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Social Security

09 Sep

Posted at 06:00h in Beneficiary, Estate Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Retirement, Social Security, Taxes

By Richard W. Jackson, CFP®, CRPC, Principal Schlindwein Associates, LLC     Having enough resources to maintain one’s lifestyle throughout retirement is a major concern for most retirees. Social Security income can play a vital role in enjoying a comfortable retirement. With this in mind, the following provides a brief history...

05 Jan

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...

03 Feb

Posted at 16:45h in Beneficiary, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Social Security, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Trusts, utma

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has issued new policy interpretations in 2014 that affect Special Needs Trusts (trusts created for a disabled person in which the assets held in the trusts are not counted as a resource which would have otherwise resulted in the loss...

19 Aug

Posted at 06:48h in Estate Planning, Lawsuits, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Nursing Home, Public Benefits Protection, Social Security

Although Texas does not recognize same-sex marriages, here are a few estate planning considerations for same-sex married couples (couples who were legally married in another state) who live in Texas since the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down the Defense of Marriage Act: Federal employees...

24 Jun

Posted at 19:15h in Assisted Living, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Social Security, Trusts, Veterans

Two weeks ago the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a hearing on Senate Bill 748 which (like its predecessor - Senate Bill 3270) attacks planning for Veterans Aid & Attendance benefits (which are benefits often received by veterans who served during wartime or...

06 Jun

Posted at 13:02h in Beneficiary, End of Life Care Planning, Home Equity, Long Term Care, Medicaid Application, Medicaid Planning, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Quality of Life, Social Security, Special Needs, Special Needs Trust, Trusts

On May 15, 2013, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced changes to its Program Operations Manual System (POMS) to ensure that legitimate expenditures from special or supplemental needs trust are used for the sole benefit of a disabled beneficiary even if it may impart incidental...

16 Nov

Posted at 09:00h in Medicaid Application, Medicare, Michael Cohen Dallas Elder Lawyer, Social Security, Veterans

The Obama Administration has agreed to settle a nationwide class action lawsuit to end the standard practice to require Medicare beneficiaries to show a likelihood of improvement before Medicare would pay for therapy or skilled nursing services. As previously reported in the Texas Elder Law e-letter,...

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