When Doing it Yourself (Medicaid) Can Take You Only So Far
We got a call the other day from Joe. He had prepared and filed his mother’s Medicaid application himself. From what he told us, it sounded like he did a great job. He had hit a bit of a snag because Joe and his brother had been
Changes to New Jersey Medicaid Coming November 1 (Maybe)
Last week I wrote about changes to New Jersey’s Medicaid program that are coming November 1, specifically with regard to the income cap. Well, as with all things Medicaid, that date is not certain. It’s now looking like December 1 is the more realistic date. What is
Changes to New Jersey Medicaid Coming November 1
I have written for many years about Medicaid’s strict income limit or “cap” Individuals over the cap can’t qualify for some Medicaid programs, such as assisted living or home based Medicaid. That’s because New Jersey is what is known as an income
New Jersey Supreme Court Recognizes the Value of Special Needs Planning
Sometimes as elder and disability attorneys we are criticized for helping our clients qualify for, or in some cases maintain, government needs based benefits. “Why should people be able to protect any of their assets and still qualify for government benefits”, they ask. “That’s not who the benefits are
A $500,000 Estate Planning Mistake (Part 2)
Last week we were talking about Mary, who is losing out on a $500,000 401k her husband left to her in his will. So, why is the 401k custodian telling her she isn’t entitled to it? The reason is that the will does not automatically control how all property
A $500,000 Estate Planning Mistake
Mary called after her husband, John had died. She had questions about his will and his 401k. Mary was John’s second wife and he had two daughters from his first marriage. Between his first and second marriages, John had designated his daughters as the beneficiaries of his life insurance
Can I Leave the House to my Children and not my Spouse? (Part 2)
Last week I was telling you about Sara, who called about her Mom. Dad left the house to Sara and her sisters but because of something called the elective share, I told Sara that the house may not be entirely protected when it is time to file for Medicaid
Can I Leave the House to my Children instead of my Spouse?
Sara called because her mom, living at home, needed nursing home care and would need Medicaid after spending down her remaining $20,000 of assets. She told me that her dad had died 3 years earlier. I asked her about what happened since then. Sara explained that Mom’s health had steadily
Little Known Law May Help Seniors Needing Long Term Care (Part 2)
Last week we were discussing a little known law that can be a boon to seniors. The Pension Protection Act of 2006 contains provisions that allow individuals to use their annuity cash value to purchase long term care coverage. Let’s look at an example of how that can work.
Little Known Law May Help Seniors Needing Long Term Care
On August 17, 2006, President George W. Bush signed into law the Pension Protection Act of 2006. The average American probably never heard of the law but some provisions in that law, which became effective in 2010, can be a real boon to Americans struggling to find ways to