M aybe. But there are a number of particulars concerning Social Security you should be aware of: •  You must have enough work history to qualify. •  Your absence from work must last for more than a year. •  The disability must be so serious that you can’t hold any job at all and must be well documented by medical records. If you can be retrained to do any other job, you’ll be expected to work. According to current rules, if you take a job paying more than $700 a month, you won’t be eli- gible for Social Security checks. And no partial claims are allowed. The Social Security Administration does offer a few tools to help you prepare. If you’d like to calculate what type of benefits you could expect, check out the Social Security Administration’s online calculator. Also, be careful about combin- ing income from multiple sources. In the case of a disability, be sure that you and your family can maintain a lifestyle in which you feel comfortable. Does Social Security Cover a Disability? So the time has come to teach your son or daughter to drive. Great! But avoid the shortcuts — shortcuts around laws regarding unlicensed or limited license drivers, that is. For example, some parents have been known to take their unlicensed 14-year- old out on neighborhood streets for a few lessons. Bad idea. Unlicensed drivers aren’t allowed to operate vehicles on any public roadway, even res- idential lanes. Better to try out those first maneu- vers at an approved driv- er training facility (check with your local high schools or police). Similar cautions are in order for a young driver with a limited permit, which al- lows operating a vehicle only while accompanied by an adult. Although it might seem convenient to have the youngster drop you off at the front door of church or the store while they park the car in the lot, it takes only a short distance for even an experienced oper- ator to run into some- thing or someone. If you have teens reach- ing driving age, give us a call. We have the experience and resources to provide your teen with safe driving tips. We can also point out just how much a bad driving record can impact your insurance. When it comes to adding new drivers to the household, we all have a vested interest in steering them in the right direction. Steer Clear of Drivers Ed Risks
Yes, it’s that time again — time to fish the snow tires and ice-scraper out from the depths of your garage. Here are some additional ways to help protect you and your car this winter: • Use snow tires or chains for icy conditions. • In extreme tempera- tures use an engine heat- ing system. • Make sure the rear win- dow defroster works. • Install winter wipers and make sure the wind- shield washer is full of non-freez- able fluid. • Check the radiator antifreeze; have it refilled if necessary. • Check the battery, belts, and brakes. However, the most important thing for you to remember this win- ter season is to avoid driving in storms. Although the idea sounds straightforward enough, the Na- tional Weather Service says 70% of fatalities related to ice and snow occur in automobiles. Once your car is prepared for the winter weather, call us. We’ll be sure your insurance is ready for the season as well. Winterizing Your Car For years, your wife has been eyeing a chandelier at the antique shop up the street. She stops to admire it nearly every time she passes. This holiday season you plan to surprise your wife by pur- chasing the antique chandelier and hanging it before she returns from work. You’re beaming. She has no idea that you’ve been saving and she’ll be especially impressed when you tell her that you did the handyman work. Two hours later and just minutes before her expected return, you lift the extravagant present and fasten it to the ceiling, or so you think. As soon as you think your work is done, CRASH! Every one of those beautiful crystals hits the ground. This situation could be bad, or terrible, depending on your wife and your insurance coverage. Here are some things you might want to consider this holiday season. •Does your insurance include coverage for accidental breakage? •Are your valuables covered at replacement cost or actual cash value? Be sure to ask about exclusions that apply to items of rarity or antiquity. •Do you have all-risk or special perils coverage? Does your policy cover losses any- where in the world, just in case you decide to tote an expensive gift abroad? • Make sure to find out how a claim will be settled if you decide not to replace something or if you can’t find something similar. If you have questions about your policy, call us. We’d be glad to help. Insurance to Protect Your New Valuables I t’s a fact: Your children depend on you. But what happens if the unthinkable occurs? Your preparedness now sets the stage. If some- thing happens to one or both of your household’s bread- winners, chances are your children will depend on life insurance. However, waiting for something to happen is waiting until it’s too late. This holiday season, make sure you have adequate life insurance coverage. The peace of mind from knowing that your children will be adequately provided for in such a situation will add to your holiday cheer. The Gift of Peace of Mind
COPYRIGHT ©2003.   This publication is designed to provide accu- rate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter cov- ered.  It is understood that the publishers are not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service.  If legal advice or other expert advice is required, the services of a compe- tent professional should be sought. You escaped your summer home improvement projects with your wal- let pretty much intact. Okay, so you put off the home improvement proj- ects altogether. Now the holi- days are here and it’s time to prepare the house for your holi- day gatherings. The leak you’ve arranged above the punch bowl might go unnoticed. But what about the others? While the holiday season isn’t usually thought of as a time for home improvement, you might want to rethink that old paradigm. Let’s say that leak leads to rot, dry rot, mold, or termite infestations. Water can cause roofs to collapse, foundations to buckle, and a number of expensive repairs. A collapsed roof could really put a damper on your holidays! And repair costs often increase exponentially the longer we put them off. Flickering lights, and not the twin- klers on your Christmas tree, could be a sign of bad wiring or too many appliances hooked into one circuit. Flickering lights can also be a sign of failing connections in aluminum wiring. Do your kitchen lights dim or flicker when another appliance is in use? Try to distribute power-hungry appliances more evenly by plugging them into another circuit. Or even better, get an electrician to upgrade the wiring and add more circuits. If soaring fuel bills aren’t the result of a rate hike, the culprit could be your furnace. This is an especially urgent issue because poorly functioning systems can cause deadly carbon monoxide buildup in a home. The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that about 200 people a year die of carbon monoxide exposure in the home, usually from malfunctioning heating sys- tems. Make sure to have your furnace, including the flue, professionally cleaned and inspected each year. Install UL-approved carbon monox- ide detectors, which cost $25- 50 each. Chimneys that aren’t properly cleaned and maintained can catch fire. Make sure to have the chimney swept and inspected annually. Make home repairs a holiday tradition and it’ll save you money all year long! Home Improvements for the Holidays If a liability suit is filed against you, all your assets are at risk. And, the more you have, the greater your risk. Even if you have personal liability coverage, it might be wise to purchase an umbrella policy to protect your hard-earned assets. Unfortunately, the sheer number of lawsuits is increasing and plaintiffs are being awarded larger judgements. These factors increase the probability that one day a suit will be brought against you. Personal umbrella coverage covers judgements from lawsuits that exceed the limits on your underlying insurance policies. For the legal defense of a covered claim, your umbrella policy would help pay for: • Defense costs; • Lost wages; • Interest on unpaid judgements; and • Reasonable expenses incurred by you. However, to qualify for this coverage, you must have certain liability limits on your other insurance policies. Call us for details. Need Umbrella Coverage?

Family Risk Questionnaire

To make sure you’re adequately protected, we recommend a yearly review of all of your insurance policies. This questionnaire helps make that review quick and efficient. Please take a moment to answer the questions and submit back to us. Click here to get the Questionnaire in PDF format. Feel free to print it and fax it back to us.

         

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