Sadly, there are a dwindling number of World War II veterans with us today who are able to share their perspectives on what it was like to be in war. We can’t ever forget the thousands of brave soldiers who fought for our country and those who gave their lives for our freedom.
When 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.
In January 2015, the Veteran’s Administration (VA) proposed a number of significant changes to the pension allowance eligibility rules that are likely to take effect as early as this summer. Although these changes in eligibility rules will likely clarify some of the issues that currently lead to inconsistent decisions, they will also create new barriers for many veterans and increase complexity in filing claims.
For a veteran (or the surviving spouse of a veteran), the VA pension program, commonly known as Aid and Attendance, can provide financial assistance to help pay for care at home or in an assisted living facility. This can be a tremendous help to pay for needed care, which can be very costly.
Unless 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.
When you own a piece of real property in New York State, your circumstance dictates whether or not you are entitled to certain tax exemptions.
What does this mean? Your personal residence may qualify for a number of exemptions based on factors such as whether you are a senior citizen, have financial difficulty, or are a veteran. In addition, if you and your spouse earn under $500,000 per year, then you could file for the STAR exemption for your personal residence.
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…
The brave men and women in our military not only deserve our gratitude for their service, but also all the care we can provide. This means providing them with the appropriate benefits should they become disabled during service. When many…
A big congratulations to Vincent J. Russo who has yet again, been named the Best Lawyers' Elder Law “Lawyer of the Year” for the Tri-State Area (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut). Vincent has been honored in the Best Lawyers…
Thousands of sick Veterans are being left without treatment while the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs tries to get its act together. Is this how we treat our heroes and heroines? According to an audit of 731 Veterans…
One question that is asked by many caretakers with elderly parents or other family members living alone is “How do we pay for care?” If your parent or family member feels strongly about staying in their homes and aging in…