What kind of financial help do I need?
December 2, 2014 3:01 PM Subscribe
Through a combination of illness, procrastination, and overwhelm, my modest financial life is in shambles. I don't have a lot of extra money, but I would throw what I could at this problem to have help in getting it straightened out.
I need to:
-- File 2 years of back taxes, plus this year coming up. I have no idea where W2s or other tax forms for 2012 and 2013 might be, so I would need to see if I could get new forms.
-- Finish probate on my mother's estate. This was a very modest estate, I filled out some of the papers, but am being asked to close it out and I don't know where to go from here.
-- I became eligible for Medicare this past August, but haven't used it because I haven't signed up for a physician or for a drug policy (I think I need one of those?). I was covered under my husband's policy (although we are 20+ years separated) until this upcoming January, after that I will need to use my Medicare policy and have no idea how to do that.
-- This isn't really financial, but should probably get divorced at some point (as I said, we have been separated over 20 years).
I'm actually fairly bright and should be able to do these things, but I have a chronic illness, take a lot of medications that don't help my cognitive function, and I'm just overwhelmed by all the steps needed to straighten this mess out.
Is there a professional of some fashion I can hire to help me get sorted?
I need to:
-- File 2 years of back taxes, plus this year coming up. I have no idea where W2s or other tax forms for 2012 and 2013 might be, so I would need to see if I could get new forms.
-- Finish probate on my mother's estate. This was a very modest estate, I filled out some of the papers, but am being asked to close it out and I don't know where to go from here.
-- I became eligible for Medicare this past August, but haven't used it because I haven't signed up for a physician or for a drug policy (I think I need one of those?). I was covered under my husband's policy (although we are 20+ years separated) until this upcoming January, after that I will need to use my Medicare policy and have no idea how to do that.
-- This isn't really financial, but should probably get divorced at some point (as I said, we have been separated over 20 years).
I'm actually fairly bright and should be able to do these things, but I have a chronic illness, take a lot of medications that don't help my cognitive function, and I'm just overwhelmed by all the steps needed to straighten this mess out.
Is there a professional of some fashion I can hire to help me get sorted?
There's something called State Health Insurance Assistance Program, which provides free help navigating Medicare stuff. Maybe try them for your state?
posted by aka burlap at 3:20 PM on December 2, 2014
posted by aka burlap at 3:20 PM on December 2, 2014
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteers provide FREE Income Tax Preparation Assistance to low-Income, elderly, disabled and limited English speaking people.
They helped me file mine one year. I did need proof of my SSN and some other things. I also had to request a replacement W2 from my employer, I think that was the same year.
Call them and ask some questions.
posted by Michele in California at 3:24 PM on December 2, 2014 [3 favorites]
They helped me file mine one year. I did need proof of my SSN and some other things. I also had to request a replacement W2 from my employer, I think that was the same year.
Call them and ask some questions.
posted by Michele in California at 3:24 PM on December 2, 2014 [3 favorites]
Depending on where you are, you can make an appointment with the Social Security Administration and have them help you through all the steps you need to sign up for social security and medicare. You may not need to have a specific doctor in mind, and right now is open enrollment, so you're good there. You might be able to get a Medicare part B plan that will give you a list of doctors to pick from.
If you just want to sign up for medicare, here's the site.
How tricky are your IRS forms? You'll only be penalized for filing late if you owe. Use Michelle in California's resource for help there, but don't fret.
As for the estate, is there a lawyer? Can you get help through Legal Aid or some other organization? Can the estate afford to pay an estate lawyer to close it out? Then get help with a divorce there as well.
This is how I'd sort it all out:
1. Sign up on line for Medicare.
2. Find a lawyer and get the estate settled.
3. File for divorce
4. Tackle the IRS.
You eat an elephant one bite at a time.
Hang in there, you can do this!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 3:42 PM on December 2, 2014
If you just want to sign up for medicare, here's the site.
How tricky are your IRS forms? You'll only be penalized for filing late if you owe. Use Michelle in California's resource for help there, but don't fret.
As for the estate, is there a lawyer? Can you get help through Legal Aid or some other organization? Can the estate afford to pay an estate lawyer to close it out? Then get help with a divorce there as well.
This is how I'd sort it all out:
1. Sign up on line for Medicare.
2. Find a lawyer and get the estate settled.
3. File for divorce
4. Tackle the IRS.
You eat an elephant one bite at a time.
Hang in there, you can do this!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 3:42 PM on December 2, 2014
Back in 2003, when the IRS sent me threatening letters about my failure to file in like 1995, I just went down to the local IRS office and they had my taxes done in literally 2 minutes. The IRS has copies of your W2, so you wouldn't need to jump through the hoops of requesting them. Plus, this is the best time of year to deal with the IRS, the last filing deadline of the year is past, so they'd probably be happy to help you.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 4:14 PM on December 2, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by rabbitrabbit at 4:14 PM on December 2, 2014 [3 favorites]
This thread is closed to new comments.
But perhaps a better bet would be a social worker/case worker? They have their fingers in all the pies--legal help, financial help, healthcare help--and should be able to assist you in finding the people you need to get things sorted.
posted by feckless fecal fear mongering at 3:10 PM on December 2, 2014 [4 favorites]