Social Security

How Can a Crowdfunding Account Affect a Person on Medicaid and SSI?

How Can a Crowdfunding Account Affect a Person on Medicaid and SSI? by Marissa Kleiner

Over the past couple of years, when on social media, I have seen more and more crowdfunding and personal fundraising efforts. Crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe and Kickstarter cut out the middleman of fundraising, allowing the person or organization in need to appeal directly to the general public.

In many cases, crowdfunding takes place when a family member or friend has a medical emergency and needs help with paying the bills. Unfortunately, many do not take into account other contributing factors or benefits some people may already be receiving. For example, if a crowdfunding site is established for a person with special needs who is receiving disability or medical benefits, negative repercussions can be seen.

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The Trump Policy Analysis Group (TPAG) – Focusing on Older Americans and those with Special Needs

The Trump Policy Analysis Group (TPAG) [1]  has convened to consider probable changes in law that will affect older Americans and those with special needs. Initial TPAG focus is on entitlements, public benefits, tax, special needs planning, and veterans’ benefits. We…

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Organizational Apps That Help You Move & More!

Organizational Apps That Help You Move & More!Our practice produces many important documents for elderly clients. Clients may forget where these documents are located within their home, lose track of the documents’ location over the course of a move, or may pass on without sharing the actual documents (or their location) with their children, executor, or guardian.

There are a few smartphone apps that can assist individuals and families to keep track of important documents such as wills or advanced directives (healthcare proxy, etc.). This tool works in conjunction with the app’s ability to catalog the contents of entire homes. This umbrella function helps with ongoing organizational efforts as well as moving assistance.  

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Caring for a Child with Special Needs? You May Be Eligible for Early Social Security Benefits

Caring for a Child with Special Needs? You May Be Eligible for Early Social Security BenefitsCaring for a child with special needs requires many resources, one of which may be Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

When a parent of a child with special needs retires and begins receiving Social Security retirement benefits, the child may qualify for SSDI. A lesser known provision in the Social Security regulation allows the spouse of the retiree to also receive Social Security benefits regardless of whether they are of retirement age or not—so long as they are caring for the child with special needs at home.

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Rest Assured, Your Social Security Benefit Information Is Still Readily Available

Rest Assured, Your Social Security Benefit Information Is Still Readily AvailableNo matter how much we try to focus on taking things day by day, the uncertainty of the future always seems to linger in the back of our minds. We worry about things like:

  • If I get hurt and can no longer work, how much will I receive in Social Security Disability?
  • Once I decide to retire, will my Social Security retirement cover my daily living expenses?
  • If I am no longer here to support my family, will my family be able to live off my Social Security?
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Our Knowledge Is Your Knowledge

Our Knowledge Is Your KnowledgeWhen speaking with clients about the complicated Medicaid rules, availability, and exceptions, they often reply something like, “Wow, there’s so much to know.”

Clients come to us because we know the rules, and more importantly, we know the exceptions.

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Are You Ready for Tax Season? Tips for 2016

Are You Ready for Tax Season? Tips for 2016We’re heading into the 2016 tax season. By the beginning or middle of February, you should have received all your tax statements, which might include:

  • A W-2 from an employer;
  • A 1099 statement from a bank or brokerage account;
  • An SSA-1099 from the Social Security Administration;
  • A 1099-R from a retirement investment; and
  • A schedule K-1 from either a partnership or an estate/trust.

If you haven’t received all your tax forms by mid-February, you should contact the relevant institutions as soon as possible to make sure they have the right address for you and that they did send the forms. It’s important to make sure you “have all your ducks in a row.”

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You Don’t Need to Travel to Our Office to Get Help

You Don’t Need to Travel to Our Office to Get HelpUnless you have a crystal ball, it’s impossible to predict what the future holds. Should you become unable to make your own decisions, it is imperative to appoint someone to take care of your affairs and make healthcare decisions on your behalf.  Additionally, in order to ensure that your assets are passed on to your loved ones without problems, high legal fees and time delays, it is important to start your planning today.

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