Honoring Our Veterans: A Testament of Bravery
On a daily basis, there are numerous things we take for granted. We take for granted that we have food on our table, clothes on our backs, that the US is not a war zone and that our loved ones…
Who is eligible for the Aid and Attendance pension?
The Aid and Attendance and Housebound pensions are non-service-connected pensions, not to be confused with VA service-connected disability compensation payments. The difference between the two is that non-service connected pensions are for veterans whose disability was not caused by or…
New York ABLE legislation awaits Governor’s approval
The New York State Assembly and Senate recently passed Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) legislation that will allow families the opportunity to set up tax-free 529A savings accounts for disability-related expenses. The legislation is currently awaiting Governor Andrew Cuomo’s…
Grassley’s Transition to Independence Act and its Benefits
Last week, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) introduced legislation that would offer incentives to states for helping people with disabilities live and work in the community. The bill, S.1604, is known as the Transition to Independence Act. It has the support…
When should I apply for Medicare?
Medicare is a national health insurance program for people age 65 or older, and people younger than age 65 who have certain disabilities or permanent kidney failure. The program is designed to help with the cost of health care. However,…
The Importance of Advance Planning for Special Needs Children
As parents, we are the natural legal guardians of our minor children. We do not need anyone else to give us the power to talk to our child’s doctor or open a bank account on their behalf. However, in New…
When Should I Update My Estate Plan?
Many clients ask the question, “When should I update my estate plan?” The answer is usually whenever something big happens in your life. All too often, clients execute a Durable Power of Attorney, a Health Care Proxy, a Living Will,…
Should I Put My Timeshare in a Trust?
A timeshare is a property owned with others with certain rights to use the property. For example, this may be the right to use a vacation condominium one week out of the year, every year. Most timeshares are real property…
Protected: Planning for Your Child with Special Needs
There is no question that you would do anything to protect your child. You think about his future day and night. You want to make sure that you have a proper plan in place to provide for him when you…
Federal court lowers $240M EEOC Disability Verdict to $1.6M
On May 1st, an Iowa federal jury awarded $240 million to a class of 32 individuals with intellectual disabilities in a discrimination case against Hill Country Farms. Now, the court is limiting what would have been a landmark verdict to…