The IRS gives Massachusetts married couples the option to file their federal income tax returns jointly or separately. Most American couples choose to file taxes jointly. However, there are situations when you might want to file taxes separately. What are the reasons...
Month: January 2022
Social Security Disability Benefits and Child Support for Massachusetts Dependents
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can pay benefits to the Massachusetts family members of someone who is disabled and unable to work. Spouses, children and even ex-spouses of someone receiving SSDI benefits may qualify for their own monthly payments. Each...
Massachusetts Jury Awards $2 Million For Workplace Gender Discrimination Against a Female Boston Police Officer
A Massachusetts jury awarded $2 million to Boston Police Department (BPD) detective, Donna Gavin, after finding that she had been subjected to glass ceiling discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The verdict arrived earlier this month after nearly three and a...
Massachusetts Jury Awards $1.7 Million for Workplace Retaliation Against Black Teacher
A Massachusetts Suffolk Superior Court jury found that school officials in Boston retaliated against a teacher for exercising his legal right to raise concerns about workplace discrimination without fear of retribution, awarding him $1.7 million. The Boston Globe...
Massachusetts Employee Receives Settlement for Racial Discrimination in Workplace
The town of Sharon is expected to reach a $750,000 settlement with Cambridge’s acting superintendent of schools, Victoria Greer, over a racial discrimination complaint filed with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. After being hired in 2013 to oversee...
Massachusetts Servicemembers Receive an Increase in Their Basic Housing Allowance in 2022
Service members in 86% of the 300 Military Housing Areas in the U.S. will see an increase in their Basic Allowance for Housing, ranging from 0.1% in Portland Oregon, to 21.1% at Twentynine Palms, California, according to a Military Times analysis. Defense officials...
Massachusetts Servicemembers Will Not Receive Cost-Of-Living Stipend In 2022
The Department of Defense (DoD) announced that troops in 15 metropolitan areas and 21 non-metropolitan counties in the continental United States will be cut off from a cost-of-living allowance starting Jan. 1, 2022. The change will lead to approximately 48,000 troops...
Massachusetts Child Custody: 4 Challenges and Remedies
A Massachusetts marriage is a vow for life between two committed individuals recognized by the state. Yet sometimes, it ends earlier than expected due to various reasons. Divorce or legal separation between parents is one of the most complicated and intense parts of...
Are Your Being Discriminated at Your Massachusetts Workplace For Having Covid-19?
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its COVID-19 technical assistance today adding a new section to clarify under what circumstances COVID-19 may be considered a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the...
Here’s What’s New and What to Consider When Filling Massachusetts Taxes in 2022
The IRS encourages taxpayers to get informed about topics related to filing their federal tax returns in 2022. These topics include special steps related to charitable contributions, economic impact payments and advance child tax credit payments. Here are some key...