Disability Benefits

28 Jan Veterans (or the Surviving Spouse of the Veteran) Get Small Benefit Increase in year 2015 for Care Cost

Posted at 21:54h in Assisted Living, Disability Benefits, Divorce, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Trusts, Veterans

Veterans who served during wartime (not dishonorably discharged), or the surviving spouse of the wartime veteran, will be getting a slight increase (considered a pension) to be used for care at home, assisted living facilities or in a nursing home from the Department of Veterans...

05 Jan CONGRESS PASSES ABLE ACT EFFECTING MEDICAID APPLICANTS AND SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS

Posted at 06:18h in 529 plan, Beneficiary, Disability Benefits, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Quality of Life, Social Security, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Trusts

On December 16, 2014, Congress passed the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE) which allows adults and children with disabilities whose disability occurred before age 26 to shelter up to the annual gift tax exclusion amount (presently $14,000) per year into an account which...

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...

24 Aug VA PENSION PROTECTION ACT PROGRESSING

Posted at 10:59h in Assisted Living, Disability Benefits, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Veterans

Proposed legislation (the Veterans Pension Protection Act) has been revised to penalize military veterans (or their surviving spouse) if they should dispose of their resources (that could have been used for their maintenance) within three (3) years of applying for VA pension benefits (benefits most...

01 Mar Bridge Loan Designed to Help Cash Poor Medicaid and VA Applicants

Posted at 21:38h in Alzheimer’s, Assisted Living, Disability Benefits, Medicaid Application, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Mortgage, Nursing Home

Often disability occurs suddenly at a time when people have limited cash resources to pay for care costs. So, even if the person might be eligible for public benefits, it often takes many months or longer for eligibility to be granted. Caregivers often do not...

27 Sep VETERANS AFFAIRS RULES AGAINST TRANSFERS TO GET BENEFITS EVEN THOUGH LAW HAS NOT YET CHANGED

Posted at 19:53h in Disability Benefits, Medicaid Application, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Veterans

In a somewhat stunning development, many veteran benefits planners are reporting that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has started denying some applications for benefits in cases where the veteran has made a recent transfer to reduce net worth to obtain benefits. For many years...

22 Sep Senate Bill Proposes Penalty for VA Benefits Applicants That Make Transfers within 3 Years before Application

Posted at 18:48h in Disability Benefits, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Veterans

Senate Bill 3270 has been introduced to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to consider the resources of individuals applying for non-service disability pension that were recently disposed of by the individuals for less than fair market value when determining the eligibility of such...

06 Aug New Annuity Introduced to Assist those Applying for Veterans Benefits -but will it work?

Posted at 08:58h in Assisted Living, Beneficiary, Disability Benefits, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Trusts, Veterans

To assist with the costs of care if their medical expenses are high, wartime veterans or their surviving spouses often apply for non-service connected disability improved pension benefits (commonly referred to as “Aid & Attendance” although that is only a portion of the benefit) assuming all eligibility requirements are met. Various types of annuities are often used in the planning process so that eligibility can be obtained for Veterans Benefits. However, Medicaid benefits are often greater (especially for nursing home care) and the eligibility rules (and planning) are significantly different. On the other hand, VA benefits can be used anywhere (home, assisted living, nursing home, etc.) whereas very few assisted living facilities accept any Medicaid program.

30 May TEXAS LAW PERMITS GUARDIANS TO MAKE GIFTS FOR MEDICAID PURPOSES

Posted at 16:32h in Assisted Living, Disability Benefits, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Medicaid Application, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Probate Administration

Effective September 1, 2011, Texas Probate Code Section 865 was amended to allow a guardianship court, upon application to approve gifts on behalf of the ward for the following purposes, in addition to tax-motivated gifts: “… or to transfer a portion of the ward’s estate...