During 2019, many legislative decisions affecting the aging and special needs populations have come down from courts across the United States. Below, in chronological order, is ElderLawAnswers' annual roundup of the top 10 elder law decisions for the past year, as...

No parents want their children to fight among themselves after they are gone. Sadly, conflicts often arise, especially when a parent has gifted or loaned money to one child and not others. However, a few key words in your estate plan can minimize the potential for...

Answer: In most states, your and your husband’s income and assets should not be included in your mother-in-law’s application for benefits. This is because the definition of “household” only includes a spouse and dependents. So you and your husband are not members of...

Planning for retirement and deciding whether to buy long-term care insurance would be a lot easier if you knew your odds of needing long-term care, as well as at what age and for how long. Unfortunately, there's no definite answer. On the other hand, some statistics...

Congress has temporarily extended the federal government’s largest grant program that helps states transfer people with disabilities from institutions into independent living arrangements. Tucked into a larger federal appropriations package and signed into law by...

Written By Andy Jones: It could soon be significantly harder for people with disabilities to pursue discrimination claims under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) if new regulations proposed by the Department of Housing Urban and Development (HUD) take effect. The proposed...

Seniors and retirees should know that they may be able to use online tax preparation software free of charge. Most low- and middle-income Americans qualify for the free help, but do not take advantage of it. And all seniors are eligible for free counseling assistance...

Many people are not prepared for the shift from employee to retiree. Uncle Sam has strict rules on when you can and, later, must begin withdrawing funds from tax-deffered retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs. Here's a rundown of the basic rules, which changed...

Just before the end of 2019, Congress passed and the President signed a spending bill that includes significant changes to retirement savings accounts. Known as the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, this legislation changes rules...

Recognizing the huge problems caused by opioid addiction in the United States, Medicare is adding a new outpatient opioid treatment benefit, paying for methadone and related treatment in certain facilities. Under a new rule taking effect in January 2020, Medicare will...

Having enough financial resources to support someone with special needs is an ongoing worry for many families. If resources are short, one increasingly popular option is to set up a crowdfunding campaign through such outlets as GoFundMe or Kickstarter. While this can...

As baby boomers age, more and more millennials are becoming caregivers. Many are taking on this role while just getting started in their own lives, leading to difficult decisions about priorities. Proper planning can help them navigate this terrain. The term “sandwich...

Below are figures for 2020 that are frequently used in the elder law practice or are of interest to clients. Medicaid Spousal Impoverishment Figures for 2020 The new minimum community spouse resource allowance (CSRA) is $25,728 and the maximum CSRA is $128,640. The...

If the house is sold, the proceeds should be divided three ways with your mother receiving a third. This is also true of any rental income. A key issue after your mother’s death is whether she, your sister, and your brother-in-law own the property as joint tenants or...