Some Words About the Latest Stimulus Payment (Part 2)
In last week’s post I wrote about the latest stimulus payment. Eligibility is based on your income as reflected on your income tax return. What happens if you have not filed your 2020 income tax return? The IRS will use your 2019 income tax return in that case to
Divorce and Medicaid – Part 1
Divorce rates in America have steadily risen for years and much has been written about it. There are, however, many more couples in unhappy marriages who for varied reasons did not go the divorce route. For some, it may have been about being more comfortable with the life they know vs. the
2nd Stimulus Checks – Same as the 1st?
Last month Congress and President Trump finally agreed to additional stimulus checks to be sent to Americans in need during the current pandemic. This is the second such round of payments since the COVID crisis hit. There are some differences, however between this second payment and the first. The most important change is
More Numbers for 2021
Last week I talked about some of the important Medicaid and VA numbers that will increase in 2021. This week we’ll review some more adjustments for 2021 in some of the other government programs and taxes relevant to our clients. Medicare Part B premiums will increase slightly next year. Most people pay the standard
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
N.J. Court Gives Guidance on Hiring Aides – Part 3
In my 3rd and final post on a recent New Jersey Appellate Division case, I continue to discuss how Medicaid treats payments to aides when it comes time to file a Medicaid application. In order to keep the costs down, D.Z. hired aides for several years but did not go thru a home
N.J. Court Gives Guidance on Hiring Aides – Part1
Just last week the New Jersey Appellate Division issued a decision regarding Medicaid that provides a road map for anyone hiring aides at home who hopes to qualify for Medicaid benefits when private funds run out. The case itself is unpublished which means it cannot be relied on as precedent in future cases. Nevertheless, it gives
What if I Can’t Find the Original Will? Part 2
In my post last week I began discussing the options to probate when an original will can’t be located. Probate in New Jersey tends to be relatively inexpensive in comparison to many other states because appearances before a judge aren’t normally necessary and a bond isn’t usually required unless you