Q: I recently applied for a government program and became confused by the request about wages, earnings, income and assets. Do you have a definition for these categories? A: The words “wages” and “earnings” are parts of income and differ greatly from assets. Income is what comes into a household each month. What is left at the end of the month after all bills have been paid is considered an asset. Wages are defined as the money paid to an employee. They are subject to Social Security taxes. Wage information should be included if a question is asked about income. Earnings can be defined in two ways. They can be money received from employment and treated the same as wages or can be money returned from an investment — such as interest and dividends — or pension and Social Security benefits and not subject to Social Security taxes. Either definition would make that money part of an answer to a question about income. Income is the total amount of money that comes into a household each month. It includes wages and earnings. This is the figure most often requested in a means-tested program. Assets are what are set aside for a rainy day. They include bank accounts, certificates of deposit, stocks, bonds and insurance policies. These are known as liquid assets. You most likely also have nonliquid assets such as a home, other real estate and automobiles. The value of all assets will also be a question on an application for a means-tested program. Q: I attended a game night at the Goebel Senior Adult Center and had a great time. Will there be more such nights? A: The next game night, Secret Word Game, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 27. Future game nights are scheduled for March 28 and June 27. Information, reservations and tickets are available at the center’s front desk. HAPPENINGS Wednesday: “Volunteering — A Win-Win Situation” seminar. 1:30-3 p.m.; Westlake Village Civic Center, 31200 E. Oak Crest Drive, Westlake Village. Friday: “Fraud Prevention Summit 2013.” 1:30-3:30 p.m.; Goebel Senior Adult Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. For information and reservations, call 381-2744. CAREGIVER UNIVERSITY 4-6:30 p.m. at Senior Concerns Day Care Center, 401 Hodencamp Road, Thousand Oaks. For information or to make reservations, call 497-0189. Thursday: “Caring for the Caregiver” Sept. 17: “Grandparents Raising Grandkids” Sept. 24: “Caring for a Loved One With Traumatic Brain Injury” MEDICARE SEMINARS Medicare and Part D Plans in 2014 and Covered California. Thursday: 9 a.m. — Help of Ojai/Little House, 111 W. Santa Ana Road, Ojai. For information, call 646-5122. Thursday: 10 a.m. — Ventura County Area Agency on Aging, 646 County Square Drive, Ventura. For information, call 477-7310. Sept. 17: 1 p.m. — Moorpark Active Adult Center, 799 Moorpark Avenue, Moorpark. For information, call 521-6261. Sept. 18: 9:30 a.m. — Wilson Senior Center, 350 N. C St., Oxnard. For information, call 477-7310. Sept. 19: 1 p.m. — Covered CA Overview at Camarillo Health Care District, 3639 E. Las Posas Road, Suite 117, Camarillo. For information, call 388-1952. Sept. 20: 10 a.m. — Fillmore Senior Center, 533 Santa Clara St., in Fillmore. For information, call 524-4533. Betty Berry is a senior advocate for Senior Concerns. The advocates are at the Goebel Senior Adult Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362, or call 495-6250 or email betty@seniorconcerns.org . Please include your telephone number More …
