As the costs of a college or graduate education go up, students may want to evaluate their career and work choices and consider entering public service. The Federal government’s Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program allows a student loan debtor who works full-time for a state, federal, or local government or for a non-profit entity and who pays his or her school loans as agreed for 120 months to have the remainder of their school loan debt forgiven. That means that, after 10 years of full-time employment and payments, whatever remains of school loan debt disappears!
This program has some specific caveats on who is eligible and which loan programs qualify. To learn more, visit the Department of Education’s website at:
http://studentaid.ed.gov/PORTALSWebApp/students/english/PSF.jsp
The last two weeks of 2011 are full of all sorts of celebrations, from the religious to the solemn to the spirited. It is also a time when many law enforcement agencies increase their drunk-driving patrols and checkpoints. The reason behind this is simple – celebrations often involve alcohol, and those who imbibe will sometime drive when they are impaired.
Taking steps to prevent drunk driving is a win-win for everyone. A designated driver has the satisfaction of knowing that friends and family will be safer on the road, a party-goer can avoid getting arrested, or worse, getting into an accident that would take a life.
Whatever celebrations you find this year, make them full of joy and wonder!
Happy Holidays from all of us at Fuller & Fuller.
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) applies to virtually all employers, including the federal government, and provides a set of protections of our men and women serving in the military. USERRA requires employers to ensure that jobs held by members of the military when they leave for active duty remain open to them once their service is honorably completed. USERRA provides other protections for our servicemen and -women as well.
To learn more about the benefits and obligations under USERRA, visit the Department of Labor’s website at http://www.dol.gov/elaws/vets/userra/userra.asp.
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) applies to virtually all employers, including the federal government, and provides a set of protections of our men and women serving in the military. USERRA requires employers to ensure that jobs held by members of the military when they leave for active duty remain open to them once their service is honorably completed. USERRA provides other protections for our servicemen and -women as well. To learn more about the benefits and obligations under USERRA, visit the Department of Labor’s website at http://www.dol.gov/elaws/vets/userra/userra.asp.
Due to increases in the cost of living, the Social Security Administration has increased the amount of benefits it provides to Social Security and SSI recipients by 3.6%. Next year, the maximum Social Security Benefit will increase from $2,366 per month to $2,513 per month. The tax rate, however, will remain unchanged for those still working.
To learn more about the COLA increases for 2012, visit the Social Security Administration’s website at http://www.ssa.gov/pressoffice/factsheets/colafacts2012.htm.
Puget Sound Fresh is a project devoted to raising awareness about the multiple benefits of buying locally-grown produce and other products. Their “Eat Local for Thanksgiving” campaign encourages us to purchase at least one locally grown item for our Thanksgiving meal. Doing so will benefit local farmers, and will help sustain the regional businesses vital to our state’s economy.
You can learn more about Puget Sound Fresh at http://www.pugetsoundfresh.org.
Happy Thanksgiving from the Fuller family and the staff at Fuller & Fuller!
