It is tax time! Annette Hines, host of Parenting Impossible-The Special Needs Survival Podcast and her favorite guest, law partner and husband, Mark Worthington tackle the four top questions people ask about tax preparation and tax reporting. 

  1. Can I claim my adult child as a dependent?
  2. If I charge my adult child room and board when they are living with me, is that taxable income to me? And how does this impact their Supplemental Security Income (SSI)?
  3. Taxation of special needs trust and SECURE Act updates.
  4. How are caregiver payments such as Adult Family Care (AFC) and Personal Care Attendant (PCA) taxed to the recipient?

Can you imagine the dinner table conversation at their home!? We are so lucky they love talking about taxes and simplifying what can be complicated information. So please join Annette Hines and Mark Worthington as they answer these important and popular tax questions asked by our disability community. 

Annette Hines is the founding partner of Special Needs Law Group of Massachusetts, PC, and has been practicing in the areas of Special Needs, Elder Law, and Estate Planning for over twenty years. Her clients include individuals and families of children with special needs, the elderly, and others in the community. She received her BA from the University of Vermont, her MBA from Suffolk University, and her JD from Howard University School of Law.

Ms. Hines was recently presented the NAELA (National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys) Theresa Award for 2021 by the Theresa Foundation in recognition of her outstanding efforts and advocacy for individuals with special needs. She has been recognized as a Distinguished Citizen by ARC Massachusetts and cited for public service by both the Massachusetts State Senate and House of Representatives for her work on behalf of people with disabilities. Ms. Hines was designated a 2016 Top Women of Law from Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and has been named to the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list every year since 2014.

 Mark Worthington is Senior Counsel at Special Needs Law Group of Massachusetts, P.C. Mark received his J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law and his LL.M. in Taxation from Boston University School of Law. He is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (as certified by the National Elder Law Foundation (Massachusetts does not recognize legal specialties for certification)) and past President (2007) of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. Mark has been named to the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list every year since 2008.

In 2018 he stepped down as full-time Professor of Law and Director of the Graduate (LL.M.) Program in Elder Law and Estate Planning at Western New England University School of Law to practice full-time with Special Needs Law Group. He continues as an Adjunct Professor in the LL.M. Program. He has also taught at Northeastern in the J.D. Program. Mark is admitted to practice in Massachusetts and before the United States Supreme Court.

Listen to the full episode below or you can find us on Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!

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As of January 1, 2022, Special Needs Companies, Special Needs Law Group and Special Needs Family Services will all be housed in this new location. They will be working with designers and contractors to create a family-friendly environment that is special needs accessible.  Annette wants to hear from you – what is something you would like to see or something that would make your visit more comfortable when you visit a professional’s office.  Of course, they will focus on ramps and more handicapped parking but are there other items that you would like to see or were maybe lacking in your last visit to a professional’s office? Please reach out HERE and let us know!

For information on other topics, please also check out Special Needs Companies. For legal advice, inspiration, and other resources, visit our blog here. Similarly, you can always listen to previous podcast episodes (and be sure to leave us a review), or download our free eBook here. We are always looking for podcast guests as well so please let us know if you or someone you know, has a special needs or disability topic you would like to speak about – Contact Us!

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Please consider leaving a podcast review for Parenting Impossible – The Special Needs Survival Podcast on iTunes.  More positive ratings and reviews mean more new listeners are introduced to this informational and inspirational podcast.  Look at the bottom of this page for the purple oval that says “Enjoying the podcast?  Leave an iTunes review here.”  This will take you over to the iTunes site/app where you will be able to log in and leave a review.  We really appreciate it!

You can also join our free Facebook group for the disability community, the “Circle of Care,” or watch the webinars and other speaking events on YouTube. The purpose of this community is to create a space for people to be themselves, ask questions and get support and answers, so please share these resources with your friends!

Annette Hines has been practicing in the areas of Special Needs, Elder Law, and Estate Planning for more than 20 years. Ms. Hines brings personal experience with special needs to her practice and podcasts as the mother of two daughters, one of whom passed away from Mitochondrial disease in November 2013. This deep, personal understanding of special needs fuels her passion for quality special needs planning and drives her dedication to help others within the special needs community.