Blog

23 Jun Court Rules Veterans Benefits Income Not Countable in Medicaid Eligibility Determination

Posted at 06:45h in Assisted Living, Medicaid Application, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Veterans

On June 3, 2014, The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey has enjoined the state from counting any Veterans Administration (VA) improved pension income in determining Medicaid eligibility of an applicant for Medicaid. In this case, the Medicaid applicant was about to...

16 Jun National Senior Citizens Law Center Publishes Free Guide On Getting Long-Term Services and Support at Home

Posted at 07:15h in Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home

In an effort to allow more seniors and persons with disabilities to live independently at home as opposed to a nursing home or other institutional setting, the National Senior Citizens Law Center (NSCLC) has recently published a free advocate’s guide. The Medicaid laws for payment...

09 Jun Increased Federal Tax Proposals for year 2015 Budget Announced

Posted at 07:06h in Beneficiary, Business, Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Power of Attorney, Taxes, Transfer of Death, Trusts

The Obama Administration’s Fiscal Year 2015 Revenue Proposals have been published, and there are numerous suggested proposals which increase taxes in connection with estate planning. Although the Senate passed proposals this past week retaining certain tax incentives for businesses and individuals, the revenue proposals included...

02 Jun Do you trust your Trust?

Posted at 05:02h in Asset Protection, Beneficiary, Divorce, Estate Planning, Lawsuits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Public Benefits Protection, Trusts

As a follow up to last month’s Dallas Morning News article by Pamela Yip entitled “Maintaining Trust”, we thought those who receive our email might be interested in the questions that she asked and a more detailed explanation as follows: Q: Do you have the right...

28 May Dallas Elder Financial Safety Center Announced

Posted at 02:02h in Asset Protection, Guardianship, Long Term Care, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Probate Administration, Public Benefits Protection, Veterans

As a result of a generous grant by the WW Caruth, Jr. Foundation - Communities Foundation of Texas in an effort to protect the financial safety of Dallas County seniors, today there was an announcement of the formation of the Elder Financial Safety Center (the...

28 Apr TAX COURT RULING LIMITS IRA ROLLOVERS TO ONE PER YEAR

Posted at 06:45h in Business, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Taxes, Veterans

The U.S. Tax Court recently ruled that a taxpayer can only rollover (within 60 days) one IRA per year, per taxpayer – contrary to IRS publication 590 which allowed one 60 day rollover per year; per IRA – so, prior to the ruling if a...

22 Apr GAO STUDY ON MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY DUE TO CONGRESS SOON

Posted at 13:45h in Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is in the final stages of researching and writing a report on financial eligibility for long-term care Medicaid. Senators Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Representatives Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) and Darrell Issa (R-CA) requested the study. The GAO...

14 Apr SENATE BILL TO CREATE “LOOK-BACK” PERIOD FOR VETERANS BENEFITS FAILS TO PASS

Posted at 22:56h in Assisted Living, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Veterans

Due to partisan politics in an election year, Senate Bill 1982 has failed. The bill which was designed to make numerous improvements to services for Veterans but would have also introduced a “look-back” period and penalties for transfers commonly used in planning for Veterans benefits...

23 Mar MEDICAL NEED REQUIREMENTS DIFFER FOR VARIOUS MEDICAID PROGRAMS

Posted at 07:12h in Assisted Living, Disability Benefits, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home

Although most first think only of “means-tested” (assets and income) eligibility for various Medicaid programs, one of the other requirements is a “medical necessity”. The standard for nursing home Medicaid, Community Based Alternative (a Medicaid program which provides personal care services at home and in...

09 Mar Agent Under POWER OF ATTORNEY Faces 25 Years After Unsuccessfully Arguing that Transfers to Self Were for Medicaid Planning Purposes

Posted at 23:11h in Beneficiary, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Power of Attorney

A Texas appeals court has upheld the conviction of an agent under a power of attorney who transferred funds to himself, supposedly to qualify his former grandmother-in-law for Medicaid. In an earlier proceeding, a jury sentenced the agent to 25 years in prison. Natho v....