Protecting Your House from Medicaid Estate Recovery

After a Medicaid recipient dies, the state must attempt to recoup from his or her estate whatever benefits it paid for the recipient's care. This is called “estate recovery.” For most Medicaid recipients, their house is the only asset available, but...

The Unsupported Elder

I recall distinctly the smile and the keen intellect. Mr. Nash walked into my law office one day, having found me quite by accident, I believe. He did not have an appointment. I think perhaps he was on the way home from the bank and saw Attorney on the door as he...

How to Fight a Nursing Home Discharge

Once a resident is settled in a nursing home, being told to leave can be very traumatic. Nursing homes are required to follow certain procedures before discharging a resident, but family members often accept the discharge without questioning it. Residents can fight...

Maximizing Social Security Survivor's Benefits

Social Security survivor's benefits provide a safety net to widows and widowers. But to get the most out of the benefit, you need to know the right time to claim.  While you can claim survivor's benefits as early as age 60, if you claim benefits before...

Gift Cards: A New Way to Contribute to ABLE Accounts

People wishing to help someone with special needs save for their future without jeopardizing the recipient's public benefits can now do so using a Gift of Independence gift card. Funds in these gift cards can be placed directly into a person’s ABLE...