#maximum benefit insurance

[informative-blogger123]

Discovering the Best Final Expense Leads for Your Senior Benefits Business

In the ever-evolving landscape of senior benefits, finding the best final expense leads can be a game changer for your business. As the population ages, the demand for final expense insurance is on the rise, creating a wealth of opportunities for those in the industry. If you're looking to tap into this market, understanding how to attract and convert leads for final expense insurance is essential. This article dives deep into the strategies and insights you need to effectively connect with potential clients, enhance your offerings, and ultimately drive success in your senior benefits company.

What Are Final Expense Leads?

Final expense leads refer to potential clients who are interested in purchasing insurance policies that cover the costs associated with funerals and other end-of-life expenses. These leads typically stem from individuals or families looking for financial security and peace of mind regarding future expenses. As a senior benefits company, your goal is to connect with these individuals and provide them with tailored insurance solutions that meet their needs.

Why Are Final Expense Leads Important?

As we age, the inevitability of life’s final chapter becomes a reality for many. The financial burden of end-of-life expenses can be overwhelming, making final expense insurance a critical consideration for seniors. By focusing on leads for final expense, you not only create a steady stream of potential clients but also fulfill a vital need in the community.

Understanding Your Target Market

To effectively market final expense insurance, you need to have a clear understanding of your target audience. Most often, this audience comprises seniors aged 50 and above who are concerned about their financial legacy. They are typically looking for affordable, accessible insurance options that provide adequate coverage for their needs.

Characteristics of Your Target Audience

When identifying your target audience, consider the following characteristics:

Age: Most leads will be seniors, usually between 50 and 80 years old.

Financial Situation: Many seniors are on fixed incomes and are looking for affordable solutions.

Family Dynamics: Some may have children or dependents they wish to protect from financial burdens after their passing.

Strategies for Generating the Best Final Expense Leads

Generating quality leads requires a multifaceted approach. Below are some effective strategies to attract potential clients.

Invest in Digital Marketing

In today’s digital world, having a strong online presence is crucial. Use targeted online advertising to reach seniors searching for insurance solutions. Platforms like Facebook and Google Ads allow you to create tailored ads that directly address the needs of your audience.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Make sure your website is optimized for search engines. This means using keywords relevant to final expense insurance, such as “maximum benefit insurance” or “senior benefits insurance.” When potential clients search for these terms, your website should appear at the top of the search results.

Utilize Social Media

Social media platforms can be powerful tools for reaching potential clients. Share informative content about final expense insurance, benefits, and tips for seniors. Engaging posts can foster connections and encourage shares, expanding your reach to a broader audience.

Networking and Referrals

Building relationships with other professionals in the senior care space, such as financial advisors and elder law attorneys, can provide valuable referral opportunities. Offer them a mutually beneficial partnership where you can refer clients to each other.

Host Educational Workshops

Consider hosting workshops or webinars that educate seniors about final expense insurance and its benefits. These events can help establish you as a trusted expert in the field, allowing you to connect directly with potential leads.

Crafting an Effective Lead Generation Strategy

Once you have the tools in place to generate leads, it's crucial to have an effective strategy for converting them into clients.

Personalize Your Approach

When contacting leads, take the time to personalize your communications. Reference their specific needs and concerns, and explain how your services can meet them. This personal touch can significantly improve your chances of closing a sale.

Follow Up Consistently

After initial contact, follow up consistently without being overly pushy. Many leads require multiple interactions before they feel comfortable making a decision. Use various channels—phone calls, emails, and even handwritten notes—to stay in touch.

Educate Your Leads

Provide valuable information throughout the sales process. Share articles, guides, or videos that explain final expense insurance in detail. The more informed your leads are, the more likely they are to make a decision in your favor.

Offer Free Consultations

Consider offering free consultations to discuss the individual needs of your leads. This provides an opportunity for you to assess their situation and recommend suitable insurance options, further building trust and rapport.

Maximizing Benefit with the Right Insurance Products

The goal of your senior benefits company is not only to generate leads but also to provide maximum benefits to your clients. Offering a range of insurance products can help meet diverse needs.

Types of Final Expense Insurance

Understanding the different types of final expense insurance can help you guide your clients toward the right policy.

Whole Life Insurance

Whole life insurance provides coverage for the insured's entire life, with a cash value component. This option can be appealing for clients looking for long-term security.

Term Life Insurance

Term life insurance offers coverage for a specified period, usually at a lower premium. This can be an attractive option for clients seeking affordability.

Tailored Insurance Solutions

Every client is unique, and their insurance needs will vary. Offering tailored solutions can set you apart from competitors. Work with your clients to understand their specific financial situations and provide customized recommendations that best fit their needs.

Building Trust in the Senior Benefits Market

Trust is a crucial element when dealing with seniors and their families. As a provider of final expense insurance, it's vital to build and maintain that trust.

Provide Transparency

Be open and transparent about your products, fees, and the claims process. This honesty will help establish credibility and reassure potential clients that they are making informed decisions.

Share Success Stories

Sharing testimonials or case studies from satisfied clients can be a powerful way to build trust. These real-life examples show potential clients that you have successfully helped others in similar situations.

Staying Current with Industry Trends

The insurance industry is constantly evolving. To remain competitive, it's essential to stay informed about the latest trends and regulations affecting final expense insurance.

Continuous Education

Invest in continuous education for yourself and your team. Attend industry conferences, webinars, and training sessions to keep your knowledge up to date. This expertise will empower you to better serve your clients.

Adapt to Changes

The needs of seniors and the insurance landscape are always changing. Be prepared to adapt your offerings and strategies to meet new demands and expectations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, navigating the world of final expense insurance can be challenging but immensely rewarding. By focusing on generating the best final expense leads and understanding the unique needs of your target audience, you can position your senior benefits company for success. With the right strategies in place and a commitment to providing exceptional service, you’ll not only meet the demands of the market but also make a meaningful difference in the lives of your clients.

FAQs

What are final expense leads?

Final expense leads are potential clients interested in purchasing insurance policies that cover end-of-life costs, such as funerals and other related expenses.

Why is it important to focus on final expense insurance?

Final expense insurance addresses the financial burdens associated with end-of-life expenses, providing peace of mind for seniors and their families.

How can I generate more final expense leads?

You can generate more final expense leads by investing in digital marketing, utilizing social media, networking with professionals, and hosting educational workshops.

What types of final expense insurance are available?

The two primary types of final expense insurance are whole life insurance and term life insurance, each with its own benefits and considerations.

How can I build trust with potential clients in the senior benefits market?

Building trust involves being transparent about your offerings, providing excellent customer service, and sharing testimonials from satisfied clients.

[sayruq]

The Malawi government has finally spoken out on the arrest of Malawian farm workers in Israel, clarifying that 12 out of 40 individuals detained are from the country. According to Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu, the 40 individuals, representing 13 nationalities, were arrested for leaving their designated work stations and seeking employment in town without proper authorization. Kunkuyu revealed that the group, including the 12 Malawians, had abandoned their farm work to seek jobs at a bakery in Bnei Brak, violating Israel’s labor laws and regulations.

Malawi and Israel signed a labor export deal in 2022, allowing Malawi to send unskilled laborers to Israel to work in various sectors, including agriculture and construction. The deal aimed to generate more foreign exchange revenue for Malawi and provide employment opportunities for its citizens. Under the deal, Malawian workers are expected to work in Israel for a maximum of 5 years, with a minimum salary of $1,500 per month. The deal also includes provisions for workers’ safety, health insurance, and protection from exploitation. However, the deal has faced criticism and controversy, with some opposition politicians and human rights organizations expressing concerns about the secrecy surrounding the deal and the potential risks to workers’ safety.

The arrest of the Malawian workers has raised concerns about the treatment of foreign workers in Israel and the effectiveness of the labor deal in protecting their rights. Human rights organizations have called on the Malawian government to take action to ensure the safe return of the detained workers and to review the labor deal to prevent similar incidents in the future. The incident has also sparked debate about the benefits and risks of labor export deals and the need for greater transparency and accountability in such agreements.

The mistreatment of foreign workers in Israel is well documented and would explain why the 45 workers escaped the farm to look for work elsewhere

[fingertipsmp3]

My sister messaged me

[lookingforcactus]

A big cost and concern for many seniors in the U.S. is the price of prescription drugs and other healthcare expenses—and this year, thanks to The Inflation Reduction Act, their costs may go down dramatically, especially for patients fighting cancer or heart disease.

I learned about the new benefits because my ‘Medicare birthday’ is coming up in a couple months when I turn 65. I was shocked that there were so many positive changes being made, which I never heard about on the news.

Thousands of Americans on Medicare have been paying more than $14,000 a year for blood cancer drugs, more than $10,000 a year for ovarian cancer drugs, and more than $9,000 a year for breast cancer drugs, for instance.

That all changed beginning in 2023, after the Biden administration capped out-of-pocket prescriptions at $3,500—no matter what drugs were needed. And this year, in 2024, the cap for all Medicare out-of-pocket prescriptions went down to a maximum of $2,000.

“The American people won, and Big Pharma lost,” said President Biden in September 2022, after the legislation passed. “It’s going to be a godsend to many families.”

Another crucial medical necessity, the shingles vaccine, which many seniors skip because of the cost, is now free. Shingles is a painful rash with blisters, that can be followed by chronic pain, and other complications, for which there is no cure

In 2022, more than 2 million seniors paid between $100 and $200 for that vaccine, but starting last year, Medicare prescription drug plans dropped the cost for shots down to zero.

Another victory for consumers over Big Pharma affects anyone of any age who struggles with diabetes. The cost of life-saving insulin was capped at $35 a month [for people on Medicare].

Medicare is also lowering the costs of the premium for Part B—which covers outpatient visits to your doctors. 15 million Americans will save an average of $800 per year on health insurance costs, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Last year, for the first time in history, Medicare began using the leverage power of its large patient pool to negotiate fair prices for drugs. Medicare is no longer accepting whatever drug prices that pharmaceutical companies demand.

Negotiations began on ten of the most widely used and expensive drugs.

Among the ten drugs selected for Medicare drug price negotiation were Eliquis, used by 3.7 million Americans and Jardiance and Xarelto, each used by over a million people. The ten drugs account for the highest total spending in Medicare Part D prescription plans...

How are all these cost-savings being paid for?

The government is able to pay for these benefits by making sure the biggest corporations in America are paying their fair share of federal taxes.

In 2020, for instance, dozens of American companies on the Fortune 500 list who made $40 billion in profit paid zero in federal taxes.

Starting in 2023, U.S. corporations are required to pay a minimum corporate tax of 15 percent. The Inflation Reduction Act created the CAMT, which imposed the 15% minimum tax on the adjusted financial statement income of any corporation with average income that exceeds $1 billion.

For years, Americans have decried the rising costs of health care—but in the last three years, there are plenty of positive developments.

-via Good News Network, February 25, 2024

[chronicallycouchbound]

I refuse to call government assistance programs “welfare” or “benefits”.

I’ve been on government assistance programs my whole life. I have never lived above the poverty line.

It’s a system that doesn’t care about my wellbeing, they care about doing the bare minimum to keep people alive enough to function and work, and if you’re disabled and cannot work, they give significantly less of a fuck.

And benefits?? What benefits?

Food stamps that run out within two weeks because I am budgeting with 8$ a day with literally dozens of dietary restrictions? Or do you mean the housing voucher that I have to never even have a gift card, penny to my name, Sams club membership, phone bill, literally anything that could be “income” in order to qualify? That same housing voucher system that if I mess up even once with I not only lose all government aid for at least 5 years, it’s also mandatory PRISON time for 1 year?? “Oh but they would never do that, right?” Nope! I have several friends who are now felons for minor lease violations and unhoused as a result! Oh maybe you mean the state health insurance that doesn’t cover most treatments, specialists, and testing I need and if I tried to make a gofundme to cover, I would lose aforementioned housing? Oh and we can’t forget all the money I get for being disabled, which is exactly 0$. I’m still fighting for SSI and have been for 6 years! That’s over 6 years with absolutely zero income. ZERO. And guess what, whenever I *do* get on SSI, I will lose my housing voucher. And I won’t be able to afford my current apartment because even in subsidized low income housing it’s too expensive for the maximum SSI “benefit” amount. And on SSI you can’t have savings over 2000$. Oh and they do make housing for people who are low income where you pay 30% of your income but I can’t even be on the waitlist since I don’t have any income. And on top of all this, I can never get married because I’ll lose all of the programs.

I could keep going. That’s not even half of the programs I’m a part of.

• None of them give me cash in hand. Even for vouchers I have to provide receipts for everything.

• Food stamps just straight up won’t even cover ineligible items. Which includes hot foods.

• I genuinely don’t believe that there’s a way to “game the system” and why would you? You would gain literally nothing.

• It’s designed to keep people poor. Once you make over a certain amount, you lose all or almost all benefits. There’s no way to slowly transition out of the programs, if you’re someone who’s able to. It’s all in or all out.

• All of these barriers are made significantly worse while unhoused/homeless. I’ve been homeless for over half of my life and there’s so many fucked up rules. If I missed one night staying in the shelter, I lost my housing voucher because I no longer was “verified as homeless” even if I was sleeping outside still.

[rainofaugustsith]

I've already seem one Pride related post about this, so as a friendly neighborhood disabled person, I'd like to clarify something about disabled marriage equality. Whether a disabled person loses their benefits when they marry depends entirely on the TYPE of disability benefit they have. SSI and SSDI are the two most common and they are not the same. SSDI: Social Security Disability Insurance. Based on earnings overt a certain number of recent work quarters. Not income or asset based. Your payment depends on what you contributed while working over the years. SSDI makes you eligible for Medicare. There are two basic ways to lose SSDI: a) you are deemed non-disabled; b) you earn more than the amount set forward for SGA (substantial gainful activity) for a period longer than a trial work period of nine months. OR: You turn 67 and then start collecting regular Social Security retirement instead. That's it. SSDI does not care if you marry, divorce, win the lottery, move to Tahiti for the winter. Where this gets sticky, however, is that SSDI recipients often have income low enough to also qualify for Medicaid as a secondary insurance, Section 8 housing help or SNAP (food stamps). Those things can all be affected if a person marries and additional income is added to the household. But - if they marry they will not lose their Medicare or their SSDI. SSI:

Supplemental Security Income. If you are disabled but don't have the work credits to qualify for SSDI, you get this. It often happens to people who are disabled as children or teens, or those who have been out of the workforce for a while. SSI has a maximum monthly payment of under $1000/month. It is income and asset based. If you have more than a certain amount in the bank, if you marry, if you have too many other assets, if you move in with friends, if a friend gives you regular groceries, it all counts against you. You're poor and it's designed to keep you poor, and to balance out any small amount of help you may get. SSI gives you almost nothing to live on, but also bars you from receiving any assistance that might help because it will be counted against you. SSI qualifies you for Medicaid. SSI is a cruel system. The asset limits, the marriage penalty and the in-kind rules desperately need to be updated. People should not have to choose between getting married and keeping benefits. But SSDI and SSI are two different programs, both called 'disability' and in this discussion it's important to remember that to avoid giving inaccurate information.

[beardedmrbean]

https://youtube.com/shorts/tfrvtVODQ5A?si=nWmux3kF1oDG-QH6

Oh what's this one going to be.......

The $750 goes out to everyone regardless of need so they can get whatever it is they need immediately without having to wait for the bureaucrats to start going through the applications for aid.

People that get those could have a billion dollars in the bank or nothing in the bank, but when it comes time to start actually going to work the person with a billion isn't going to get anything and the person with zero will (likely) get some aid in getting them back on their feet and time in whatever passes for a FEMA shelter.

I haven't heard anything about that being a loan either, with good reason.

Here's the AFP fact check on a lot of the various internet rumors about the aid going out.

AFP ranks high on my personal trust meter, for whatever that's worth to any of y'all.

_____________________________________

Jason Thomas Barnosky, associate director of the RAND Corporation's Disaster Management & Resilience Program (archived here), confirmed in an October 8 email that the $750 aid is a one-time payment that the agency does not consider a loan.

FEMA's rumor response page says recipients only have to pay the agency back if they get duplicate benefits through an insurance provider or another source.

"If you have insurance that covers your temporary housing costs, but you ask FEMA to advance you some money to help you pay for those costs while your insurance is delayed, you will need to pay that money back to FEMA after you receive your insurance settlement."

"There are other forms of assistance that you may qualify for to receive and Serious Needs Assistance is an initial payment you may receive while FEMA assesses your eligibility for additional funds," the agency's rumor response page says.

An October 4 press release about Helene relief efforts lists several kinds of additional aid survivors may be eligible to receive, including money to help repair or replace a damaged home (archived here). Other types of assistance could cover the repair or replacement of personal property and the costs of temporary lodging, medical or dental care, funerals, childcare and transportation.

The maximum aid for fixing or rebuilding a home, for example, is $42,500 (archived here). The exact amount depends on the damage assessed during a FEMA inspection.

Those seeking assistance can apply online at disasterassistance.gov, by calling 1-800-621-3362 or by downloading FEMA's app.  ___________________________________

Went through the same thing when Maui was on fire and everyone was screaming about them only getting $700 when it was just the same scenario we see here.

Not blaming people for getting pissed, there's a lot of bad information out there and going in with a knee jerk response on the whole thing based on what you're seeing online and such is something that is totally nonpartisan, (see people screaming about women now being forced to carry ectopic pregnancies or arrested for a miscarriage after RvW got overturned) so it's just a thing.

Next time this happens some more people will know better now.

[allthecanadianpolitics]

The New Democratic Party and a group of labour unions are calling on the federal government to change Canada’s employment insurance rules so that new parents, especially new mothers, are not denied regular EI benefits if they get laid off. In a letter sent Thursday to Randy Boissonault, Canada’s employment minister, and NDP MP Daniel Blaikie, along with the Canadian Labour Congress, Unifor and the Canadian Union of Public Employees, are demanding an end to “gender discrimination” in the program. A copy of the letter shared with Global News stated: “Under the current EI Act, special and regular benefits can be combined up to a 50-week maximum. Using qualifying hours for regular benefits reduces what you can claim in maternity and parental benefits, and vice-versa. “This means that women who have a baby and access maternity benefits lose their protection in the event of a lay-off,” the letter to Boissonnault reads.

Continue Reading

Tagging @politicsofcanada

[fans4wga]

'The Hollywood strike can and must win – for all of us, not just writers and actors'

Excerpt:

"The thousands of workers engaged in this enormous, multi-union Hollywood strike – something America hasn’t seen since 1960 – represent the frontline of two battles that matter to every single American. You might not naturally pick “writers and actors” to be the backbone of your national defense force, but hey, we go to war with the army we have. In this case, they are well suited to the fight at hand.

The first battle is between humanity and artificial intelligence. Just a year ago, it seemed like a remote issue, a vague and futuristic possibility, still tinged with a touch of sci-fi. Now, AI has advanced so fast that everyone has grasped that it has the potential to be to white-collar and creative work what industrial automation was to factory work. It is the sort of technology that you either put in a box, or it puts you in a box. And who is going to build the guardrails that prevent the worst abuses of AI?

Look around. Do you believe that the divided US government is going to rouse itself to concerted action in time to regulate this technology, which grows more potent by the month? They will not. Do you know, then, the only institutions with the power to enact binding rules about AI that protect working people from being destroyed by a bunch of impenetrable algorithms that can produce stilted, error-filled simulacrums of their work at a fraction of the cost?

Unions. When it comes to regulating AI now, before it gets so widely entrenched that it’s impossible to roll back, union contracts are the only game in town. And the WGA and Sag-Aftra contracts, which cover entire industries, will go down in history as some of the first major efforts to write reasonable rules governing this technology that is so new that even knowing what to ask for involves a lot of speculation.

What we know for sure is this: if we leave AI wholly in the hands of tech companies and their investors, it is absolutely certain that AI will be used in a way that takes the maximum amount of money out of the pockets of labor and deposits it in the accounts of executives and investment firms. These strikes are happening, in large part, to set the precedent that AI must benefit everyone rather than being a terrifying inequality accelerator that throws millions out of work to enrich a lucky few. Even if you have never been to Hollywood, you have a stake in this fight. AI will come for your own industry soon enough.

And that brings us to the second underlying battle here: the class war itself. When you scrape away the relatively small surface layer of glitz and glamor and wealthy stars, entertainment is just another industry, full of regular people doing regular work. The vast majority of those who write scripts or act in shows (or do carpentry, or catering, or chauffeuring, or the zillion other jobs that Hollywood produces) are not rich and famous. The CEOs that the entertainment unions are negotiating with make hundreds of millions of dollars, while most Sag-Aftra members don’t make the $26,000 a year necessary to qualify for the union’s health insurance plan."

Read more

[bitchesgetriches]

Short-Term Disability Insurance Is a Waste of Money… With Two Very Specific Exceptions

Short-term disability insurance is an income insurance benefit you might get from your employer, your state, or a private insurance company. If you become too ill or injured to work, and your condition is covered, the insurance company will pay you a portion of your paycheck while you’re laid up.

Each policy is different. To give you an idea of what’s normal, an okay short-term disability insurance plan might pay out 50-60% of your former paycheck for a maximum period of 3-6 months. The most generous policy I’ve seen reimburses a full 100% of paychecks for 12 months. Some have a hard upper limit across all policies; I’ve seen $750 and $1,000 per week.

The only thing short-term disability insurance protects is your current income. Not your job, nor your future earnings, nor the actual health of your body. Understanding this is crucial to evaluating its worth.

Keep reading.

Did we just help you out? Tip us!

[coochiequeens]

A female correctional officer in Canada has won an employment tribunal case after she suffered a mental health injury while being assigned to monitor a trans-identified male inmate who had been transferred to a women’s prison.

According to a court ruling filed on October 3, the female correctional officer will be entitled to workers compensation benefits after being diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) she had acquired while being forced to monitor a trans-identified male inmate for 12 hours without relief despite her increasing anxiety. 

The plaintiff, a 55-year-old woman who had been working in corrections for 11 years, had been assigned to monitor the inmate after he had been placed on suicide watch in December of 2019. The officer immediately made her employer aware that she had mental health concerns due to childhood sexual trauma, making the task difficult for her. 

She testified that on December 16, 2019, she had been sent to the maximum security wing of the institution she was employed at and told to take over the monitoring of a trans-identified male inmate while he was on suicide watch. The assignment required her to unwaveringly monitor a video stream from inside the inmate’s cell.

According to the court records, she was made to sit in a small, dark office by herself and record what was happening in the cell every 15 minutes, including when the inmate went to the bathroom and masturbated.

While the identity of the prisoner is unknown, the court documents state he had been incarcerated in a men’s institution for “years” prior to claiming to be transgender and receiving a transfer to a women’s prison. 

The officer repeatedly requested she be relieved of this duty, and advised her managers that she felt a male officer should have been responsible for the task considering the inmate was fully intact, but her requests were denied and she was told she had to remain at her post.

Throughout her shift, the officer became increasingly anxious, and ultimately divulged that she had survived child sexual abuse to her supervisor. But her boss threatened her with disciplinary action or termination if she did not complete the task assigned to her. 

While she was originally scheduled to work from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., management was unable to find a female officer willing or able to assume her post at the time she was supposed to leave, resulting in the worker having to remain at the station until 2 a.m. During the course of the 12-hour shift, she had also been denied a proper break or bathroom time, as no one was able to assume her post.

The day after her shift, the officer sought mental health assistance. She was given a note by her doctor to remain off work until January 3, and was ultimately diagnosed with PTSD within that timeframe.

According to the ruling: “The worker testified about the impact on her life since the incident. She testified that she could not return to work and was constantly reliving her childhood abuse. She felt re-traumatized and unheard by the employer when she tried to reach out. She felt like she had no options to get out of the assignment and felt numb. She testified that it was devastating.” 

Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) initially denied the worker’s claim for PTSD benefits, claiming it fell under certain exemptions in WSIB’s Traumatic Mental Stress, Chronic Mental Stress, and First Responders policies.

But the Workplace Safety and Appeals Tribunal ultimately ruled in favor of the female officer, finding that being forced to monitor the male inmate for an extended period of time without break “triggered memories and a reliving of childhood trauma,” and ultimately caused the worker’s PTSD. She is now entitled to workplace benefits for the trauma she suffered while employed at the institution.

As of December 2017, inmates in Canada who claim a “transgender” identity can be housed in the facility of their preference regardless of physical anatomy unless “there are overriding health or safety concerns which cannot be resolved.”

While it is unknown what institution the female correctional officer was employed at, details from the court document suggest it may have been a federal facility due to the length of sentence the male inmate was serving. In Canada, inmates sentenced to prison terms in excess of 2 years are under the jurisdiction of the Correctional Services of Canada, which operates only one facility for incarnated women in Ontario — The Grand Valley Institution for Women.

The facility has had multiple controversies surrounding the transfer of trans-identified male inmates in recent years. 

In September, female inmates at Grand Valley Institution reported that a violent male necrophiliac had been transferred to the facility after beginning to identify as transgender. Catherine Lynn was incarcerated for the 1995 murder of a woman. Lynn stabbed the victim to death before raping her corpse.

Heather Mason, a former federal inmate who served her time at the Grand Valley Institution, has been on the front-lines of providing information to the public on the necessity of keeping prisons in Canada single-sex.

Mason, now a vocal women’s rights campaigner, reported last year that 50% of male inmates seeking transfer to women’s prisons in Canada had been convicted of sex offenses.

The data is consistent with findings from other nations. 

In the United States, it was found that almost 50% of male Bureau of Prison inmates who identified as transgender had been convicted of sex offenses. In the United Kingdom, 60% of all trans-identified male inmates with legal gender change documents have at least one conviction for a sexual offense. 

Prison self-identification policies in other countries have also resulted in the sexual harassment and even rape of incarcerated women by male inmates who are transferred to women’s prisons.

Earlier this year, a trans-identified male inmate at Rikers Island was convicted of raping an incarcerated woman while in the female facility of the New York City prison complex. Weeks later, Reduxx exclusively revealed that a trans-identified male inmate reportedly sexually assaulted a female in a California institution.

By Shay Woulahan Shay is a writer and social media content creator for Reduxx. She is a proud lesbian activist and feminist who lives in Northern Ireland with her partner and their four-legged, fluffy friends.

Why not just build a separate wing for trans identified prisoners? They would be safe from the other men and women would be safe from the whole lot.

[zvaigzdelasas]

[Machine Translation]

Proposing those who have overpaid the social insurance year to retire early

Vietnam Social Insurance proposes that employees who have paid more than 30-35 years of social insurance premiums can retire 5 years earlier than prescribed and still enjoy up to 75%.

Commenting on the draft revised Law on Social Insurance, Vietnam Social Insurance proposes a policy that applies to female employees who have paid over 30 years of social insurance premiums, and male employees over 35 years if required. For each year of early retirement, 2% of the benefit rate will not be deducted, up to 5 years compared to the prescribed retirement age.

According to the Labor Code, the retirement age increases by three months each year for men and four months for women, until men reach 62 years of age in 2028 and women reach 60 years of age in 2035. Meanwhile, the Law on Security Current social insurance regulations stipulate that male employees who want to enjoy the maximum 75% pension must pay full 35 years of social insurance, and female employees for full 30 years. If they pay overtime, the employee receives an allowance equal to 0.5 times the average monthly salary on which social insurance premiums are based for each year of excess.

14 Jul 23

[entitledrichpeople]

is this factually true for all of america? https://prnt.sc/LmJPFf0JCCaF

Generally, yes. Though SSI and SSDI are different, with SSI being the program that applies to those who were disabled young or had very low incomes during their working years and SSDI is higher with far fewer income and asset limitations but is still inadequate.

SSI's maximum payment is below poverty level ($914 a month maximum) and yes, it is counted against other anti-poverty measures like food stamps. Basically every time I get an extra dollar from SSI, I lose one from food stamps. On SSI you're not allowed more than $2000 in assets total (with some exceptions, like primary residence) and no income from any sort more than $1913 of income from any source. If you can work, you're not eligible.

SSDI levels are based on income during working years, if you paid in more than so many quarters (it's possible to have income so low it doesn't count) and payments tend to be significantly higher than SSI. The asset cap doesn't apply, nor does a general income prohibition, except income through work. Living on SSDI alone is difficult, even on the higher end, but some of this group have pensions or spouses with higher incomes. If you're on SSI and you marry they automatically cut your benefits even if you partner has no income or is also on SSI-it's a bad idea to marry if you get SSI, but people on SSDI's spouse's income isn't counted against them.

As to health insurance, both SSI and SSDI qualify you for (certain parts of) medicare, which, yes, has obscene drug prices generally. People on SSI also almost universally qualify for medicaid, though how the combination of the two gets administered is absurdly inconsistent between states & can fluctuate a lot. Medicaid tends to be better than private insurance when it comes to paying for drugs and testing, but discrimination by healthcare providers is rampant and, again, this isn't consistent state to state. I live in one of the better medicare states, but the way they farm out administration means you lose some aspects of medicaid when you qualify for both. Medicare pays for medical equipment in a way that medicaid never did for me, but medicaid alone never complained about name brand vs generic or tried to nickel and dime me to death by making me pay $1 to get some of my prescriptions.

You can't afford typical rent on SSI, let alone rent on the extremely small amount of housing that is accessible to people who use wheelchairs. Public housing also has only a few accessible spots and elevators in most public housing are constantly non-functional. Depending on where you live, those waitlists-even for extremely inaccessible or frankly unsafe and run down apartments-can be years long. Some places use a lottery system.

Oh, and if you get hospitalized for a month they take your SSI for that month so you can't pay whatever nominal level public housing insists on, so you can end up being evicted for being hospitalized.

If you don't have family that can take you in, it's extremely easy to end up homeless on SSI. And if you do have people that can take you in, the power dynamics of that situation enables a high rate of abuse.

As absurd as it sounds "it's illegal to not be poor on SSI" is the literal truth.

[darkmaga-returns]

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. may now Make America Healthy Again. One of his first measures will be removing “an industrial waste product” from America’s water supply that has been deliberately added since 1945.

On January 25, 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan, began water fluoridation. By 1960, water fluoridation had reached 50 million households and doubled to 100 million by 1975. Why? The government began adding fluoride to the water based on a 1930s study that stated a small amount of NATURALLY OCCURRING fluoride could protect teeth from decay.

It is odd that the government does not force insurance companies to treat teeth as a medical expense. It is difficult to gauge if these measures have actually prevented tooth decay, as access to dental health is far greater now than it was when trials began in the 1930s and 1940s. Who is responsible for adding fluoride to the water? California, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, and South Dakota have state mandates requiring fluoridated water. Other states like Maine, Utah, and New Hampshire permit the public to vote. Water utilities companies are responsible for maintaining water fluoridation systems. The EPA has federal oversight over the process and set a maximum contaminant level for fluoride at 4.0 mg/L. The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 forbids the EPA from actually mandating fluoride or any additive substances to the water supply, but they do have oversight.

So what’s the problem? “On January 20, the Trump White House will advise all U.S​. water systems to remove fluoride from public water. Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease,” Kennedy posted on X. Kennedy believes that fluoride does not have a clear health benefit to the public, but it is responsible for causing an array of life-altering ailments.

On September 25, 2024, a federal court in California ruled against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in a case involving fluoride. The court said that current levels of fluoride violate the Toxic Substances Control Act. Judge Edward Chen declared that there is “substantial and scientifically credible evidence” that fluoride poses a serious health risk and emphasized concern over fluorides effect on the developing brains of infants.

“In all, there is substantial and scientifically credible evidence establishing that fluoride poses a risk to human health; it is associated with a reduction in the IQ of children and is hazardous at dosages that are far too close to fluoride levels in the drinking water of the United States,” the judge wrote in his ruling.

[oediex]

If anyone is in need of some good news re: abortion

There is currently a discussion within the government of Belgium to extend the possibility of abortion beyond the current 12-week period.

Abortion was legalised in Belgium in 1990. At the time, the then-king of Belgium refused to ratify the law (this is usually just a formality) due to ethical objections. This was resolved by declaring the king "incapable of reigning" for a short time, which allowed the then-federal ministers to ratify the law themselves.

Currently, abortion is possible up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. The person wishing to end their pregnancy will have a consultation with a psychosocial health care professional to discuss it. There is then a 6-day period in which the person has the time to think it all over. You can take more than 6 days as well, but that is the minimum required. After that, you can have your abortion either at an abortion centre, or at a hospital (when there is a danger for the health of the person undergoing the abortion, or when that person wishes to have it done under anaesthesia, or when it's past the 12 weeks). There are currently 7 abortion centres in Flanders (about half of Belgium, approx. 6 million people).

Abortion beyond 12 weeks of pregnancy is legal under certain circumstances, such as when the health of the pregnant person is at risk or when it is known the unborn baby has an incurable illness.

Illegal abortion can lead to a fine or imprisonment for both the doctor and the person undergoing abortion.

Minors can have an abortion without permission from their parents.

The whole procedure is 4 euros if you've got health insurance. Note that every person living in Belgium is required to have health insurance, which is very cheap - about 8-9 euros per month, with tons of benefits. Without health insurance, it's between 100 and 550 euros (depending on where it's done).

The person undergoing abortion can also be seen at an additional appointment afterwards if such need arises. You can always go to an abortion centre afterwards as well, for both physical and mental support. They will also support you in choosing the right contraception afterwards.

That's the current situation. Here's what the discussion is mainly about:

Extending the maximum period to either 14 or 18 weeks. The 14 weeks is what the christian centre party currently part of the coalition is accepting (this changed recently, before they did not want to extend it at all). 18 weeks is what the other coalition parties want and what has been suggested by an expert committee made up of scientists. Most of these experts actually suggest it should be extend to 20 or even 22 weeks, but 18 is what they presented to the government (because of 1 expert).

Other notable suggestions the expert committee has presented (there are a total of 25 points):

More effort with regards to prevention, education, and access to contraception

certain contraception methods, such as coils or implants, to be free for longer (some of them are currently free until 18, some until 25, etc.)

The 6 days to "think it over" between the first discussion and the actual abortion should go

easier access to abortion medication

decriminalise the person undergoing abortion or doing an abortion themselves when it is done illegally

Source (in Dutch)

[e-carlease]

But what models can you choose? As at August 2024, there are two key options to consider including:

Long Range Single Motor - from £59,990 this standard model benefits from the plus pack for Harman Kardon premium sound, HUD, Zinc Deco, Pixel LED lights, powered-operated tailgate, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, rear control screen (for the passenger), 12-way adjustable seats, power reclining rear seats, heated front/rear seats and steering wheel, 3-zone climate control, air filtration and 22kW AC charging. The car also includes camera-based interior mirror, LED interior and exterior lights, rain sensing wipers, automated crash protection, hill hold and descent control, 10.2” driver LCD display, 11-exterior camera system, 15.4” central display, wireless smartphone charging, adaptive cruise control, insurance telematics, launch mode, dashcam, keyless entry, alarm and battery preconditioning; and

Long Range Dual Motor - from £66,990 this allows you to get the Performance pack including the 22” Performance alloys.

Colours include Magnesium (free) or the chargeable Snow, Electron, Storm, Space and Gold. Inside, you can go for the Charcoal or Mist with the Zinc deco or upgrade the Nappa leather. In terms of packs, you have the Pilot Pack (Piot Assist and change assist), Pro Pack (21” Pro wheels and Swedish gold seats) and the Performance Pack (22” alloys, Engineering chassis tuning, Brembo brakes and Swedish gold accents). Other options include the Electrochromic glass roof (which replaces the standard panoramic roof), body-coloured lower-claddings and the privacy glass. You can add the fully-electrically retractable towbar too.  

But how does the Polestar 4 perform - is it a good EV?

Long Range Single Motor - The RWD SUV option will have a 94 kWh usable battery which will offer 0 – 62 times of 7.4 seconds, 112 mph top speeds and 200 kW (or 268 hp). Expect a combined winter range of 260 miles with warmer weather allowing for 350 miles. On charging, the 22 kW AC max will allow 5 hours and 15 min 0 – 100% charging times with the 200 kW DC maximum allowing 31 minute 10 – 80% times. A cargo volume of 526L is available with this car. It has a vehicle fuel equivalent of 131 mpg. This option can tow 750kg (unbraked) and 1500kg (braked). There will be Bidirectional charging with the V2L announced for this option. A Heat Pump is standard and

Long Range Dual Motor - the AWD SUV option will have a 94 kWh usable battery which will offer 0 – 62 times of 3.8 seconds, 124 mph top speeds and 400 kW (or 536 hp). Expect a combined winter range of 245 miles with warmer weather allowing for 325miles. On charging, the 22 kW AC max will allow 5 hours and 15 min 0 – 100% charging times with the 200 kW DC maximum allowing 31 minute 10 – 80% times. A cargo volume of 526L is available with this car. It has a vehicle fuel equivalent of 123 mpg. This option can tow 750kg (unbraked) and 1500kg (braked). There will be Bidirectional charging with the V2L announced for this option. A Heat Pump is standard.