LOOKING TO FILE YOUR TAXES WITH A PROFESSIONAL, BUT CAN’T AFFORD TO HIRE YOU OWN ACCOUNTANT?

If you make less than $57,000, you’re likely to qualify for tax-filing help through @Action for Boston Community Development.

ABCD’s IRS-certified VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) volunteers provide low- and medium-income Boston area residents with free electronic Federal and Massachusetts state tax preparation. ABCD also provides these services to people with disabilities and limited English-speaking taxpayers who need assistance in preparing their own tax returns, as well as to those over 60 with their Tax Counseling for the Elderly program.

Check out their site here for more information: https://bostonabcd.org/service/tax-assistance/

THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE HAS RELEASED RESOURCES FOR PAID FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE

Most current W-2 employees in the Commonwealth—with limited exemptions—are eligible so long as they meet the financial eligibility requirements set under the unemployment insurance program.

Also eligible are:

· Self-employed individuals who have chosen to opt-in to the state program.

· Contractors who receive a 1099-MISC tax form and whose employer has a workforce that has over 50% of individuals receiving a 1099-MISC form.

· Former employees who have been unemployed for less than 27 weeks.

· Employees of a municipal district, political subdivision, housing authority, regional school district, or regional planning commission, which has chosen to opt-in to the paid family leave program.

The maximum length of Leave is variable dependent on the following circumstances:

· 12 weeks to bond with a

child during the first 12 months after the child’s birth, adoption, or foster care placement.

· 12 weeks to manage any needs that take place immediately after a family member is deployed to a foreign country or is notified of an impending deployment in a foreign country.

· 20 weeks to manage your own serious health condition.

· 26 weeks of family leave to care for a family member who is a current member of the Armed Forces due to an injury or illness that occurred as a result of their service.

As of July 1st, 2021, these benefits will expand to include:

· 12 weeks to care for a family member with a serious health condition.

Benefits are based on the worker’s average weekly wage over their two highest-earning quarters during the previous year. To calculate weekly benefits, the State uses the following formula.

· 80% of the first $715.83 of a worker’s average weekly wage, plus

· 50% of any amount of th

eir average weekly wage over $715.83, up to the state benefit cap

Weekly benefits are currently capped at $850 per week.

For instructions on how to apply, visit: https://www.mass.gov/how-to/how-to-apply-for-paid-family-and-medical-leave-pfml

For Basic Eligibility Requirements, visit: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/your-eligibility-for-paid-family-and-medical-leave-pfml

For a Financial Eligibility and Expected Benefit Calculator, visit: https://calculator.digital.mass.gov/pfml/yourbenefits/

To opt-in for self-employed individuals, visit: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/opt-in-and-contribute-to-paid-family-and-medical-leave-as-a-self-employed-individual

Update: Office Hours with Representative Ultrino moved to 7pm on 02/18/2021

If you have any questions or concerns about what's going on around Malden or on Beacon Hill, or even if you just want to chat, please drop in to join us!

Register at https://bit.ly/UltrinoOfficeHours2021 to join.

In the meanwhile, be sure to catch our conversation on Thursday, February 11th with Malden Director of Public Health Chris Webb for useful information on COVID-19 in Malden and the vaccine rollout.