VA Benefits and QITs – Part 1
We have many clients who first qualify for the VA Aid and Attendance benefit to help pay for their long term care and then when their remaining assets are spent down, they must apply for Medicaid. As I have written about previously, Medicaid has a strict income cap ($2349 in 2020). If
Funeral Expenses and Medicaid – Part 2
Funeral Expenses and Medicaid (Part 2) This week’s post details the more common option when it comes to setting aside funds for a funeral before spending down towards Medicaid eligibility. Last week I explained that $1500 can be set aside for burial as long as it is specifically designated and not commingled
Funeral Expenses and Medicaid
Whenever I talk to a family whose loved one is close to spending down the required amount of assets to qualify for Medicaid, the topic of burial expenses comes up. Most people are aware that Medicaid permits setting aside funds to cover the burial but many are a bit fuzzy on
Out of Crisis Perhaps Change?
The global pandemic has caused havoc in everyone’s life. The immediate effects of the current crisis are obviously negative. Out of every crisis, however, there are often some positive changes. New York was the first region in the country to be hard hit by Covid. Hospitals were overwhelmed and as
End of Life Decisionmaking
In the 11 years that I have been writing this blog it has been a rare week that I have missed posting anything. For 25 years I have focused my practice on the field of elder law - helping to guide families through life’s transitions – as our tag line says. Aging and