What is a life estate? A life estate is a type of ownership interest in real estate. Most commonly, the life estate is conferred by deed but may also be conferred in a will or trust. The typical scenario pertains to a parent who wants to “give the house to the
What is happening? There has been a concerning trend with MassHealth’s treatment of irrevocable trusts. What was once a reliable asset protection strategy has now become a minefield of adverse and unlawful MassHealth decisions that result in benefit ineligibility. In a nutshell, MassHealth caseworkers and hearing officers are denying applicants
Avoiding SSI Reductions When An Adult With Disabilities Lives With Family By Neal A. Winston, CELA When individuals with disabilities live with family members, it can complicate their eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Since SSI’s monthly cash payments are meant to pay for food and shelter, contributions from others for
By Neal A. Winston, CELA Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a monthly cash payment to qualifying individuals with disabilities, based on financial need. While it often forms the foundation of their financial security, its requirements are both strict and complex. Even attorneys who don’t routinely deal with public benefits may
Join Us For a Legal Document Review. Schedule a complimentary one-on-one review with a legal professional to discuss your legal documents to put your mind at ease. Examples of documents include: Power of Attorney Last Will & Testament Medicaid Protection Aid and Attendance (Veteran’s Benefits) Healthcare Proxy Medical Directive SSI/SSDI
Care Dimensions is looking for volunteers to help support their hospice patients and families. Come be a part of something truly extraordinary and help them in their mission to make each day a gift for their patients and their families. Whatever your skills, talents, or motivation, they have a volunteer
For those who are receiving Medicaid (MassHealth), the chart below outlines the key numbers to know for 2017. If you have any questions about what these numbers mean or would like more information on qualifying for MassHealth, please feel free to contact us. Community Spouse Resource Allowance: 2015 2016 2017
Former SNA president Neal Winston has written for The Arc’s blog on handling personal injury settlements. Read his article here: http://blog.thearc.org/2016/11/17/managing-legal-settlements/
In order to explain how a traditional surviving spouse IRA operates, you must first understand how it would work for you during your lifetime. Funds that you have contributed to your traditional IRA investment account are untaxed earnings, and will be allowed to grow with investment income, which will then
This is the first installment in a series that will be printed in this newsletter every third edition to describe the options and details for establishing an estate plan by the owner of these accounts. IRAs and employer sponsored retirement accounts (i.e., 401K, 403b, etc.) often hold a substantial portion
