Social Security is a retirement benefit for individuals who are working and contributing to the social security system. However, it also has a benefit for disabled workers and disabled individuals. Supplemental Security Disability Social Security Disability (SSD) is a plan…
Widows and widowers are entitled to Social Security benefits from their deceased spouse equal to the collection amount at the time of death, or the potential entitlement amount if the spouse had not yet applied for the benefit. In order to best advise their clients, accountants and attorneys should understand the laws that govern this benefit.
A living will is a document that sets forth your wishes concerning the extent of medical care you want to receive. It operates during your lifetime if you become unable to communicate your wishes at the time a healthcare decision…
As elder law attorneys, we meet with clients and help them create a plan for their future; many of these plans include planning for long-term care.
We discuss options for long-term care—such as long-term care insurance, private pay, and Medicaid. For most seniors, obtaining Medicaid to pay for nursing home care or care at home is a must. Very few people can afford to pay privately for extended long-term care, which is not covered by Medicare.
However, when it comes time to submit a Medicaid application, many seniors and their families choose to either submit it on their own or enlist non-lawyers to help with the application—often because they are afraid of the legal fees.
A pooled trust allows disabled individuals who are under age 65 to become financially eligible for public assistance, e.g. Medicaid, SSI, etc. This type of trust provides flexibility—allowing individuals to preserve their assets and monthly income necessary to pay for…
When Kelly learned she was to receive this year’s Theresa Award, she experienced a wave of emotions. She was happy and honored, of course, but this was coupled with a sense that she was not a worthy recipient. She is…
This year’s winner of the Spirit of Theresa Award has been there from the beginning. Actually, Judy Murdaugh-Jackson has been there from before the beginning. Judy and Susan Russo met in New York, even before Susan married Vincent Russo, and…
In Do I Need a MOLST Form?, we discussed who might need a MOLST form and in which situations. Below we’ll discuss how a MOLST form is executed. There are certain medical requirements that need to be met in order…
Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Theresa who had a pink wheelchair. She had big brown eyes, fabulous pigtails, and the greatest smile on earth. Every day she would go to school in a small yellow…
