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Page 18 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, AUGUST 26, 2022 Sixth-graders prepare for a new school year in Saugus (Editor’s Note: This info is from an article submitted by the Saugus Public Schools.) T he staff at Saugus Middle High School recently welcomed incoming sixth-grade students and families to an orientation program to help prepare them for a successful middle school experience. SMHS Principal Brendon Sullivan said the “#ISurvivedMiddleSchool” program was developed to help alleviate anxiety for students and parents as they enter middle school, and also set the tone for a successful year. “The transition to middle school can be a difficult one, which is why our team put this program in place about five years ago,” Sullivan said. JOINT INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS AND MASSHEALTH A ny asset, with the exception of joint bank accounts, owned by two or more single individuals is presumed to be owned in equal shares, unless a different percentage of ownership is substantiated. For example, a joint brokerage account with Fidelity owned by a parent applying for MassHealth benefits owned jointly with his or her son would only be a countable asset for eligibility purposes to the extent of 50% of that account value. Joint bank accounts, on the other hand, will be counted in full for MassHealth eligibility purposes, unless the other joint owner can prove contribution towards the balance in the bank accounts. The longer the joint brokerage account has been established, the more likely that MassHealth would only count 50% of the value of the account upon submitting an application for MassHealth benefits. If you were to open up a joint brokerage account several months prior to applying for MassHealth, it is likely the application would be denied as MassHealth would proceed to count 100% of the value of the account as opposed to 50%. The adding of a child as a joint owner of the brokerage account would be treated as a disqualifying transfer subject to the five-year look back period. If you are concerned that a loved one, who is not married, and who may be in need of nursing home care well within the next five years, it might be worthwhile looking into taking some bank account monies and transferring them to a brokerage account in the name of the person who will soon be entering the nursing home and a son or daughter. If enough time goes by after the estab“We also want to communicate student expectations clearly from the beginning. Consistent communication between school and home is a critical part of ensuring student success.” Sullivan credited SMHS Aslishment of such an account, at least half of the monies will be protected. If MassHealth took the position that the entire account is countable, then excess assets in that situation could be transferred to a pooled trust depending upon the particular facts and circumstances. The pooled trust will take the excess countable assets off the table and convert them to non-countable assets held by the non-profit pooled trust entity. Monies can be spent on the nursing home resident on items and services not covered by MassHealth. There is a payback provision to MassHealth and there is an amount that will be retained by the charity depending on how long the recipient of MassHealth benefits resides in the nursing home. Even a Medicaid annuity should be looked at as another option of protecting as much money as possible. Countable assets are converted to a non-countable income stream that would have to be paid to the nursing home. By doing this, you would at least be able to obtain approval for MassHealth benefits. Joseph D. Cataldo is an estate planning/elder law attorney, Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, AICPA Personal Financial Specialist and holds a master’s degree in taxation. sistant Principal Maureen Lueke for working with her team, including several high school student volunteers, to create the welcoming two-day orientation. Assisting Lueke were Amy O’Neill, one of the adjustment counselors at SMHS; Tracy Rodrigues, a sixth-grade Special Education teacher; and Paul Doucette, a seventh-grade Social Studies teacher. About 122 incoming sixth-graders attended the first day, which was followed by a parent session the second day. Lueke said students took a tour of the building to learn the ins and outs of important locations, such as the gym, bathrooms, lockers and cafeteria. They received tips on preparing for the school year, such as study skills, keeping assignments organized and how to stay ahead – and heard advice on navigating the social environment of middle school. “Learning how to meet new people, how to handle peer pressure, advocating for yourself and developing coping skills are all critical as our students navigate through their middle school years,” Lueke said. One way to help students develop those skills during orientation was through team-building activities, she said. Lueke ran the parent session the next day, giving families insight into the mindset and challenges of middle school students. The program was designed to: • Help families better understand their adolescent child • Familiarize parents and/or families to the middle school program • Provide parents and/or families with information and resources to better help them understand adolescence. “This is one way to let students and families know from the beginning that we want to work together as a team to make the middle school experience a positive one,” Lueke said. “We have staff and resources available to both students and families and urge them to reach out with any questions or concerns.” A copy of the presentation for parents and caregivers is available on the district’s website. Incoming sixth-grade parents or caregivers with questions should reach out to Lueke at mlueke@saugus.k12.ma.us. Latest Seasonally Unadjusted Unemployment and Job Estimates for Local Labor Markets in Massachusetts B OSTON, MA—August 23, 2022--Local unemployment rates dropped in nine labor areas, increased in five, and remained unchanged in ten labor market areas, in the state during the month of July compared to June, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported. Compared to July 2021, the rates were down in twenty-four labor market areas. Of the fifteen areas for which estimates are published, three areas gained jobs. The increases occurred in the Barnstable Town (+4.1%), Boston-Cambridge-Newton (+0.3%), and Worcester (+0.1%) areas. From July 2021 to July 2022, thirteen areas gained jobs with the largest percentage increases seen in the Boston-Cambr idge -Newton (+5.8%) , Springfield (+4.4%), Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford (+3.9%), and Lawrence-Methuen Town-Salem (+3.5%) areas. In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for July 2022 was 3.5 percent, unchanged from the June estimate. Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the month of July 2022 was 3.5 percent, down two-tenths of a percentage point from the June 2022 estimate of 3.7 percent. The statewide seasonally adjusted preliminary jobs estimate showed an increase of 13,500 jobs in July, and an over-the-year gain of 134,500 jobs. The unadjusted unemployment rates and job estimates for the labor market areas reflect seasonal fluctuations and thereUNEMPLOYMENT | SEE PAGE 20

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