Alert – Veterans Administration New Regulations Propose 3 Year Look Back
On January 23, 2015, the VA took the initiative in proposing new regulations that would penalize wartime veterans and their spouses up to 10 years for making gifts, if they wish to qualify for the VA’s Aid and Attendance program. As many readers of
Retitling Assets to Healthy Spouse to Qualify for Medicaid (Part 2)
Last week we were discussing Mary’s dilemma. Her husband, George, has Alzheimer’s Disease and is going to need some care at home. Mary is concerned that soon he will need nursing home level care and she wants to preserve their primary home and their second home.
Retitling Assets to Healthy Spouse to Qualify for Medicaid
It’s something I have written about in past blog posts but just last week we received a call from Mary on this exact issue. Her husband, George, has Alzheimer’s and now needs care at home. She is concerned that as his condition worsens it won’t be long before he
The ABLE Act – The Drawbacks
Last week I told you about the ABLE Act that was passed by Congress and signed by President Obama just before the Christmas holiday. It sounds great, allowing disabled individuals to set up savings accounts, similar to a 529 plan, without losing government benefits. But is it all its
The ABLE Act Passes
Just before the Christmas holiday break, Congress passed, and then President Obama signed into law, the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (“the ABLE” Act). The ABLE Act allows people with disabilities to open special accounts, similar to 529 college savings plans. The interest
The Importance of a Well Crafted POA (Part 2)
Last week we were talking about the importance of a well drafted power of attorney or looking at it from the flipside, the problems caused by an inartfully drafted one. Two recent examples in our office highlight the dangers. In the first case, we
The Importance of a Well Crafted POA
As I have always told my clients, a power of attorney is as important, if not more important to you, as your will. Yet most people pay far more attention to the drafting of their will and give their POA little thought. How so?
Home for the Holidays
Once again the holiday season is upon us, a time of joy but also stress. We often visit family members we haven’t seen in some time and that’s when changes in older loved ones become more noticeable. Some of the changes that may indicate your loved one needs
New Medicaid and VA Figures for 2015
Each year, many of the programs that, as elder law attorneys, we deal with daily, such as VA Aid and Attendance and Medicaid, are adjusted for inflation through a cost of living adjustment. In the past month the Social Security Administration announced that Social Security recipients will receive a 1.7% increase