Mommy Has to Work

Putting In a Claim While Grieving as Parents

December 9, 2022 By Anne

It’s hard enough to deal with the death of a loved one, but when you have to go through the added stress of filing a life insurance claim, it can feel like too much. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to make the process a little bit easier. This blog post will discuss what you need to know about filing a life insurance claim while grieving., and also provide some tips for making the process as smooth as possible.

1) Gather the Necessary Documents;

Before you can file a life insurance claim, you must have all the necessary documents. This includes the policy number, death certificate, proof of identity for both the insured and beneficiary and any other paperwork required by your policy. In addition, you will need to provide additional evidence of the insured’s death, such as a funeral bill or cremation receipt. Having all of these documents ready before you start the claim process can make things much more manageable.

2) Contact Your Insurance Provider;

Once you have gathered all of the documents you need, the next step is to contact your insurance provider and let them know that you are filing a life insurance claim. Depending on the policy, there may be certain procedures that must be followed in order for the claim to be approved. Ask any questions you might have about your plan so that you fully understand what needs to happen.

Via Pexels

3) Organize Information About Your Loved One;

When it comes to filing a life insurance claim, you will need to provide information about the insured’s life. This can include their date of birth, Social Security number, occupation, and any other relevant information. It may help to create an organized record of this information so that it is easy to access when needed.

4) Request Proof of Death;

In order for a life insurance claim to be approved, the insurer must have proof that the insured has died. This could include the death certificate or a funeral bill, as mentioned above. If there is no such record available, then it would be best to contact your local department of vital records and request one from them.

5) Compensation;

Once your claim is approved, you will be able to receive the compensation outlined in the policy. Depending on the terms of the policy, this could include a lump sum payment or regular monthly payments. Make sure to ask any questions you have about the payout so that you understand precisely what it covers and when you can expect to receive it.

In conclusion, filing a life insurance claim while grieving can be a difficult process. However, by following the tips listed above, you can make sure that everything goes as smoothly as possible. Gather all of the necessary documents before starting, contact your insurance provider and organize information about the insured’s life for easy access. Making sure to request proof of death and following up with your insurer are also important steps in this process. Although grief can make filing paperwork seem impossible at times, it is important to remember that taking care of these matters does not have to be a burden. With the right preparation, you can get through this experience and move on with your life.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

How to Balance Kids & Work Like a Pro

December 9, 2022 By Anne

There Is nothing harder for parents than trying to balance their working lives with their children. This is a level of balance that isn’t always possible because children aren’t the easiest to manage. Parents have a lot to balance and when they are trying to earn a living and manage their children’s day to day, the pressure is on. You have to ensure that you are able to keep everything ticking along and yet the motherhood vs working life pressure can be very hard to balance. You have to keep things moving along while also trying to manage your kids – it’s hard!

Daycare is a good option for younger children and coordinating those pickup and drop offs can be built into the working day if you are working remotely. You might also find it easier to balance when you have an understanding boss. There is no such thing as not being able to have it all; not in this day and age and certainly not with the dawn of working from home. You can still do everything that you need to do and all you have to achieve is a decent enough balance. So, how can you balance the kids and work like the pro that you are? Let’s take a look below:

Image source: Pexels

Plan. You need to plan everything so that you aren’t falling behind with everything. Whether it’s helping the kids with homework, picking up the kids from school or just balancing meetings in the day time, you need to avoid mismanagement and chaos. A good way to do that is to have planners and diaries, calendars and alerts. You need to plan and book them in to keep you on track.
Stay organized where you can. Planners, grocery lists, calendars to time everything – organization is key when you are balancing work and the kids. There are only so many things that you can juggle at once but you don’t want to have your kids fall through the cracks. You have to be ready to pick up anything where you can and this will help you to keep your office stuff put together and keep the kids happy at the same time.
Ask for help. You don’t have to do it all alone and this is a key thing to remember when you are trying to balance your job and your kids. You need to ask for help from family, friends, your partner and even your boss. That flexibility that you gain when you work from home with your kids around will be much easier when you are asking your boss for a little support. You don’t have to manage the entire thing by yourself, not when you can have that help you need.
Don’t burn yourself out. You have to remember that you are just one person – yes, you’re awesome, but that doesn’t mean you can cope with everything on your own. You need to work as hard as you want, but stop when it becomes too much. Protecting your health should be your priority.

Anne

Home Improvement: Additions To Consider In 2023

December 8, 2022 By Anne

You’re probably in the throws of the festive season and are busy keeping up with all the added social plans, shopping, and wrapping presents. Hopefully, you’ll be full of festive cheer and be able to relax at some point over the holidays, before a new year begins. There’s no better time than when you’re sitting on your comfy sofa, to think about some of the things you want to do and achieve in the new year, as you reflect on what’s happened over the previous one. And, your home is a great focus, especially during a time, you’ll have more loved ones to visit, and utilize certain areas and rooms more than normal.

Therefore, you can take those little moments of peace to start making some plans in regard to how you want to improve your family abode next year. Planning these things early will allow you to enter the new year feeling ready to go, and fully prepared for an even better year in your home than ever before. So, keep that notebook and pen handy, grab a drink of your choice, and start writing a list (and checking it twice) the following are some ideas and inspiration for those looking to implement home improvements in 2023.

Image found here

New Energy

Energy prices seem to be forever on the rise, and if you want to cool or heat your home regularly; it can be an expensive element of your family life. Couple that factor with all the electricity usage, from cooking, entertainment, hot showers, and lighting, and you’ll probably be wincing at every bill that comes through the door. Therefore, it’s worth considering more energy-efficient options next year so that you can save a little extra each month. Take a look at Hohm Energy so that you can look into an array of energy alternatives, in one simple-to-navigate space. It could just be time to invest in that solar rooftop or a new thermostat, so you can feel more relaxed each time the kids have accidentally left the bathroom light on all night.

Better Safety

The safety elements of any home are important, but, when you add in kids and pets; it needs extra consideration and care. Therefore, it’s time to ensure that all your smoke and fire alarms are functioning correctly. If they’re not; change batteries or buy a new one ASAP so that you can enjoy the extra cooking and candles over the holidays safe in the knowledge you’ll be alerted to any fires. If you have a pool; make sure there are no gaps in the fence or surround, and the same goes for your garden, or any enclosed area! Keeping kids and pets safely away from things, along with them being safely contained, can be a challenge, but so worth it.

Fresh Design

If you’ve been staring at a wall all year, longing to knock it through to create a better flow in your family home; well, here’s your sign, or permission slip to do so! Make sure you get a professional builder to ensure it’ll be structurally sound, then enjoy your living space more than ever, next year.

Anne

What are Life Insurance Riders and Are They Necessary?

December 7, 2022 By Anne

Life insurance riders are beneficial to many, but they aren’t necessary for every single policy

There are so many reasons why people need life insurance. For example, if you have children, outstanding debts, or are taking care of your aging parents, you should absolutely have a life insurance policy to protect you and your loved ones. While you’re searching for a life insurance policy, there is a good chance that you will encounter insurance policy riders. Riders are benefits that let you customize your insurance policy with specific qualifications. Riders generally improve your coverage depending on the type of coverage you require, but they come at an additional cost as well.

In this article, we’re discussing everything you need to know about life insurance riders, the different types, and whether or not an insurance rider is the right choice for you and your loved ones. However, before we get into the most common types of life insurance riders and what they do, we need to go over the basic types of life insurance and ways to secure coverage. Ready to get started? Let’s go!

Things You Need to Know Before Purchasing a Life Insurance Policy

Before we talk about the different riders you can consider, we need to talk about the different types of insurance policies

Don’t get overwhelmed by the amount of life insurance options.

As you browse for different insurance policies, providers, and riders, you’ll probably notice that getting life insurance isn’t the most straightforward process. The amount of options you have with just a simple online search can make the process difficult. That’s why we are taking a moment to break down the different insurance types you’ll encounter and what they entail.

Term life insurance is a type of insurance that protects you and your loved ones for a designated period of time. Whole life insurance—on the other hand—protects you for your whole life and guarantees a payout as long as you pay your monthly premium. The trade off is that whole life insurance tends to be much more expensive than term life insurance.

Plus, there are many people who no longer need life insurance coverage as they age. These are people who have grown children out of the house, a healthy savings, retirement plan, and no outstanding debts. In some cases, a whole life insurance policy is unnecessarily expensive.

No matter which type of policy you choose, you will have to undergo the underwriting process. Underwriting involves taking all of your application information including your questionnaire, medical records, and results of your medical exam. Due to the medical exam, the underwriting process can take up to two months. There are many people who are able to qualify with no medical exam as a way to expedite the underwriting process. Getting life insurance without a medical exam is increasingly popular as there is not too much of a cost differential and many people just don’t have the time to wait two months for approval. That said, getting life insurance without a medical exam does tend to be more expensive than if you choose to take an exam. These kinds of no medical exam life insurance policies are especially handy for people who need life insurance quickly—like people who are expecting children or taking out large loans.

Now that we know the basics about types of policies and the underwriting process, let’s learn about how riders affect your policy and your monthly premiums.

What Are the Different Types of Life Insurance Riders and How Do They Work?

Each insurance rider is designed to let you customize your policy in a way that best protects your family’s future

Do your research before deciding on an insurance policy and associated riders.

Riders can be very helpful for some people and less so for others. Make sure you are getting the right coverage by reading about the different types of life insurance riders we’ve listed below.

Accidental Death Rider

The first type of life insurance rider we’ll be discussing is the accidental death rider. With an accidental death rider, your loved ones will receive an additional sum of money should you die in an accident. In most cases—if you meet the qualifications for accidental death—the payout amount is doubled. This type of rider is a good idea if you are the primary provider for your family.

Guaranteed Insurability Rider

When you get a standard life insurance policy, you have to undergo a medical exam as we’ve discussed before. When you purchase a guaranteed insurability rider in addition to your life insurance policy, you are exempt from the medical exam should you want to change your policy amount. So, if you need to increase your policy amount due to a major life change, you can do so without undergoing a secondary medical exam.

Waiver of Premium

Life insurance is designed to protect your loved ones after you’re gone, but there are riders available that protect you while you’re alive. One of these is the waiver of premium. When you choose to add a waiver of premium rider to your policy, you are protected in the event of an injury, illness, or disability that prevents you from working. Should this happen, you no longer are required to pay your premium and are allowed to maintain your life insurance coverage.

Accelerated Death Benefit

Accelerated death benefit is another type of rider that provides additional protections while you’re alive. In the event that you are diagnosed with a terminal illness that will significantly limit your lifespan, you will be able to use the money from your policy while you’re alive. Most often, these funds go toward medical care and other end of life considerations. If you are considering purchasing an accelerated death benefit rider, then you should take the time to go over the specifics of what your insurance provider defines as a terminal illness.

Child Term Rider

A child term rider is a very specific form of life insurance rider designed to protect you in the case of the death of a child. As a rider on an existing insurance policy, the child term rider provides a payout under the condition that the child dies before a certain age. When the child reaches a certain age, the rider is then converted into a permanent life insurance policy. In many cases, the converted policy amount is much larger than the rider and does not require a medical exam.

Long Term Care Rider

When you purchase a long term care rider, you are purchasing protection should you need assisted living services or another type of long term care. There are also types of long term care insurance that you can purchase separately. Your long term care rider will provide you with a monthly payout that you can use to pay for care.

Return of Premium

In order to maintain coverage with any type of life insurance policy, you need to pay your monthly premiums. When you purchase a return of premium rider, you can get your monthly premiums paid back to you should you outlive your life insurance policy. Should you pass away during the term, your loved ones will receive your policy payout in addition to the sum you paid toward your return of premium rider.

Do I Need a Life Insurance Rider?

Though not everyone needs a life insurance rider, they are helpful to many

Life insurance riders aren’t for everyone.

With all of these different types of riders, getting the right kind of insurance coverage probably seems confusing. However, these days it is easier than ever to compare different policy types and find the coverage you need. There are a lot of handy tools you can find online that let you compare quotes and weigh the pros and cons of each policy type. You can also reach out to an insurance agent if you feel you need extra advice. Ultimately, the decision to add riders to your insurance policy is up to you and your coverage needs. While some riders may be super valuable to some, others are unnecessary. So, by evaluating your needs and doing your research, you can decide whether or not you want to purchase a rider to expand your coverage.

Anne

5 Tips on Aiding Your Child’s Educational Endeavours

December 5, 2022 By Anne

via Pexels

Aiding your child in their educational endeavors can seem daunting, but with these five simple tips, you can make it a little easier. Of course, every child is different, so find what works best for your child and help them to succeed. Here are five tips to get you started.

1. Get organized

The first step to helping your child succeed in their education is to get organized. Have a plan for each day and week, so you can keep track of any activities or assignments they need to complete. Have a designated place where homework materials are kept, such as an office space or study area. Try setting up a reward system as well, like giving them stickers or gold stars when they complete their work on time. This will help motivate them and give them a sense of accomplishment when tasks are completed.

2. Set goals

Setting goals is a great way to help your child stay on track and motivate them to reach their full potential. First, talk to your child about what they want to achieve, such as getting better grades or staying organized with their work. Then, help them break these goals down into smaller, manageable tasks and create a timeline so they can see the progress they are making.

Also, make sure that the goals are realistic and achievable. Again, it’s better to start small, with something they know they can do, and then gradually increase the difficulty of their goal as they progress.

3. Be involved in your child’s education

It’s important to be involved in your child’s education, both at home and in the classroom. Talk to their teachers about how you can help support them, attend parent-teacher meetings, and ask questions about what topics they are learning or activities they are doing.

Be available for homework help when needed and offer positive reinforcement for completed tasks. Showing interest in your child’s educational progress will encourage them to keep working hard and make sure that no task is left unfinished.

4. Encourage learning outside of school

Learning doesn’t have to be confined to the classroom. Encourage your child to explore their interests and discover new topics. Offer suggestions like visiting a library or museum, reading books on different subjects, or watching educational videos and gaining more knowledge from Age of Learning. You can also introduce them to activities like coding or playing an instrument that will help them develop skills outside of school.

5. Celebrate successes

When your child succeeds, it’s important to celebrate their accomplishments. Make sure to show them that you are proud of them and appreciate all the hard work they have put in. You can also reward them with something special, like a trip to the movies or ice cream, as an additional incentive for working hard and staying focused on their goals.

These five tips will help you aid your child in their educational endeavors and set them up for success. Each child is unique and has different needs, so it’s important to be supportive and encouraging as they strive to reach their goals. With these simple steps, you can help your child get the most out of their education.