More than 50 million Americans receive Social Security retirement benefits. Most of these recipients are retirees who worked and paid Social Security taxes. But millions of dependents and survivors of retired workers, including spouses and ex-spouses, also receive a...

Medicaid planning is often a complex process aimed at preserving a person’s assets while qualifying for Medicaid benefits. Finding a way to pay for long-term care costs without depleting all your hard-earned assets is a key part of Medicaid planning. One strategy for...

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has published a final rule simplifying and expanding its rental subsidy program for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Effective September 30, 2024, the new rule is likely to allow more people to qualify for SSI. In addition,...

Question: My husband has no assets in his name; everything is in my name. His only income is Social Security. He has long-term care insurance that will last approximately six years. Would he be eligible for Medicaid at that point? (And are my assets protected?)...

The prospect of long-term care often brings with it many financial concerns. As we experience our declining health or that of an aging family member, we begin to realize that long-term care needs at home or in a facility could be necessary. When looking into local...

Probate is the legal process of formally recognizing a will after a person dies, naming or validating an executor to administer the estate, and distributing assets to intended beneficiaries. It also requires paying the decedent’s outstanding debts and federal and...

Understaffing threatens the nation’s 1.2 million nursing home residents. Residents who do not receive the care they need can experience falls, dehydration, malnutrition, and bedsores. They are also more vulnerable to abuse and neglect. A historic nursing shortage is...

Today, 58 million adults in the United States are 65 and older. Seniors make up more than 17 percent of the American population. The U.S. Census Bureau expects this number to reach 83.7 million by 2050. Meanwhile, one in every seven older adults will at some point...

Long-term care Medicaid and Medical Medicaid (often referred to as regular Medicaid) are both government programs designed to provide health coverage for individuals with limited income and resources, but they serve different purposes: Medical Medicaid: This program...

The Court of Appeals of Ohio holds that irrevocably assigned insurance policies do not count toward Ohio Medicaid’s resource limit. In Shell v. Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (Ohio Ct. App. No. 112448, Jan 18, 2024). Dorothy Shell entered a long-term care...

Elder law and special needs planning share some common ground, particularly in terms of legal and financial issues related to vulnerable populations. Here are some connections between the two: Legal Protections: Both elder law and special needs planning law involve...

Proactive planning of a person's estate refers to the process of arranging and organizing one's assets and affairs during their lifetime with the intention of ensuring that their wishes are carried out effectively after their death or incapacitation. This type of...

Individuals with special needs may have a developmental disorder, such as autism, ADHD, or Asperger's syndrome. They may have an intellectual disability such as Down syndrome. Or, perhaps they have a learning disability such as dyslexia or physical impairments that...

In the complex and frequently changing landscape of health care in the United States, Medicaid stands out as a vital program. Since 1965, it has provided essential coverage to millions of low-income individuals and families. Alongside Medicare, Medicaid serves as a...