Written By: Andy Jones The U.S. Department of the Treasury has announced that Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will have the  $1,200 emergency COVID-19 relief checks automatically deposited in their bank accounts just as they would normally receive their...

The coronavirus health emergency is a reminder that life is unpredictable, and it makes sense to be prepared. It may sound self-serving, but the threats to life and finances posed posed by the pandemic offer ample reason to reevaluate your estate plan -- or create one...

The coronavirus relief bill includes a direct payment to most Americans, but this has Medicaid recipients wondering how the payment will affect them. Because the payment is not income, it should not count against a Medicaid recipient’s eligibility. The Coronavirus...

Written By: Andy Jones In a reversal, the federal government has clarified that recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) will not be required to file tax returns to receive stimulus checks as part of the $2.2 trillion stimulus bill, signed into law by...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

A U.S. district court rules that Medicare beneficiaries who are admitted as inpatients, but whose status is changed to observation have a due process right to appeal the decision, but Medicare beneficiaries who are admitted under observation status, do not have right...

As part of its response to the coronavirus pandemic, the federal government is broadly expanding coverage of Medicare telehealth services to beneficiaries and relaxing HIPAA enforcement. This will give doctors the ability to provide more services to patients remotely....

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...

The federal government has determined that tens of thousands of people with disabilities are eligible to have their student loan debt discharged, but due to the burdensome process involved, only a fraction of these borrowers have had their debts erased. Student loan...

As the coronavirus spreads across the United States, nursing home residents are among the most vulnerable to the disease. How to try to ensure that your loved one stays healthy? The first thing you can do is research the nursing home. While you likely made inquiries...

On the heels of the declaration of a national emergency, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is waiving the requirement that Medicare beneficiaries must spend at least three days in a hospital before qualifying for coverage in a skilled nursing...

With coronavirus dominating news coverage and creating alarm, it is important to know that Medicare and Medicaid will cover tests for the virus. The department of Health and Human Services has designated the test for the new strain of coronavirus (officially called...