Source: ElderLawAnswers.com, The Academy of Special Needs Planners Attendees of the April 2024 National Conference of the Academy of Special Needs Planners (ASNP), held in Austin, Texas, heard from experts in the special needs planning field on such diverse topics as...

Question: If children buy their parents out of a reverse mortgage, is that a transfer of an asset for less than fair market value, which would negatively affect Medicaid eligibility? In this instance the house could potentially sell for $600,000 to $700,000 on...

Neurodiversity is a concept and movement that recognizes and respects variations in human brain function and behavior as part of normal diversity. It emphasizes that neurological differences, such as those seen in conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other...

For most people, receiving an inheritance is something to celebrate. However, for a nursing home resident on Medicaid, an inheritance may not be such welcome news. What Is Medicaid? Medicaid is a public assistance health insurance program for people who have limited...

Social Security was enacted in 1935 to provide some relief to America's destitute older citizens during the economic cataclysm known as the Great Depression. A direct descendant of that more limited effort, today's Social Security retirement program is in fact a group...

Question:  I'm on Medicaid and SSI. I'll be receiving a financial inheritance within the next year or less. Can I deposit my own inheritance in a Third-Party Special Needs Trust and spend it on myself? I really need to be able to keep my Medicaid and spend my...

Do you have a family member who is receiving some form of long-term care? If you don’t, the chances are good that someday you will – and that day may not be too far away. As the U.S. population ages and life expectancies increase, the need for long-term care is...

You may have seen the Medicare tax listed on your paycheck stubs or on your income tax return filings and wondered what it is. To learn more about what it is and what it pays for, continue reading. What is Medicare Tax? Medicare is a federal public benefits program...

More and more states are switching to a managed care model when dealing with Medicaid long-term care patients, a change that has resulted in a loss of services in some cases. Many states use managed care to deliver care to their regular Medicaid populations, but until...

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...