Government Shutdown

If your like me you're trying to figure out what's open and what's closed with this government shut down.  I contacted the USDA and they were closed yesterday. The voice mail said they were out of the office no return date set and they will not be checking email or voice mail while on furlough.  However, I am still getting mail every day. Both are Federal departments of the United States Government.

So here is a condensed list of what's what:

USPS, otherwise known as MAIL, still continues to be delivered.  The reason for this is because the USPS does not receive money from taxes it is funded by its own income producing sources, like postage for example.

National Parks and National Museums, are all closed.  This has a trickle effect on the economy.  If you are located in the eastern part of the state, for example, it is peak season for tourists hoping to catch a glimpse of the beautiful fall foliage.  However if you wanted to stay in a state park you may have cancelled your trip and other local businesses are losing out because your are not there to eat at their diner or shop at their gift shop.

Air Travel, thankfully Air Traffic Controllers and airport security  are not on furlough... can you imagine?? Unbelievably though, federal plane INSPECTORS are on furlough as well as some aircraft repair stations. The International Embassy's are still open and passports and visas are still being processed.  Again because fees are generated from these directly.

If you collect social security, unemployment or medicare you are still receiving your benefits. Federal courts continue to operate for the time being, however non essential personnel could be furloughed if the issues at hand are not resolved quickly. Women Infants and Children (WIC), Food Stamps and school lunch program only has enough funding to make it through October it has been reported and they may cease at that time.

Another department that is experiencing the shutdown directly is the Food Safety Division.  If a recall or outbreak occurs the department said they could handle it but the people who investigate the outbreaks are on furlough! There won't be any inspectors visiting anytime in the near future either to be sure your facility is clean.  However, Meat inspectors still continue to be in meat packing plants every day, as required by law.

Military, Law Enforcement, Homeland Security, Prisons, NASA, National Weather Service are still pretty much operating as normal, some non essential employees have been furloughed.

Loans - If you are trying to purchase a home you can expect a delay and if the shutdown continues it will be worse.  The reason is that they banks require tax data.   Unfortunately the IRS will not be processing any taxes or conducting audits during the shutdown. The applications for FHA mortgages and government loans for small businesses have been shut down.

So that's the abbreviated version.  If you have questions I would suggest calling the IRS or the department in question, but in most cases you won't get any answer.  If you try going to many of the links I provided, same thing.  Sorry were closed.

Here is a link that does work to get some more detailed information on the departments and programs affected by the shutdown and those that remain open.  You also can go to:  http://www.usa.gov/

Visit us on the web at www.tiains.com.

Disaster Preparedness

I recently came across the reality show Doomsday Preppers on the National Geographic Channel.  I have to admit I was hooked well for a hour or so.   Some people take this to the extreme - or so it seems anyway. However, It made me stop and think.  I thought about what I would have or do if I suddenly had no power for more than a few hours.  I would have no water, no can opener, no stove, no microwave. I have a family and just to be safe I started taking a few simple precautions.  Not building an underground shelter but setting a side a few simple supplies in case my family and I should need them.

Travelers Insurance has a wealth of helpful information on their website and anyone with an internet connection can access it.  There are several other sites available...some perhaps not so reputable.  I would stick to Insurance companies, and government sites like the CDC  and of course the Department of Homeland Security  and lastly FEMA .

If you don't want to read up, here are a few simple things you can do:

1) Get a couple of gallon jugs of spring water at your next trip to the store.  They are usually less than $1 each.  They suggest a gallon of water per person per day.  

2) Stock up on extra can goods (already cooked) like beans, soup, raviolis, fruit, etc.  The best way is to purchase them with the pull tab tops.

3) Non-electric can opener

4) Portable battery operated radio

5) Batteries

6) Blanket (ideally one for every person in the household)

7) Matches in a zip lock bag

8) First aid kit

9) Flashlight (rechargeable that do not need batteries is best)

10) Dust masks, these are really inexpensive and can be purchased at even the dollar store

11) Baby wipes, garbage bags and twist ties

12) Infant formula, diapers, baby food

13) Prescription medications, vitamins, and glasses

14) Some basic tools, wrench or pliers, screwdriver, hammer, utility knife

Of course there are lots of variations on this and you can find them by checking out the links I provided.

I gathered as much as I could and threw it in a backpack.  Hopefully I will never need to use this in my lifetime, but I am prepared at least for a couple days.

If you have questions or need more information go to www.tiains.com or stop into one of our three locations. We would be happy to print you out a checklist to help you be prepared.

Workers Compensation Insurance for the Construciton Insdustry & Contractors

In October of 2010, the New York Construction Industry Fair Play Act took effect.  The law created a definition specifically for the construction industry as to who was an 'employee'.  There will also now be penalties for employers who fail to properly classify the employee.

Here is how you determine whether someone is an independent contractor. (They must meet all three of the criteria below):

(1) Free from control and direction in performing the job, both under contract and in fact.

(2) Performing services outside of the usual course of business for the company and;

(3) Engaged in an independently established trade, occupation or business that is similar to the service they perform.

In the past the company that hired the subcontractor used to have to pay for workers compensation coverage for all monies paid to the subcontractor but in a lessor expensive class code used solely to identify subcontractors.  Now if they don't meet the criteria above the monies paid will all be put into the governing class code on the policy.  For carpentry or roofing this could be VERY expensive bill at the end of the year.

There are SEVERE penalties for employers who violate the newly enacted law.

Today, most companies that have a workers' compensation policy in place will require that any person they hire as a subcontractor also has their own insurance.

You can read about the Fair Play Act here:  http://www.labor.ny.gov/formsdocs/wp/P738.pdf

Here is a poster also provided by NYS Department of Labor: http://www.labor.ny.gov/formsdocs/ui/IA999.pdf

If you are interested in more information or a worker's compensation quote, please feel free to check out our website at www.tiains.com or stop by one of our three locations.

Flood Insurance

We have received an extensive amount of rain which caused flash floods in several areas in our community.  Fortunately, FEMA stepped in and gave some of the local area homeowners some monetary assistance.  Unfortunately however, in most cases it was not enough to replace some irreplaceable items or to purchase another property. 

Homeowner policies cover some important perils, like fire, wind, vandalism, and many more perils are available depending on the level of coverage selected. There is also a coverage called water backup that is sometimes available, usually by endorsement.  This may have given some limited coverage for sump pump failure or backup of sewers.  Flood is ALWAYS excluded on a homeowner policy. 

In order for the peril of flood to be covered you need a flood insurance policy.  Flood insurance policies are not just available for homeowners.  You can rent or own a mobile home and still purchase a flood policy.  Flood policies can cover the building or contents or both.  Replacement cost policies are available. 

Often times when people think flood insurance, they think “expensive”.  That is not always the case.  It all depends on where you live.  If you live in an area that is prone to floods or your home is built below the base flood elevation (BFE), yes it is probably going to cost more than a couple hundred dollars.  With that said, many homes in our area were affected by the flood and are still in a preferred flood zone and a policy may be very affordable.

Flood insurance quotes are free.  Why not ask your agent for a flood quote and then you can make an educated decision as to whether or not you want to spend money on this additional policy?  When I quote a policy for someone, I give them a copy of the property profile report from the tax assessor’s database, a report on the Flood Zone determination and a copy of the quote.   It is especially important if you are thinking of purchasing a property to get a flood quote before you purchase. 

Much more information on what to do before, during and after a flood is available online by going to: http://www.fema.gov/

You can also obtain a free flood insurance quote along with all the reports I mentioned above by going to http://www.tiains.com or contact us at any one of our three locations.

Want to save money on your car insurance?

Everyone wants to save money on their car insurance.  There are thousands of factors that figure into how much someone pays for their car insurance.  Your driving record, location, claims history, and how long you have been insured are just to name a few. Here are a few tips and discounts usually available:

1)      Defensive Driving:  This discount saves you 10% on the liability and collision portion of your insurance for 3 years and it doesn’t matter who you have your car insurance with!  If you take the course you get the discount.  If you have more than one vehicle you get the discount PER vehicle.  If you have more than one driver on your policy and they take the course they get the savings too!  Great way to save!  You can now also take the course online.  Instead of sitting in a classroom most of the day, go to http://www.tiains.com and sign-up it costs less than $40 and you can start and stop it at anytime and have up to 30 days to complete!

2)      Multi-policy Discount:  If the company you have your car insurance with sells home, mobile home or renters insurance and you take out one of these policies with them, it is very likely that you will receive the multi-policy discount. Erie Insurance offers the multi-policy discount on the home, renters or mobile home and the auto so that’s double the savings!  Go to http://www.tiains.com and ask for a free Erie quote to see how much you can save.

3)      Youthful Drivers:  Do you have a youthful driver on your policy?  Erie insurance gives THREE discounts to youthful drivers if they are insured with you on your auto policy.  The driver training discount if they took drivers education. The youthful longevity discount, if you and your inexperienced operator are claim and violation free. There is a 16 minute video the youthful drivers can watch online or in one of our three offices from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Lastly, the college student discount available for part-time or full-time college students away at school with out a vehicle.

4)      Multi-vehicle discount: If you have more than one vehicle and insure them together you may be eligible for a multi-vehicle discount.  With Erie and with some other companies a snowmobile, four-wheeler, classic car, dune buggy, RV or utility trailer, all qualify!

5)      Senior Discount:  Most car insurance companies offer senior discounts for drivers over 55.

6)      Car Equipment Safety:  Most car insurance companies offer discounts for factory installed air bags, anti-theft devices (like alarms) and anti-lock brakes on all four wheels.

7)      Safe Driver Discount: Some carriers offer safe driver discounts for no tickets, accidents, or claims in the last 5 years.

We are independent agents and can shop around for you with all 7 of the auto insurance companies we work with – many of them offer property coverage as well.  Go to www.tiains.com and get a free quote!

Contractors and Fall Protection

This has become a major issue for Contractors in the State of NY.  Fall claims have driven up the cost of insurance and a lot of standard insurance carriers in NY are no longer writing contractors that have a height exposure.  This applies to carpenters, electricians, heating and air conditioning contractors and commercial snowplowing just to name a few.  It is not so much the fact the insurance companies even end up having to pay out anything on these types of claims.  However, the insurance companies still have to hire and pay an attorney, go to court and then pay any required claims.  This could take years to finalize and cost insurance companies hundreds of thousands of dollars just in attorney fees.

If you have had continuous insurance and have a good claims history and have a safety plan in place there is a good chance you can still get insurance with one of the standard carriers in NY. 

Following are some resources to develop your own safety plan:

http://www.osha.com/store/written-safety-plans.html

http://www.ehso.com/sampleplans.php

http://freeonlineoshatraining.com/index.html

https://safetyskills.com/

http://www.nsc.org/products_training/Training/Pages/OnlineTraining.aspx

Once you have a safety plan in place it is important to give a copy to your employees, go over it in detail and have them sign off on it.  It is important to do this at least once a year and definitely upon hiring someone new.  Check for updates too.

If you are interested in more information or a quote, please feel free to contact us at www.tiains.com.

Fall Tips for Homeowners

Fall has arrived and that is the perfect time to do some basic home maintenance that may prevent a loss from occurring.

1)Heating System:  Now is a great time to give your heat system a check up before you turn it on.  If you have baseboard heaters, you should vacuum them to keep them free from dust and debris.  While your there be sure nothing lays on them like drapes for example.  If you have a furnace, you should call in an insured HVAC contractor to come and give your system a tune up.  Certain items need to be cleaned and replaced on the furnace directly. They also may be able to clean out any heating ducts for you or direct you to someone who can.  (This will help with allergies too!)  If your furnace uses air filters buy a bunch, keep them on hand and change them every month.

2) Detection:  You should change batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.  Every home should have a carbon monoxide detector in the room where the furnace is located and in the kitchen.

3)Windows:  Make sure all windows are closed and locked.  If you still feel drafts you can always get those plastic window insulation kits or save even more money by buying a roll of plastic and cut and measure yourself.  Use thin cardboard strips around the edges and cover with the plastic so it is flush against the window and thumb tacks to secure in place. 

4)Doors: Check for drafts around your doorways too.  If you have glass panels you can plastic them too.  Also if it is entrance you are not using you can get weather strip and place along the door jam.  Just be sure you can still get out in case of emergency.  They also sell strips for the bottom of the door that still allow the door to be opened and closed regularly.

5)Chimney: If you have a fireplace or wood stove it is critical that this be cleaned regularly.  Otherwise buildup and residue inside can start a fire.  Also be sure and keep any stacks of wood away from your home. Not inside or too close to the wood burning unit.

6) Outside:  Don’t forget about outside too.  Look for any loose boards, bricks or stones in walkways, & rake any leaves these all pose trip, slip and fall hazards especially once the snow and ice start to build up.  Clean out your gutters, the clogs could cause water to not drain properly and may cause ice buildup in the winter or excess along the foundation and walkways. Don’t leave leftover fuel from mowers or weed-whackers in the equipment. If left in the equipment it can cause sediment and possibly prevent the equipment from working properly when you need them again. Be sure to store gas cans in a safe place and out of reach of children.

Lastly, have a safety plan in place.  Go over exits with children, have a fire drill, teach your children where and what the detectors are and what to do if they go off.  Designate a meeting place across the street or neighbors to meet in the event of an emergency.

Contact us if you have questions or need more information at www.tiains.com