Can the Beneficiary of a Special Needs Trust Change the Trustee?

The beneficiary of a special needs trust can never control or access trust funds – that is the job of the trustee. A common fear among beneficiaries or their families is that the trustee may not do what’s in the beneficiary’s best interests and that, if this happens,...

How Does the Coronavirus Relief Bill Affect Seniors?

The $2 trillion economic relief package that Congress passed to help Americans deal with the devastating financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic contains some provisions that affect seniors. In addition to authorizing direct payments to most Americans, including...

Estate Planning When You Live in Two States

Some lucky retirees split their time between two different states. Legally, you do not need separate estate planning documents for each state, but it may make sense from a practical perspective. The Constitution of the United States requires that states give “full...

How to Assist Aging Parents During the Pandemic

If your parents are getting on in years, you may be helping them with their finances and other matters, such as medical visits and shopping. You may live close by and be able to visit weekly or more often. Or you may live far away and were visiting every few months...

POMS Update Clarifies That ABLE Money Can Pay for Food

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has issued a transmittal updating its Program Operations Manual System (POMS) to clarify existing policy for ABLE accounts.  Most noteworthy among the changes and clarifications is that the SSA expressly states that food paid...