Home Modification & Accessibility Act - Live & Interactive Discussion

Learn about the bill introduced to create financial incentives to proactively make accessibility upgrades to homes! Learn how you can help make this reality! Louis Tennanbaum of the HomesRenewed Coalition  

https://www.homesrenewedcoalition.com/

Power Point from presentation Positive Aging Community.pdf

On May 6, 2022, Representatives Charlie Crist (D-FL) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY) introduced the Home Modification and Accessibility Act (H.R.7676), creating financial incentives for homeowners to proactively make accessibility upgrades to their homes. This bold action empowers homeowners to invest in home safety, security and accessibility upgrades to their primary residence without tax or penalty. 

• $30,000 lifetime benefit for singles or $60,000 for couples who file jointly. 
• After 59½, an above the line tax deduction in the amount spent on eligible home modifications (whether using retirement or other funds). 
• Before 59½ , use 401K or IRA funds without penalty for early withdrawal when used on eligible home modifications. 
• This bill will lower the cost of these projects by an average of 20%. Americans will be safer. 
• New construction and specialized labor jobs will be created.

Questions Asked in this Discussion

• Could this legislation be very much simplified by making clearly defined true disabilities home modifications simply part of the medical expense deduction? My point is the cost of home modification in any particular year would easily put a family over the 7.5% threshold for deduction!
• Please confirm the provisions re: required minimum distribution RMD from IRAs; are you saying that it reduces taxes consequences from RMD
• Most people do not know that most Long Term Care insurance policies have a "Home Modifications Benefit", which will reimburse for such costs, up to a maximum of 1/3 of a monthly benefit/10 daily benefits, and it does not reduce the Pool of Money. Just one more source of found funds. Home Modifications Benefit is 1 monthly benefit/30 days of benefit for this benefit, which is also called "Stay At Home Lifetime Benefit Amount".
• Louis has been a great pioneer in this field, and I applaud Louis for being a true public servant in working on this legislation and these issues as a private citizen!
• Some homes have very narrow entry ways, small bathroom doors and bathrooms, hard to make the openings large enough for a walker or wheelchair. How do you address this?
• What is the name of that bill and can you say more about where it is?
•  If not enacted by the end of the current Congress, will the bill expire and need to be reintroduced in the next Congress?

 Chat Transcript

12:05:01     From  Arlene Polangin : Steve: What are the 3 organizations to reach out to? I came in a few minutes late; doing a porch renovation and roof.  It's a mess!Arlene

12:09:24     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : HandyPro  

 (301) 960-1060

Live In Place 

 703-433-0383

PJ Fitzpatrick, Inc.

 866-872-0182

Strategies for Independent Living, LLC

 301-585-5738

12:09:31     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/search_results?sid=30&tid=12

12:10:31     From  Dan Andersen : What is the name of that bill and can you say more about where it is?

12:11:20     From  Melissa Bressler : HandyPro of Washington DC, a multi-service construction company specializing in home modifications for all persons looking to improve their safety and independence at home. Melissa Bressler, Outreach Manger-OT / Melissa@handypro.com / 301-960-1060 /

12:12:21     From  Ravi Bala : You can check out info at :  https://www.homesrenewedcoalition.com/

12:15:20     From  susan kimmel   to   Hosts and panelists : Here is the link to the HomesRenewed Coalition website.

12:15:26     From  susan kimmel   to   Hosts and panelists : https://www.homesrenewedcoalition.com/

12:16:00     From  susan kimmel   to   Hosts and panelists : Here is a link to reach your Congressman: Find your Congresspeople here

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

12:16:41     From  susan kimmel   to   Hosts and panelists : Whoops.  I should have sent this to everyone.  I didn't see that option util now,

12:17:07     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : The Next Crisis:

Un-Safe Housing for an Aging America Here is the white paper https://www.homesrenewedcoalition.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/HRC-Whitepaper-FINAL-3-2.pdf

12:17:23     From  Arlene Polangin : Who are the current sponsors?

12:17:41     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : Contact your Representatives and Senators TODAY asking them to cosponsor the bill.

Find your Congresspeople here

https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative

12:18:17     From  Maher Kharma : Hello Louise and Steve. We are a group of occupational therapists specialized in accessibility based home assessments & modifications, our company is 10 years old, Massa-Medical.com, Phone 202-378-7558

12:18:40     From  susan kimmel : The current sponsors are Charlie Crist (D-FL), Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Dan Meuser (R-PA)

12:20:53     From  susan kimmel : The HomesRenewed Coalition website is: https://www.homesrenewedcoalition.com/

12:21:53     From  Laura Deter : I have issues with my stairs after a total knee replacement. It's getting better but . . .

12:26:20     From  David Hunter   to   Hosts and panelists : If not enacted by the end of the current Congress, will the bill expire and need to be reintroduced in the next Congress?

12:28:15     From  susan kimmel : If you have connections to any Congressional representatives that we should contact, please let us know!  Louis Tenenbaum at 301-343-3229 or Susan Kimmel 301-873-6284

12:29:01     From  Maribel García : Greetings, is this act applied to PR? I am OT CAPS from PR.

12:29:51     From  susan kimmel : It is a proposal to all who pay federal income tax to the IRS.  I assume that PR is included but not sure.

12:30:05     From  Ruth DeHart   to   Hosts and panelists : How is the remodeling industry involved in support the bill

12:30:55     From  Laura Deter : These are great comments and things to consider!

12:31:23     From  Laura Deter : I know that one of our toilets is too low (we had to get a riser). The other ones are fine because when we remodeled the contractor recommended higher ones.

12:31:54     From  Arlene Polangin : I'm having my screened porch renovated  now.  It hadn't been done in 25 years. The roof is also being done tomorrow.

12:32:16     From  Laura Deter : And I don't think we can use a stair glide since we have a landing in the middle. It's a split entry home.

12:34:15     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook   to   Laura Deter and all panelists : Laura - I know these groups could be a great place to start (301) 960-1060

Live In Place 

 703-433-0383

PJ Fitzpatrick, Inc.

 866-872-0182

Strategies for Independent Living, LLC

 301-585-5738

https://www.retirementlivingsourcebook.com/search_results?sid=30&tid=12

12:34:17     From  Arlene Polangin : I needed one new toitlet 10 years ago and decided to get both bathrooms done and got the higher toilets for older people.  So happy I did.  Going to other people's homes isn't comfortable.

12:35:34     From  Arlene Polangin : My roof and porch are costing me $15.500.00

12:35:53     From  Laura Deter : The higher toilets make a HUGE difference - I wouldn't have thought to get them if the contractor hadn't suggested them.

12:36:40     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : John Hinkle 12:28 PM 

Most people do not know that most Long Term Care insurance policies have a "Home Modifications Benefit", which will reimburse for such costs, up to a maximum of 1/3 of a monthly benefit/10 daily benefits, and it does not reduce the Pool of Money. Just one more source of found funds.

12:37:26     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : Home Modifications Benefit is 1 monthly benefit/30 days of benefit for this benefit, which is also called "Stay At Home Lifetime Benefit Amount".

12:37:49     From  Laura Deter : We have the bag tax here in Virginia too - It really annoyed my husband AND got him to switch to the reusable ones that I've used for years. He hadn't listened to me on that.

12:37:52     From  Arlene Polangin : It reduces your income because you HAVE to take it.  I went over the minimum and it reduced my social security two years ago.

12:38:23     From  susan kimmel : This does not require using the RMD.  That is only one option.  There is a benefit for those under 59-1/2 who could use their 401-k without penalty for certain home approvements.

12:43:14     From  Laura Deter : Oh my - a curb-less shower would have been amazing the first few weeks after my knee replacement!

12:43:38     From  susan kimmel : Curbless  showers also add square-footage to the bathroom for a wheel chair turning radius or to make it easier for a caregiver to assist with bathing.

12:45:20     From  Laura Deter : When we started getting in-home care for my Dad, my brother thought the towel racks on the shower doors were "good enough" for grab bars. Yes, that brother is not the smartest guy. We ended up taking the doors off for easier access and putting up proper grab bars

12:45:35     From  Maher Kharma : curbless showers make a big difference for all

12:46:15     From  Maher Kharma : safe showers should be curbless, have grab bars, handheld shower hose and a seat

12:47:59     From  Arlene Polangin : or 82!

12:48:47     From  Melissa Bressler : Laura, our team at HandyPro has installed stairlifts on split level homes. We'd be happy to discuss options for your and your home based on your space and mobility. We can be reached at 301-960-1060 or Melissa@handypro.com

12:49:21     From  Arlene Polangin : They are absolutely not grab bars!

12:49:27     From  Laura Deter : My Dad's a big guy - I know he would have gone through the glass doors!

12:49:58     From  Carolyn Grafton   to   Hosts and panelists : We redid a bathroom for an elderly person. We not only put in grab bars in the shower, we also put in grab bars for towel racks. Extra strong support.

12:50:25     From  Arlene Polangin : At 22 I stepped off a curb and twisted my ankle.  UGH! for 6 weeks!!

12:51:52     From  Laura Deter : We can need these assistive devices and user-friendly homes at ANY age.

12:51:55     From  David Hunter   to   Hosts and panelists : Will (or could) the benefit be retroactive? If I were to make modifications in 2022 but the bill does not become law until 2023, would I have missed the boat? (Or rather, would I have left before the boat did?)

12:53:09     From  Steve Gurney - ProAging Sourcebook : John Hinkle 12:51 PM 

Louis has been a great pioneer in this field, and I applaud Louis for being a true public servant in working on this legislation and these issues as a private citizen!

12:53:37     From  Dan Andersen : Can't wait until we get to a place where towel racks are grab bars - safety should be universal. Additionally, as we learnd as CAPS, a block can/should be installed behind walls at grab bar bheight on new bathrooms and remodels.

12:54:16     From  Heather Brooks   to   Hosts and panelists : @steve gurney I completely agree with you.  He’s truly a trailblazer

12:55:16     From  Ali Soltani : Let us take a look for free :)

12:55:19     From  Laura Deter : We just put up a shower curtain in the doorway of my parent's bathroom, Taking the door off completely opened it up.

12:55:35     From  susan kimmel : Louis has also removing the rims from a wheel chair for those who are pushed anyway.  That gives at least 1-2” of additional clearance.

12:55:50     From  Beth Wiseman : What is the Bill number?

12:55:56     From  Heather Brooks   to   Hosts and panelists : HR7676

12:56:04     From  susan kimmel : The website is www.homesrenewedcoalition.com

12:56:26     From  susan kimmel : HR 7676

12:56:42     From  Arlene Polangin : I like taking off the door to the bathroom to open the space.  I'm alone in the house and I shower with the door open anyway.

12:56:47     From  Pam Phillips : Excellent information on how we can assist with this going through.  Thank you!

12:57:18     From  Ravi Bala : great effort Louis! Thank you Steve.

12:57:49     From  Heather Brooks   to   Hosts and panelists : Ponte Giulio has higher end grab bars, racks and so much more

12:57:58     From  Arlene Polangin : My neighbors put in a steel grab bar last year.  It's ugly and I wouldn't use the contractor.

12:58:03     From  Heather Brooks   to   Hosts and panelists : Beautiful products

12:58:53     From  Laura Deter : This was great info - thank you!

12:59:12     From  susan kimmel : Thanks so much, Steve!  Great program and wonderful audience!

12:59:16     From  Marcy Silver : This was great! Thank you!

12:59:18     From  Arlene Polangin : This was great.  Thank you.  My contractor doing my screened porch right now has put a grab bar in his house. He's in his 50's.  He's independent.  Bet he's not certified.

12:59:20     From  Beth Wiseman : How can we work with you? Sorry, I tuned in late. I worked with you on legislation before.