Do you remember when you first got a driver’s license? For me it was over 50 years ago, but I remember it vividly. It was both scary and exhilarating: the adulthood it implied, the freedom it offered, the awesome responsibility. Wow, that was a memorable moment of my life. Now that I am at the […]
Community Spouse Resource and Income Allowances for 2019 Announced
The cost of care in a nursing home can quickly devastate the finances of a married couple. When I first began to practice elder law, the situation was dire. A married couple could spend all of their savings paying for the care of the person who was institutionalized. The spouse at home would then have […]
New Medicare Advantage Plan Benefits Have Limited Availability
[The following article was published by Kaiser Health News and is republished here with its permission. Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit news service covering health issues. It is an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.] Trumpeted New Medicare Advantage Benefits Will Be Hard For Seniors To […]
Social Security Payments to Increase 2.8%
The Social Security Administration has announced that payments to retired and disabled beneficiaries will increase by 2.8%in 2019. This inflation adjustment is intended to offset the higher costs-of-living encountered by beneficiaries. The increase is effective in January 2019 for retirement benefits. Social Security is the major source of income for most of the elderly. The […]
New PA Laws of Interest to Older Adults
The ending of the 2017-2018 Pennsylvania Legislative session has resulted in the enactment of a flurry of new laws. Some may be of particular interest to seniors and their elder law attorneys. The new laws enacted in October include (click on the bill number to be taken to the underlying legislation): HB 270 – Act […]
Changes to VA Pension Benefit Rules Adopted: Three-year Lookback Added
In a final rule issued on September 18, 2018, the Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) amended its regulations governing VA pension benefits effective October 18, 2018. This rule has been over three years in the making as the VA first proposed these changes in January 2015. There is now a three-year lookback period with penalties […]
Who to Choose as your Financial Pinch-Hitter – a Family Member or a Trust Company
One of the most crucial estate planning questions is this: Who should you designate to step-in and manage your financial affairs if the day comes when you no longer want to, or are no longer able to, continue to do it yourself? In my experience, most people don’t give much thought to this question, even […]
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