The Hidden Costs of Transferring Your Home (Part 2)
               In my post last week I told you about Joe’s call concerning the sale of his mother’s home. A few years ago she went to an attorney to prepare a deed transferring the home to Joe and his sister, but keeping a life estate for herself. A life estate
New VA Rules Effective 10/18/18 (Part 3)
               This week’s post is my third in a three part series regarding the new changes to the VA Aid and Attendance program. As I stated last week, the biggest focus will be on a new 3 year look back and penalty for transfer of assets. That does in many
New VA Rules Effective 10/18/18 (Part 1)
               I have written many times in the past several years about possible rules changes to the VA Aid and Attendance pension program, which provides additional income to aging veterans and their spouses who need long term care. Well, those changes are finally here and with almost no warning. The
A Family Theft – Part 2
               In last week’s post I told you about Joe’s problem. He needed to apply for Medicaid for his sister, Sophie. His sister, Mary, however, had told him that she took some of Sophie’s money and spent it herself. He had confirmed at least $100,000 and counting.                As I explained
A Family Theft – Part 1
        What happens if a family member takes money from another family member without permission and the second family member needs to apply for Medicaid? That is exactly the scenario faced by Joe who called me about his two sisters, Mary and Sophie.               Â
Lack of Verification – Worse than a Medicaid Penalty (Part 2)
    In last week’s post, I was talking about how Medicaid eligibility hinges in large part on the State’s scrutiny of 5 years of records under Medicaid’s look back period. Transfers of money out of the applicant’s accounts for less than fair value trigger a Medicaid penalty or
Lack of Verification – Worse than a Medicaid Penalty? Part 1
    Whenever we are preparing to file a Medicaid application on behalf of a client we closely examine the 5 years of records that we will need to provide to the State together with the 16 page application. Those records include every statement for every asset the client
Irrevocable Trusts and Medicaid (Part 3)
    I promised in last week’s blog post that I would explain another solution to Mary’s Medicaid dilemma. Her uncle left assets in a trust for Mary but the terms provide that the funds can be used for Mary’s health support and maintenance. I explained to Mary and
New Jersey Issues Updated Medicaid Penalty Divisor
               The last time New Jersey updated it’s Medicaid penalty divisor was two years ago. The divisor is the State’s determination of what the average daily cost of nursing home care is across the State of New Jersey.  Although it is supposed to be updated annually the last adjustment occurred
A Word About Family Caregiver Contracts (Part 2)
               Last week I was telling you about Mary’s question to me. Her mom is in a Florida nursing home but she wants to bring her up north closer to Mary. Mom had given Mary $100,000 under a personal services contract which was drafted by a Florida attorney. Her question