Planning Ahead

would increase the benefit paid through the federal government to $400 per week and would extend the time frame through September. This is in recognition that many workers are still out of work and includes self-employed and “gig” workers (such as Uber drivers, etc.) who are not normally included in unemployment benefits provided by states.

The plan would extend eviction and foreclosure moratoriums through the end of September 2021. Also included would be additional rental assistance. An additional $5 billion would be allocated to help qualified persons cover home energy and water costs and $5 billion for emergency assistance to locate housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

A portion of the funds allocated to struggling families would be allocated toward SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits already approved to extend through the end of September and $3 billion for the WIC program (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children).

The proposal would also request Congress to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour.

There are currently child tax credits in the federal tax code. The proposal would increase the credit and make 17-year-old children qualifying children for the year. the proposal would include help for small businesses, aid to local governments, relief for transit systems, and support of tribal governments.

This portion of the plan would provide $15 billion in grants for small businesses and attempt to leverage $35 billion to $175 billion for loans for small businesses.

Those who were following the prior budget negotiations will remember one sticking point was assistance to local governments for which the majority Republican position was that this would be denied unless tied to legal liability protection for firms. Aid to local governments would include $350 billion in emergency funding for state, local and territorial governments to pay front line workers, distribute vaccines, increase testing and reopen schools.

Whether these proposals become law is for the future but at minimum putting forth a plan is a first step to dealing with what have been probably the most challenging issues of our lifetimes.

Janet Colliton, Esq. is a Certified Elder Law Attorney and limits her practice to elder law, retirement and estate planning, Medicaid, Medicare, life care and special needs at 790 East Market St., Suite 250, West Chester, Pa., 19382, 610-436-6674, colliton@ collitonlaw.com. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and, with Jeffrey Jones, CSA, cofounder of Life Transition Services LLC, a service for families with long term care needs. Tune in on Wednesdays at 4 p.m. to radio WCHE 1520, “50+ Planning Ahead,” with Janet Colliton, Colliton Elder Law Associates, and Phil McFadden, Home Instead Senior Care.