1-845-692-7852 or 1-845-692-7800 Protecting consumers by preventing anticompetitive, deceptive, and unfair business practices. Provides end of life palliative care in the Home, Hospital, Nursing Home (Skilled Nursing Facility), Group Home, Adult Care Facility or The Kaplan Family Hospice Residence, located in Newburgh. Homeowners age 65 and older may reduce their real property tax.
www.hospiceoforange.com 1-845-561-6111
www.health.ny.gov/health_care/ medicaid or www.medicaid.gov Medicaid.gov@cms.hhs.gov 1-877-267-2323
Medical transportation for Medicaid beneficiaries traveling to Medicaid-covered services. 1-518-473–2160 or medtrans@health.ny.gov Joy Transportation: 1-845-343-5215, Orange County Medi-Coach Middletown: 1-845-343-5555 All Transportation Newburgh: 1-845-565-2306, Medicare, Monticello & South Fallsburgh: 1-845-436-5747 We Care Travels Liberty: 1-845-295-0900 Medicare is the federal health insurance program for: People who are 65 or older; Certain younger people with disabilities; and People with End-Stage Renal Disease.
New York State Senior Citizen Guide for College
www.aseniorcitizenguideforcollege.com/2011/04/new-york.html www.orangecountygov.com/149/Health or 845-291-2330
Assists low-income households with a one-time benefit towards their heating costs.
Orange County Office for the Aging Senior Dining Program
Orange County Senior Centers
www.orangecountygov.com/786/ Home-Energy-AssistanceProgram-HEAP 1-845-291-2002
OVERVIEW & CONTACT INFORMATION www.orangecountygov.com/ 151/Aging ofa@orangecountygov.com 1-845-615-3700
The Office for the Aging’s web page offers a list of links that give a brief explanation of the services available.
Call the Orange County, NY Connects at 1-845-615-3710 to complete a referral for Home Delivered Meals.
Nutritious noontime meals are distributed to qualifying elderly residents in many locations.
www.orangecountygov.com/165/Senior-Dining-Program Different sites throughout Orange County serve a nutritious noontime meal. Reservations are required. Call for dates and reservations. Blooming Grove: 1-845-496-4411, Cornwall: 1-845-534-4500, Greenwood Lake: 1-845-477-8482 Hamaspik: 1-845-774-0348, Montgomery: 1-845-457-9367 Goshen Senior Center 1-845-294-8545, Mulberry House Senior Center 1-845-346-4070 Wallkill Senior Citizens 1-845-344-5599, Hamptonburgh Senior Center 1-845-427-2424 Florida Senior Center 1-845-651-8801, Waywayanda Senior Citizens Building 1-845-355-3068 Seward Senior Citizens Center 1-845-651-8801, Wesley Hall Senior Citizen 1-845-457-9367
Orange County Veteran’s Service Agency
Informs and assists veterans and their families, and members of the military, to the numerous VA benefits, rights, and privileges available.
www.orangecountygov.com/624/ Veterans-Service-Agency 1-845-291-2470
RECAP
Works with our community’s most vulnerable populations including seniors, children, veterans, the homeless and the hungry, those living with HIV/AIDS, victims of domestic violence, people battling substance use disorder and anyone struggling to make ends meet. RECAP provides housing, Head Start, Energy Services, Workforce Development and Training, Residential and Non-Residential Addiction Support Services, Fresh Start Cafe and Parole Re-Entry.
www.recap.org 1-845-342-3978 info@recap.org
Regional Food Banks of Northeastern New York including Orange & Sullivan Counties
www.regionalfoodbank.net, info@regionalfoodbank.net or 1-518-786-3691
STAR Exemption Program
www.tax.ny.gov/pit/property/star/default.htm or www.tax.ny.gov/pit/property/exemption/seniorexempt.htm
Social Security Administration
www.ssa.gov or 1-800-772-1213
Sullivan County Department of Health
www.sullivanny.us/Departments/Publichealth or 1-845-292-5910
Sullivan County Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
Assists low-income households with a one-time benefit towards their heating costs. www.sullivanny.us/Departments/Familyservices/Temporaryassistanceprograms/HEAP 1-845-807-0142 or heap@co.sullivan.ny.us
www.medicare.gov 1-800-633-4227
www.store.usgs.gov/senior-pass or 1-888-275-8747
Orange County Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
Orange County Office for the Aging Home Delivered Meal Program
www.jacobowitz.com
National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass
Orange County Department of Health
Orange County Office for the Aging
www.ftc.gov 1-202-326-2222
www.mealsonwheelsnys.org, Newburgh 1-845-562-3490, Warwick 1-845-986-3389 Hospital Insurance Part A; Medical Insurance Part B; Preventive Health Benefits Medicare; Medicare Advantage Plan Part C; and Medicare Prescription Part D
RESOURCE
Sullivan County Office for the Aging
Sullivan County Senior Centers
Sullivan County Veteran’s Service Agency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Programs offered to senior citizens including case management, information, referral and outreach programs, expanded in-home services for the elderly (EISEP), caregiver resource center, health insurance information counseling, weatherization referral and assistance program (WRAP), retired senior volunteer program (RSVP), senior nutrition program and senior transportation program.
https://sullivanny.us/Departments/ Aging 1-845-807-0241
Bethel Senior Citizens Center 1-845-583-5230, Monticello Senior Citizens Center 1-845-794-2351 Mamakating Senior Citizens 1-845-888-3039, Highland Senior Citizens 1-845-557-8907 Lumberland Senior Citizen Center 1-845-856-1170 Provides entitlement information and advocacy assistance to military personnel, to military veterans, and their dependents in matters related to federal, state and local benefits.
www.sullivanny.us/Departments/ Veterans 1-845-807-0233
www.mybenefits.ny.gov or 1-800-342-3009