If you've worked as a household employee and received your pay 'under the table,' you might wonder about your eligibility for Social Security benefits when you retire. The answer is not straightforward and depends significantly on your marital status, work history, and how your income was reported.

Topics: eldercare, nanny retirement, W-2, nanny, caregiver, Senior Caregiver Payroll, senior home caregiver, domestic worker, childcare

Talking to your aging parents, a caregiver, can be a difficult and sometimes awkward conversation. Many elderly adults feel they are losing their independence or sense of freedom when told they need help, which sometimes causes them to be defensive or stubborn in refusing aid. Talking to your loved one about hiring a caregiver may be difficult at first, but it is often received better if coming from a place of love and empathy.

Topics: eldercare, independent elder care hire, live-in caregiver, caregiver, Senior Caregiver Payroll, senior home care, senior home caregiver

Life is busy, and sometimes hiring household employees to help around the house is a necessity. If you are considering hiring a nanny, house cleaners, senior caregiver, personal chef, or some other type of experienced domestic employee, there are a few things to keep in mind. 

Topics: housekeeper, nanny agency, hiring a nanny, nanny payroll, caregiver background screening, caregiver, senior home caregiver, domestic worker, agency, what to expect

If you plan on hiring an employee to work in your home, it’s essential to know who you’re hiring. Background and reference checks can give you confidence that their criminal and personal history are free and clear of anything alarming. Our HomeWork Solutions experts have worked with thousands of clients over the years, and we recommend reference checks and background screenings for anyone regularly working inside your home. 

Topics: caregiver, nanny reference check, senior home caregiver, outsource nanny payroll, domestic worker, agency, what to expect, employment compliance

At HomeWork Solutions, we understand household payroll and tax preparation can be complicated. With tax laws changing regularly, it can be challenging to stay up to date on everything. Outsourcing will save you time and the headache of researching what has changed and what hasn't. You won't need to worry about making a mistake with deductions, either. Your household payroll specialist is skilled in each part of the process, navigating everything for you—the result: payroll and tax preparations are seamless.  

If you've recently hired a household employee like a nanny or senior caregiver, and you don't have the time to manage payroll and tax deductions for your household employee, consider outsourcing the work to a qualified payroll and tax provider like HomeWork Solutions. That way, you and your employee are compliant, and you can rest easy knowing all the details are handled.

If you needed more of an incentive to start paying your household employees on the books, The American Rescue Plan Act is now in place for additional financial help, providing families with even more tax credits. It's never been easier to do the right thing and pay your employee's taxes accurately and on time. 

Topics: household employee, nanny payroll tax, nanny tax compliance, caregiver, senior home caregiver, outsource nanny payroll, agency

Have you heard of the “Nanny Tax?” Not sure it applies to your household employment situation? Even if you don’t have a nanny working in your home, the Nanny Tax might apply to you. Housekeepers, gardeners, house or pet sitters, or any other regular household employee who works at your direction could make you eligible for state and federal tax requirements.

Topics: household payroll literacy, home health workers, nanny payroll tax, caregiver, senior home caregiver, domestic worker, private educator

Seeing your parents age is never an easy process. Mobility and independence may start to decrease and decisions on who will help take care of them will need to be made. Assisted living and in-home care are two of the main possibilities, and many times in-home care is the most desirable choice. There may be cost advantages, and you can get the personalized attention your parents may need in a location that keeps them comfortable.

Topics: assisted living, hiring care for seniors, senior home caregiver, senior

Mom is struggling to remember to take her medications on time. She is having difficulty cooking and you are noticing a decline in hygiene. Maybe she is a bit wobbly on her feet as she continues to age, putting her at greater risk for a fall. These things can be part of the aging process, but it is difficult to watch. When you want what is best for your aging parent, what do you do? In-home senior care is the answer for many families around the country. This allows your elderly loved ones to live in their own home, on their own terms. Here are some reasons why hiring a senior caregiver can help.

Topics: eldercare, home health workers, senior care, caregiver, senior home care, senior home caregiver, senior caregiver employment practices

As your loved one starts to age, it is important to determine what type of care for them is best. Nursing homes or assisted living centers are not meant for everyone. Many seniors and their families want to be in the comfort of their own homes if possible. Getting dressed, managing medications, cooking, and cleaning the home can get harder and harder and for scenarios like this, hiring an in-home caregiver is a great option. If you are considering finding an adult caregiver to work in your loved one’s home, here are some benefits.

Topics: senior caregivers, aging in place, eldercare, caregiver, Hiring Elder care, senior home care, senior home caregiver, agency, COVID-19

Agency Senior Home-Care Workers About to Become More Expensive

The Obama Department of Labor has been working for the last four years to include senior home-care workers employed by third parties under the Fair Labor Standards Act's minimum wage and overtime provisions. There was also a parallel effort to redefine the services a bona fide senior companion caregiver could provide to align with the Congress' intent of the 1974 expansion of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Topics: companionship services, companionship exemption, senior home care, senior home caregiver, senior home-care workers