••DATED MATERIAL – PLEASE DO NOT DELAY•• NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #495 SACRAMENTO, CA Vol. XXXV No. 3 A PUBLICATION REPRESENTING CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREES MARCH 2021 CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREES 3000 Advantage Way Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95834 89 Page 3 CSR Membership and iPAC Applications Page 4 Ted Toppin 2021-22 State Budget Debat Page 8 Savvy Senior:Finding a Quality Nursing Home in a Pandemic Page 6 To Your Health by Larry Woodson CSR will Continue to Move Forward in 2021 continued to page 4 W e are now one year into the challenges presented to CSR members, the CSR organization, our communities and the world as a whole from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. While we have been met with many obstacles during the past year and after being plagued with so much bad news, we wanted to give you some of the good news coming from CSR headquarters. During this year, we have continued to focus on pushing CSR forward and have continued to protect your pension and health care benefits at CalPERS and the California State Capitol. Here are a few highlights of CSR programs and improvements for 2021 as well as updates on the Chapter Officers & Delegates election and Delegate Assembly. In December, CSR rolled out a newly designed and highly efficient CSR Election Portal for the 2021 election process located on the CSR website at www. calretirees.org/Member- Resources/Elections. The CSR Election Portal allowed members who wanted to run for CSR chapter office to electronically submit candidate consent forms during the self- nomination period which ended on March 1. Once a candidate completed and submitted the form online, the candidate then instantly received an email acknowledging the submission. Now that the self- nomination period has ended, the CSR Election Portal will display the complete list of candidate names and positions. This list will also be printed in next month’s newspaper. We encourage you to visit the CSR website to review the CSR Election Portal to learn more about the candidates running for CSR office. While you are on the website, please sign up for our CSR E-newsletter. In contested chapter races, each candidate is allowed to submit a statement of not more than 100 words of experience and qualifications. Statements will be printed exactly as submitted and any words over the 100-word limit will be deleted. The deadline for submission for candidate statements is 5:00 p.m. on March 26, 2021. Candidate statements will be on the CSR Election Portal shortly thereafter. Candidate statements can be electronically submitted via the CSR Elections Portal at www.calretirees.org/member- resources/elections; mailed to California State Retirees, Attn: Election Coordinator, 3000 Advantage Way, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95834; faxed to (916) 326-4201; or e-mailed to CSRInfo@CalRetirees. org. If you have any questions about the election please do not hesitate to contact the Election Coordinator, Corinne Celentano, at [email protected]. With the pandemic and the suspension of in-person meetings, one of the new programs the CSR Board has been working on implementing to better provide service to CSR members are virtual meetings through Zoom. In February, the CSR Board and CSR Membership Committee finalized a Zoom guide for all CSR members with a goal to reinstate chapter meetings via Zoom in spring 2021. CSR will focus on implementing the important member services of holding chapter meetings virtually as well as upcoming virtual board and committee meetings. We are excited to begin this new program as Zoom has been the preferred tool of business for millions of businesses around the globe to continue business as usual. Members of the CSR Executive Committee, Chapter Presidents, and Membership Committee spent several weeks training on Zoom with CSR staff. The training was methodically rolled out and the goal was to improve our electronic communication with members and make Zoom a new organization- wide communications platform. CSR leadership including chapter presidents conducted several successful meetings over Zoom including a CSR Board Working Session with Committee Chairs and a Board Working Session with Chapter Presidents and the Membership Committee Chair. These CSR leaders responded to the new format with enthusiastic participation and we thank all participants for their eagerness, patience, and open minds. With the widespread rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, we will potentially be able to safely return to gathering in the future. For vaccine-related issues, please visit www.covid19.ca.gov/vaccines. In other exciting news, the CSR Board of Directors have announced we will continue with planning for an in-person Delegate Assembly in 2021! The 3-day event is scheduled for Monday, October 18, and will conclude on Wednesday, October 20. The event will be
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Vol. XXXV No. 3 A PUBLICATION REPRESENTING CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREES MARCH 2021
CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREES3000 Advantage Way Suite 100Sacramento, CA 95834
89
Page 3CSR Membership and iPAC
Applications
Page 4Ted Toppin
2021-22 State Budget Debat
Page 8Savvy Senior:Finding a QualityNursing Home in a Pandemic
Page 6To Your Health
by Larry Woodson
CSR will Continue to Move Forward in 2021
continued to page 4
We are now one year into thechallenges presented to CSR
members, the CSR organization, our communities and the world as a whole from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. While we have been met with many obstacles during the past year and after being plagued with so much bad news, we wanted to give you some of the good news coming from CSR headquarters. During this year, we have continued to focus on pushing CSR forward and have continued to protect your pension and health care benefits at CalPERS and the California State Capitol.Here are a few highlights of CSR programs and improvements for 2021 as well as updates on the Chapter Officers & Delegates election and Delegate Assembly.In December, CSR rolled out a newly designed and highly efficient CSR Election Portal for the 2021 election process located on the CSR website at
www. calretirees.org/Member-Resources/Elections.The CSR Election Portal allowed members who wanted to run for CSR chapter office to electronically submit candidate consent forms during the self-nomination period which ended on March 1. Once a candidate completed and submitted the form online, the candidate then instantly received an email acknowledging the submission. Now that the self-nomination period has ended, the CSR Election Portal will display the complete list of candidate names and positions. This list will also be printed in next month’s newspaper. We encourage you to visit the CSR website to review the CSR Election Portal to learn more about the candidates running for CSR office. While you are on the website, please sign up for our CSR E-newsletter. In contested chapter races, each candidate is allowed to submit a statement of not more than
100 words of experience and qualifications. Statements will be printed exactly as submitted and any words over the 100-word limit will be deleted. The deadline for submission for candidate statements is 5:00 p.m. on March 26, 2021. Candidate statements will be on the CSR Election Portal shortly thereafter.Candidate statements can be electronically submitted via the CSR Elections Portal at www.calretirees.org/member-resources/elections; mailed to California State Retirees, Attn: Election Coordinator, 3000 Advantage Way, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95834; faxed to (916) 326-4201; or e-mailed to [email protected]. If you have any questions about the election please do not hesitate to contact the Election Coordinator, Corinne Celentano, at [email protected]. With the pandemic and the suspension of in-person meetings, one of the new programs the CSR Board has been working on implementing to better provide service to CSR members are virtual meetings through Zoom. In February, the CSR Board and CSR Membership Committee finalized a Zoom guide for all CSR members with a goal to reinstate chapter meetings via Zoom in spring 2021. CSR will focus on implementing the important member services of holding chapter meetings virtually as well as upcoming virtual board and committee meetings. We are
excited to begin this new program as Zoom has been the preferred tool of business for millions of businesses around the globe to continue business as usual.Members of the CSR Executive Committee, Chapter Presidents, and Membership Committee spent several weeks training on Zoom with CSR staff. The training was methodically rolled out and the goal was to improve our electronic communication with members and make Zoom a new organization-wide communications platform. CSR leadership including chapter presidents conducted several successful meetings over Zoom including a CSR Board Working Session with Committee Chairs and a Board Working Session with Chapter Presidents and the Membership Committee Chair. These CSR leaders responded to the new format with enthusiastic participation and we thank all participants for their eagerness, patience, and open minds.With the widespread rollout of COVID-19 vaccines, we will potentially be able to safely return to gathering in the future. For vaccine-related issues, please visit www.covid19.ca.gov/vaccines.In other exciting news, the CSR Board of Directors have announced we will continue with planning for an in-person Delegate Assembly in 2021! The 3-day event is scheduled for Monday, October 18, and will conclude on Wednesday, October 20. The event will be
Executive Order N-25-20 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Those retired annuitants that are hired or are transitioned to activities that ensure adequate staffing and to prevent the stoppage of business related to COVID-19 impacts, the executive order suspended some working after retirement restrictions including:· The 960 hour limitation per fiscalyear.· The 180 day wait period.· The 60 day bona fide separationwait period.· The 180 day wait period forretirees who accepted a retirementincentive.· If a retiree is working in a vacantposition, their appointment can be
Post-Retirement Employment Related to Gov.Newsom Signed Executive Orderextended if the agency is unable to hire a permanent replacement by the initial end date in their resolution (clarified in EO N-84-20).The order did not suspend other restrictions for these retirees, such as:· Compensation limits for RetiredAnnuitants (RAs).· Barring RAs from receiving anybenefit, incentive, compensationin lieu of benefits or other formsof compensation in addition to thehourly pay rate.· Pre-determined agreementsto come back to work prior toretirement, if the member is underthe normal retirement age.· Having a recruitment for a vacantposition in regards to Gov. Codesection 21221(h).· If RAs received unemployment
insurance in the past 12 months, they must wait 12 months before they can return as RAs.Once CalPERS receives a request (either from a public agency/school or CalHR on behalf of state departments), we review the individual’s account for compliance with what the executive order suspended/did not suspend. If we find the appointment is compliant, we send the retiree a letter acknowledging they are working under the executive order. If there are concerns with the appointment, we work with the employer on potential resolutions to bring the appointment into compliance, otherwise, reinstatement can occur.
As of today, the executive order is still in effect until further notice.
2021 Cost-of-Living Adjustment Coming in MayThis May, all CalPERS retirees
who retired in 2019 or earlier will receive an increase to their cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). This is a result of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (1967 = 100) that is 1.23% for 2020.The chart to the right shows the percentage of COLA increase that retirees will receive based on their employer-contracted COLA provision percentage and their retirement year. Most state and all school agencies contract for a 2% COLA provision, while public agencies may contract for a 3%, 4%, or 5% COLA provision.For More Information For more details about how your COLA is calculated and frequently asked questions, go to Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) on the CalPERS website. You can also call toll free at 888 CalPERS (or 888-225-7377) if you have questions.Did You Know?The COLA is a benefit that ensures your value of money at retirement keeps up with the rate of inflation.
NEWS
MARCH 2021 CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREE PAGE 3
CSR Bill Watch
Join us! 40,000 Strong and Growing!
California State Retirees: 3000 Advantage Way Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95834
California State Retirees iPAC Application
California State Retirees: 3000 Advantage Way Suite 100 Sacramento, CA 95834 Join online: www.CalRetirees.org/joinus
returned to the State Capitol on Monday, January 11, marking the start of the 2021-22 Legislative Session. The end of the bill introduction period was Friday, February 19. This year, Assembly members introduced 1,634 bills and Senators introduced 847, for a grand total of 2,481 bills. Here are a few bills of interest to CSR members:
SupportSB 278 (Leyva) Would protect the retirement security of CalPERS members by ensuring that any collectively bargained compensation agreed to by their employer cannot be subsequently and retroactively sought from the retired member’s pension allowance, but instead paid for by the employer. STATUS: Awaiting hearing in Senate Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement Committee.
OpposeAB 1133 (Chen) Would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would create a hybrid retirement benefit within CalPERS, giving state employees the option to elect a defined benefit or a defined contribution
program. This bill would threaten the retirement security of new employees, and undermines CalPERS for all employees and retirees. STATUS: May be heard in committee on March 21.WatchAB 444 (Committee on PE&R)Would prescribe a process by which, upon an employee’s death, an appointing power could issue a check directly to the designated individual, as opposed to delivering employee pay warrants to the designee. STATUS: Awaiting hearing in Assembly Public Employment and Retirement Committee. AB 458 (Kamlager) Would create the Affordable Prescription Drug Importation Program within the California Health and Human Services Agency, and would identify which drugs have the highest potential for cost savings. This bill would allow the state to be a licensed wholesaler that imports affordable prescription drugs for the purpose of dispensing them to Californians with a valid prescription.STATUS: Awaiting hearing in Assembly Health Committee. AB 933 (Daly) Would require that a covered individual’s cost sharing amount for a prescription drug be
calculated based on a price that is reduced by an amount equal to 90% of all rebates received in connection with dispensing the drug.STATUS: Awaiting hearing in Assembly Health Committee. AB 1019 (Holden) Would prohibit state trust money from being used for new, additional, or renewed investments in investment vehicles issued or owned by the government of Turkey, unless the government officially acknowledges the Armenian Genocide and sets a path to provide justice for its victims.STATUS: May be heard in committee on March 21.AB 1107 (Boerner Horvath) Would require a health care plan or insurer that offers coverage for emergency ground medical transportation to include those services as an in-network service, and would require the plan or insurer to pay for these services at the contracted rate. This bill will protect patients from surprise bills after receiving emergency medical transportation. STATUS: May be heard in committee on March 21.AB 1162 (Villapudua) Would require a health care service plan or insurer to provide medically necessary health care services to enrollees who have been
displaced or impacted by a state of emergency. STATUS: May be heard in committee on March 21.SB 457 (Portantino) Would require the CalPERS and CalSTRS Boards to provide employers an option to elect an investment portfolio that does not contain any investment vehicles that are issued or owned by the government of Turkey. STATUS: Awaiting hearing in Senate Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement Committee.For a complete list of all bills that are being monitored by CSR, please see the most recent CSR Legislative Report online.
Continued from page 1CSR Moves Forward in 2021held at the Hilton Sacramento Arden West, a familiar spot for many of our seasoned members. A new event for the 2021 Delegate Assembly is chapter officer and committee meeting orientation and training. On day 2, the traditional CSR Delegate Assembly activities will commence with Delegate orientation and Delegate Assembly committee meetings. The last day will be the formal Delegate Assembly and Statewide Officers Election.While the COVID-19 pandemic
has been a huge burden on all CSR members, and on the organization as a whole, it has had some positive effects. Faced with a new way of doing business during the pandemic, the CSR Board has been very forward-thinking in establishing new protocols, programs, and services for CSR members such as virtual meetings. These new programs will continue to serve CSR members and the CSR organization when we return to in-person chapter meetings.
ANSWERS ON PAGE 9
MARCH 2021 CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREE PAGE 5
PUZZLES
Find us online!Facebook: @CaliforniaStateRetireesTwitter: @CAStateRetireesLinkedIn: @CaliforniaStateRetireesWebsite:www.CalRetirees.org
WORD LIST
Corned Beef and Cabbage
Ireland Word Search Puzzle
Ingredients1 corned beef brisket (4 pounds) with spice packet2 tablespoons brown sugar2 bay leaves3-1/2 pounds small potatoes (10-15), peeled8 medium carrots, halved crosswise1 medium head cabbage, cut into wedges
Directions• Place brisket, contents of seasoning packet, brown sugar and bay leaves in a large Dutch oven or stockpot; cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 2 hours.• Add potatoes and carrots; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, just until beef and vegetables are tender, 30-40 minutes. (If pot is full, remove potatoes and carrots before adding cabbage; reheat before serving.)• Add cabbage to pot; return to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, until cabbage is tender, about 15 minutes. Remove vegetables and corned beef; keep warm.• For horseradish sauce, strain and reserve 1-1/2 cups cooking juices; skim fat from reserved juices. Discard remaining juices. In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat; stir in flour until smooth. Gradually whisk in 1 cup reserved juices. Stir in sugar, vinegar and horseradish; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Cook and stir until thickened. If desired, thin with additional juices and season to taste with additional sugar, vinegar or horseradish.• Cut beef across the grain into slices. Serve with vegetables and sauce.
To complete this word search, you’ll have to find Ireland’s 32
counties, its five longest rivers, and several other important
words related to this beautiful island. You may recall that the
island is divided into two parts. Six of the nine counties of
Ulster make up Northern Ireland, which is part of Great
Britain. The remainder of the island is the Republic of Ireland.
Here’s a special twist: It has been said that Ireland contains
40 shades of green. How many times does GREEN appear in
this puzzle? (Hint: It’s a lot less than 40!)
IRELANDEIRE
EMERALD ISLECASTLES
SHAMROCKPOTTERYCRYSTAL
SHEEPTOURISM
CountiesANTRIM
ARMAGHCARLOW
CLARECORK
DERRY
DONEGALDOWN
DUBLINFERMANAGH
GALWAYKERRY
KILDAREKILKENNY
LAOISLEITRIM
LIMERICKLONGFORD
LOUTHMAYOMEATH
MONAGHANOFFALY
ROSCOMMONSLIGO
TIPERRARYTYRONE
WATERFORDWESTMEATH
WEXFORDWICKLOW
RiversSHANNON
SUIRBLACKWATER OF MUNSTER
NOREBANN
PAGE 6 CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREE MARCH 2021
To Your Health
By Larry Woodson, CSR HealthBenefits Committee chair
CalPERS did not hold a Pension and Health Benefits
Committee (PHBC) Meeting in February. The last one was in November and the next one is March 16, 2021. There was a Stakeholder Briefing (virtually) on February 11 in which I participated along with CSR President Tim Behrens and other CSR leadership. CSR continues to be concerned about CalPERS decision to only require quarterly meetings for PHBC given there are so many complex issues related to our health benefits that require attention of the Board with Stakeholder input. A few years ago, PHBC met 8 times annually. We will continue to push for more required meetings. CalPERS response has been that the PHBC Chair can elect to call additional meetings as needed. We haven’t seen that occur yet, and if it does, we don’t have the same advance notice as those scheduled annually, which gives us less preparation time and potential schedule conflicts. We have also advocated for the PHBC to consist of all 13 board members. No action was
taken on that issue either.The February Stakeholders meeting was informative but only had one topic directly related to our health benefits – Long Term Care Insurance (LTC) Update. Don Moulds, PhD, Director or Health Benefits informed us that letters will be going out in early March to LTC subscribers (approximately 115,000) informing them of the Board approved 52% premium rate increase beginning in July 2021. Not all subscribers have a July policy date, so the increase will take effect at the start of your new policy year starting with July policies. A FAQ enclosure will give more detailed information including the timeline, subscriber rights, and benefit design options for buying down a premium increase to 0. Of course, that means significant reduction in the benefit coverage in order to keep your current premium. After the initial notification letter and FAQs subscribers will receive a final 60 day notice prior to the effective date of their new policy. In it you will be given the choice of accepting the new premium increase of 52% or having no increase with a prescribed reduction in your benefits. The options reducing your premium increase to 0 depends on what your current coverage is and each subscriber will have an individualized offer. CalPERS has already released a preliminary list of 6 design options which include such things as copay options of 10 or 20% for LTC costs, or extending the length of the elimination period. The elimination period is the total number of days that must pass when a person qualifies for
LTC and is in an approved LTC facility, before benefits are actually paid. Your individualized letter may include some or all of the final design options to reach $0 premium increase. However, by contacting the CalPERS contractor that administers the program for them, LTCG, you can customize your plan by choosing specific options short of the number CalPERS gives you in your individualized offer. Theoretically you may be able to reduce your premium increase to 25% and retain more benefit coverage. Only by contacting LTCG and discussing your options will you be able to do this. Their contact information will be in the initial March letter. If interested in exploring a customized design I encourage you not to wait til the 60 day letter, but contact LTCG right away. The Board also approved a 25% premium increase for 2022, but Dr. Moulds is hopeful there will be better potential for reducing the increase downward which includes CalPERS seeking to increase benefit options for managed in home care, which is less costly. They recently released an RFP for a contract to explore those options and needed resources.CSR continues to advocate for less premium increases and less watering down of LTC benefits. We will likely be presenting new information on this at the Committee and Board meetings in March.Indirectly related to health benefits, it was announced at Stakeholders that Board Elections will occur in 2021 for the 2 board member at
large seats. They represent active and retired members. They are currently occupied by Margaret Brown and David Miller, both of whom sit on the PHBC and who I have worked closely with over the last 2 years. It appears both of them will run again. The Notice of Election will go out March 15, Nominations by May 13, ballots go out August 27 and are due back in September. As always, CSR Board will evaluate candidates and decide who/whether to endorse. Lastly, I want to report our HBC was able to help one of our CSR members favorably resolve a complaint that was outstanding for several months. It involved conflicting information he was given from CalPERS and from Anthem Blue Cross regarding his and his wife’s eligibility for the health plan of their choice when he went on Medicare. The plan availability by zip code on the CalPERS website showed he was eligible for a plan, but he was denied. I won’t detail the situation other than to say it was complicated, but our intervention on his behalf paid off and CalPERS reversed their initial position and granted his choice. He was very appreciative of our assistance. If you have similar issues, please always pursue them with CalPERS and the carrier first. You also have appeal rights in many circumstances. If, after pursuing those options you feel the resolution is not justified, you may contact CSR for further assistance at [email protected].
Be safe.
Website: www.calpers.ca.govPhone: 888 CalPERS or 888.225.7377
TTY: 877.249.7442Fax: 800.959.6545
Hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
MARCH 2021 CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREE PAGE 7
news
december2020
march2021
APRIL 2021
MAY 2021
JUNE 2021
Dec. 1: Self-nominations to begin. Candidates may submit a candidate consent form to the Corporate office or chapter president. A candidate consent form will be published in the December newspaper.
March 1: Last day to self-nominate and submit a candidate consent form to Corporate office by 5:00 p.m. or to the chapter president. Deadline for chapter presidents to notify corporate office of chapter candidates.March 26: Deadline for candidates to submit their 100-word statement for inclusion with the ballot. Statements must be in corporate office by 5:00 p.m.
April 20: Deadline for the corporate office to mail ballots.
May 20: Deadline for return of ballots.
May 31: Deadline for candidates to be notified of the election results.
June 10: Election protest deadline. A protest must be in writing and postmarked or received in Headquarters by 5:00 p.m.
2021 CalPERS Retirement Check Pay Days Benefits are paid at the beginning of the month for the previous month’s benefits. For tax reasons, your December retirement check is always dated the first day of the New Year.
The State Controller’s Office issues checks and determines mailing dates. If you have direct deposit, contact your financial institution to see when funds are placed in your account.
BENEFIT MONTH
Southern California/ Out of State MAILING
DATE
Northern California MAILING
DATE
DIRECT DEPOSIT DATE
January January 28 January 29 February 1
February February 25 February 26 March 1
March March 29 March 30 April 1
April April 28 April 29 April 30
May May 27 May 28 June 1
June June 28 June 29 July 1
July July 28 July 29 July 30
August August 27 August 30 September 1
September September 29 September 30 October 1
October October 28 October 29 November 1
November November 29 November 29 December 1
December December 30 December 31 January 3, 2022
The State Controller’s Office distinguishes Northern and Southern California using Zip Codes: Southern California is between 90000 through 93599 Northern California is between 93600 through 96199
Getting vaccinated is the best protection against getting sick with COVID-19.
CSR MEMBERS! We need to stay connected now more than ever!
Please sign up for the CSR E-Newsletter.
How to Choose a Quality Nursing Home During a PandemicDear Savvy Senior,Can you give me some tips on how to pick a good nursing home in the COVID era? My mother had a stroke a while back and can’t use her legs any longer. I’ve been taking care of her at home, but her health has declined to the point that I absolutely can’t do it any longer.Need Help Dear Need,COVID-19 has hit nursing homes hard over the past year, making it extremely difficult for people attempting to choose a nursing home during this time. While many eldercare experts suggest avoiding nursing homes during the pandemic if at all possible, some families, like yours, find themselves in difficult situations needing long-term or rehabilitative care for their elder loved one now. To help you find a good nursing home in the COVID era, and avoid a bad one, here are some steps to follow.Make a list: There are several sources you can turn to for referrals to top nursing homes in your area including your mom’s doctor or nearby hospital discharge planner; friends or neighbors who may have had a loved one in a nursing home; and online at Medicare’s nursing home compare tool at Medicare.gov/care-compare. This tool will not only help you locate nursing homes in your area, it also provides a 5-star rating system on
recent health inspections, staffing, quality of care, and overall rating. Also keep in mind that it’s always best to choose a nursing home that’s close to family members and friends who can check in often,
because residents with frequent visitors usually get better care.Do some research: To research the nursing homes on your list, put a call into your long-term care ombudsman. This is a government official who investigates nursing home complaints and advocates for residents and their families. This person can tell you which nursing homes have had complaints or problems in the past. To find your local ombudsman, call your area aging agency (800-677-1116) or visit LTCombudsman.org.You should also visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services website (data.cms.gov), which provides updated data on U.S. nursing home reported COVID-19 cases and deaths.
Contact the nursing homes: Once you’ve identified a few good nursing homes, call them to see if they have any vacancies, what they charge, and if they accept Medicaid.
Also, find out their staff-to-patient ratio and staff turnover rate; their COVID infection-control procedures; the percentage of residents and staff that have been vaccinated for COVID; and their facility visitation policy. If visitor restrictions are in place, see if they offer smartphone, tablet or laptop technology assistance so you can have Facetime, Zoom or Skype video calls with your mom. Tour your top choices: The best way to evaluate a nursing home is to visit it in person, but because of COVID, some facilities may offer limited or virtual tours only. To help you evaluate and rate a facility, Medicare offers a terrific checklist of questions that you can print at:
Medicare. gov/NursingHomeCompare/Checklist.pdf. Paying for Care:With nursing home costs now averaging $255 per day nationally for a semi-private room and nearly $290 for a private room, paying for care is another area you may have questions about or need assistance with. Medicare only helps pay up to 100 days of rehabilitative nursing home care, which must occur after a hospital stay of at least three days. Most nursing home residents pay for care from either personal savings, a long-term care insurance policy, or through Medicaid once their savings are depleted. The National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information website (LongTermCare.acl.gov) is a good resource that can help you understand and research your financial options. You can also get help from your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), which provides free counseling on all Medicare and Medicaid issues. To find a local SHIP counselor visit ShiptaCenter.org or call 877-839-2675.
CHAPTER MEETING NOTICES
MARCH 2021 CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREE PAGE 9
CHAPTER 1ALAMEDA/CONTRA COSTA COUNTIESPresident: Carol Bowen , (510) 527-5131, [email protected]; Vice President: Stella Torrez; Treasurer: Digna Laureano
Welcome aboard new members!Now that you have become a member of the largest
and most experienced state retiree organization in California, we want to properly welcome you aboard.
California State Retirees (CSR) has 26 different chapters statewide, and there is one just right for you. Members who don’t specify which chapter they want to be in are automatically placed in the chapter within their zip code. Just let us know if the chapter you have been assigned is where you want to stay.
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
PAGE 10 CALIFORNIA STATE RETIREE MARCH 2021
Chapter 20
A phone call to your chapter president or a visit to your chapter’s next meeting is the best way to become acquainted with everything CSR has to offer. Check out page 9 for the phone and email information of your chapter president. Each chapter encourages new members to attend their meetings, where state retiree issues are discussed; a variety of speakers appear and lunch is served. At some chapters, new members receive complimentary lunches.
Don’t fret if you joined CSR but don’t see your name here. Processing at CalPERS, the State Controller’s Office and CSR can take a few months. Check again for your name within the next two months.
Chapter 13
Terry WebsterKatherine Honeycutt
Peter GonzalezBobby SmithCheryl HornSharon Haywood
Lynn VilainSusie ButterfieldJohn TerranovaJeffrey Frank
Denise WilsonJill Smothermon
Lisa LooneyPaula MiserGregory ReevesCarolyn RiveraJacalyn PittmanGilbert Martinez
Tax Tips for Filing Your 2020 ReturnEvery tax-filing
season seems full of complexities and consternation. But the one we’re now in is especially fraught, due to the pandemic: Stimulus checks. Unemployment benefits. Working from home tax issues. New COVID-19 rules for 401(k) and Individual Retirement Account (IRA) hardship withdrawals and loans. Frankly, it’s all pretty taxing.That’s why my “Friends Talk Money” podcast co-hosts Terry Savage, Pam Krueger and I just released a new episode with advice for 2020 taxes. And we got help from Wendy Barlin, Los Angeles CPA and tax strategist at the About Profit tax and accounting advisory firm. (You can listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts.)Barlin’s cautionary tip, due to the pandemic: “Even if you have the most basic return, it is still likely you won’t see your refund in five days [typical time for banks to deposit refunds in customer accounts], as you have in prior years.”
COVID-19 Stimulus Checks and TaxesSavage, the nationally syndicated personal finance columnist and author of “The Savage Truth on Money,” laid out what you need
to know about taxes and any COVID-19 stimulus checks you received (or should have received).“If you received a stimulus check, that’s all tax-free income,” Savage explained. “It does not get reported anywhere on your 2020 tax return.”But if you didn’t get the stimulus check you were due — technically known as an Economic Impact Payment — or got a smaller one than you should have, Savage said, you can claim it as a refundable tax credit on line 30 of the Form 1040 or the 1040-SR (for people 65 and older.) The tax form calls it “recovery rebate credit.”“The sooner you file, the sooner you’ll get the money back,” Savage added.
Free Tax-Filing AssistanceIt’s especially important to file your return electronically. That will help you get any stimulus refund faster than if you file a paper tax return.If your 2020 income was under $72,000, Savage noted, you can file your return fee electronically using
the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Free File program.The IRS also offers
free one-on-one tax filing assistance and advice through its Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. VITA is for taxpayers who generally make $57,000 or less or have disabilities or are limited English-speaking. The TCE service is geared to taxpayers 60 and older and specializes in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues.
COVID-19 Hardship WithdrawalsKrueger, co-host of MoneyTrack on public television and founder of Wealthramp.com, offered advice for anyone who took advantage of the 2020 CARE Act’s rules offering more
flexibility for people taking 401(k) or IRA hardship withdrawals due to COVID-19.
“The CARES Act allowed you to withdraw as much as a hundred thousand dollars from any 401(k) or IRA without having to pay the early-withdrawal penalty,” Krueger said. That’s the 10% tax penalty for people under 59 ½.“But don’t forget,” Krueger said, “you still have to pay tax on that early withdrawal. The good news is that the CARES Act says you have up to three years” to pay those taxes.
Working From Home and Your TaxesWhat about people who were employees in 2020 but had to work from home due to the pandemic?“There is no home-office deduction allowed for them under the current
law,” said Barlin. “Unfair? Absolutely!”And what if you had to buy, say, an office
chair so you could do your work from home for your employer? Can you deduct that? Sadly, no.“That line item on the tax return used to be there three or four years ago. It was called
employee business expenses,” said Barlin. “It was expenses you incurred to do better at your job — whether it was for a chair or to go to a meeting or an education class. That line has gone away.”You can, however, write off a home office if you were a freelancer or had a side business from there.The CARES Act also changed the rules for deducting charitable contributions and you’ll want to know about them for your 2020 return.
New Charitable Contribution Write-offs“Previously, charitable contributions could only be declared as an itemized deduction,” Barlin said. But for your 2020 return, you can
write off up to $300 in cash contributions to charities (up to $600 for married couples filing jointly) regardless of whether you itemize.Finally, if your income in 2020 was less than in 2019 due to the pandemic, you may find yourself able to claim some write-offs you couldn’t before. That’s because some tax credits and deductions phase out or are eliminated if your income exceeds certain thresholds.You might also be in a lower tax bracket for 2020 than 2019 because you earned less money last year. So, there might be some tax relief coming your way when you file your return. Thursday, April 15 — Tax Day — is right around the corner.
Article courtesy of www.nextavenue.orgRichard Eisenberg is the Senior Web Editor of the Money & Security and Work & Purpose channels of Next Avenue and Managing Editor for the site. He is the author of How to Avoid a Mid-Life Financial Crisis and has been a personal finance editor at Money, Yahoo, Good Housekeeping, and CBS MoneyWatch.
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