person typing on laptop resources helpful links

Are You Ready for Retirement?

Government Benefit Programs – Veterans, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security

Resources for Seniors and their Families

Resources for Parents and Families of Special Needs children and adults


Government Benefit Programs

Veterans Benefits
The United States Department of Veterans Affairs website provides information for Veterans. If you are a veteran or the surviving spouse of a veteran you may qualify for a cash benefit to cover medical expenses that exceed your income. This is commonly referred to Pension with Aid & Attendance.

Medicare
The official U.S. Government site for Medicare.

Medicaid
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services – Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Social Security
The official website of the Social Security Administration


Are You Ready for Retirement?

The Retirement Estimator on the Social Security website provides an individualized social security retirement estimate based on current law and real time access to your earnings record.

The Retirement Planner on the Social Security website provides detailed information about your Social Security retirement benefits under current law. It also points out things you may want to consider as you prepare for the future, such as your retirement age for purposes of Social Security and your estimated life expectancy.

Use Benefit Calculators on the Social Security website that estimate your potential benefit amounts using different retirement dates and levels of future earnings. The calculators will show your retirement benefits as well as disability and survivor benefit amounts if you should become disabled or die.

Frequently Asked Questions on Social Security retirement benefits.


Resources for Seniors and Their Families

Resources for Massachusetts Elders & Their Families – 800ageinfo
Created and supported as a joint effort between the MA Executive Office of Elder Affairs and Mass Home Care Association. It provides valuable information to help elders find the resources they need to maintain their independence and to improve their quality of life and to help you make good decisions concerning care for the elders of Massachusetts. Special consideration has been given to make this site accessible to all and to provide a source of information to individuals with disabilities.

Compare Nursing Homes
This tool has detailed information about every Medicare and Medicaid-certified nursing home in the country.

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc. (NAELA) is a professional association of over 4,200 attorneys who are dedicated to improving the quality of legal services provided to seniors and people with special needs. NAELA members assist their clients with public benefits, probate and estate planning, guardianship/conservatorship, and health and long-term care planning, among other important issues.

ElderLawAnswers
ElderLawAnswers supports seniors, their families and their attorneys in achieving their goals by providing the best information on the Internet about crucial legal issues facing seniors and a network of highly qualified elder law attorneys nationwide. The combination of an informed consumer and a qualified attorney produces the best legal results for the clients.

  • ElderLaw 101 provides in-depth explanations of elder law topics such as estate planning, Medicaid planning, Retirement planning and many others. Designed for the client.
  • ElderLaw Radio, where you can hear from nationally recognized experts in planning and long-term care.

Massachusetts Senior Centers
Phone listings of Senior Centers throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Beverly Senior Center
Provides information and resources for seniors in Beverly.

Salem Council on Aging
Provides information and resources for seniors in Salem.

Elder Care Matters Alliance
America’s online source for a wide range of elder care matters, including some of America’s top elder care experts who can help YOU plan for and deal with your family’s issues of aging.


Special Needs Planning

Special Needs Answers is a community resource for parents and families of individuals with special needs provided by the Academy of Special Needs Planners. You can get answers to Frequently Asked Questions, locate resources and advocacy groups, and search news articles.