How To Know If a Loved One Has Assets You Are Not Aware Of?
History Lesson: How Did Connecticut Become The Constitution State The U.S. Constitution has been in the news a lot lately with two recent U. S. Supreme Court cases discussing the…
Although Elder Law is an entity of its own, it can technically be considered as part of our estate planning services. We work with seniors and their adult children to analyze their long-term care needs and financial options.
We work with our clients to develop a plan of how to transfer, gift, or organize any assets to ensure that there is enough money to pay for long-term care needs and protect assets for the next generation, if possible.
Much of our work includes assisting individuals and couples to apply for Medicaid (Title 19) when someone needs expensive long-term care.
Medicaid in CT can pay for skilled nursing home care, which currently costs about $15,000/month in our area, and home care, which can cost up to $8000/month for full-time live-in care.
One common issue that arises in Medicaid planning is the look-back period, which means the transferor may be penalized from receiving Medicaid if he or she has made a gift during the five-year period before applying for Medicaid.
We assist clients to analyze the risks and penalties and counsel them on their options.
Even if the look-back is not an issue, there are often spend-down requirements, which we assist clients with in order to spend their funds as wisely as possible.
We also help clients retain assets for the spouse at home by use of Medicaid annuities and protect the family home for a child who has lived with the parents and cared for him or her for more than two years.
Our attorneys are also accredited with the PLAN of CT, which is the only entity authorized by the State of Connecticut to operate Pooled Trusts. These are often required if a client’s income exceeds the cap for Medicaid services.
Still not sure if an Elder Law Attorney Is right For You?
On May 25, 2021, the Connecticut chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (CT-NAELA) announced that new members have been elected to key leadership posts.
Many of our clients are veterans who served during active wartime (WWII: 12/7-1941-12/31/1946, Korea: 6/27/1950-1/31/1955, Vietnam 2/28/1961-5/7/1975).
The long-term health care needs of a veteran or a surviving spouse of a veteran may entitle that person to a stipend from the VA, known as Aid & Attendance. Attorney Wilson is accredited with the VA to apply for Aid & Attendance benefits.
History Lesson: How Did Connecticut Become The Constitution State The U.S. Constitution has been in the news a lot lately with two recent U. S. Supreme Court cases discussing the…
Is the CSPA Connecticut’s Chapter of the ASPCA? Not exactly. So what is the CSPA and why am I writing about it anyway? CSPA stands for the Community Spouse Protected…
If you need a lot of cash on hand upon retirement, Social Security offers a lump-sum retroactive payments option that’s worth six months of benefits. However, it comes at a…
When a married couple applies for Medicaid, the Medicaid agency must analyze the couple’s income and assets as of a particular date to determine eligibility. The date that the agency…
To leave a nursing home and return home is a goal for many residents and their families, but it requires careful consideration. While returning home is a good move for…
Given the current seller’s market and tax time right around the corner, I thought it would be helpful to bring back an article that I posted three years ago about…
The Biden administration has announced far-reaching nursing home reforms, targeting staffing and accountability at facilities with deficient care. Advocates are calling the proposals, which include the first-ever federal minimum staffing…
Working seniors without dependents may qualify for the earned income tax credit when they file their 2021 tax returns. The tax credit assists those with low incomes but was previously…
Recently I had the honor of serving as the co-chair of the Legislative Task Force to Study Ways to Protect Senior Citizens from Fraud. The Task Force was created pursuant…
Americans’ ability to quickly and easily test for Covid-19 is one of the most important tools for stopping the infection’s spread, unfortunately, Medicare is still behind the ball. This is…
Most couples have what I call “I Love You” Wills, which state that all of their assets pass to the surviving spouse. Moreover, many couples own all of their assets…
Medicare premiums are rising sharply next year, cutting into the large Social Security cost-of-living increase. The basic monthly premium will jump 15.5%, or $21.60, from $148.50 to $170.10 a month.…
When applying for Medicaid’s long-term care coverage, in addition to the strict income and asset limits, you must demonstrate that you need a level of care typically provided in a…
The year was 1983: The U.S. invaded Granada. A gallon of gas cost 96 cents. Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ video premiered. That year was also the last time that Social Security…
Many families mistakenly believe that receiving an inherited property is as simple as listening to a reading of the Will and then that property magically belongs to you and you…
Every year Medicare gives beneficiaries a window of opportunity to shop around and determine if their current Medicare plan is still the best one for them. During Medicare’s Open Enrollment…
FALSE FACT FRIDAY IS BACK! “If I Give My Assets Away, I Have to Live for At Least Five Years” Part of my estate planning practice includes asset protection planning.…
Reports of elder financial abuse continue to increase, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to scams or to financial abuse by family members in need of money. It is hard…
As COVID-19 cases start to rise again due to the highly contagious Delta variant, nursing homes are considering requiring staff members to be vaccinated. Only 59 percent of nursing home…
Attorney Joan Reed Wilson, the managing partner of RWC, LLC Attorneys and Counselors at Law, has been appointed to the Task Force To Study Ways To Protect Senior Citizens From…
Most adult children feel the need and responsibility to take care of their aging parents if they become unable to care for themselves. Family caregivers are often unpaid, which seems…
In December 2018, the Social Security Administration (SSA) had a nasty surprise for Laura Marshall (not her real name), a 74-year-old woman just scraping by in senior citizen housing in…
The federal government has expanded access to protections for spouses of reverse mortgage holders who are not named in the loan document, allowing more such spouses the ability to stay…
RELEASE: Connecticut’s elder law attorneys group elects new leadership The Connecticut chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (CT-NAELA) announced that new members have been elected to key…
President Biden has introduced a plan to spend $400 billion over eight years on home health care and community-based care for the elderly and people with disabilities. The money would…
Today’s video talks about the language of a statutory power of attorney document and the limitations it has when it comes “self dealing”. Essentially, your Power of attorney may not…
WILSON’S UNABRIDGED DICTIONARY: THE ALPHABET SOUP OF THE MEDICARE SAVINGS PROGRAM Estate Planning Attorneys are known for loving acronyms. We like to shorten the names of the tools we use…
What is Sundowning? For many people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, late afternoon and early evening hours may prove to be the most difficult, Therefore, the term…
What Is a Green Burial? Cemeteries, burial grounds, and preserves can be considered green if they meet certain criteria: Caring for the dead with a minimal environmental impact Contributing to…
When Can You Apply For Social Security Retirement Benefits? The full retirement age (or “normal” retirement age) is currently 66, however, you can start collecting your social security retirement benefits…
Myths and Misconceptions Vlog #3: I Can Gift $15,000 Per Year Without Penalty While many people are familiar with the gift tax exemption, it is often mixed up with the…
What Is a Conservatorship? Conservatorship in Connecticut means that the Court appoints a person or organization to manage the life of another adult. There are Voluntary and Involuntary conservatorships. We…
It’s understandable that some people think that if the assets are under a different name, they are no longer considered yours. While that is true in most cases, Medicaid has slightly different rules.
So don’t put “transfer assets to spouse” on your to-do list just yet. Watch the video below and let Attorney Joan Wilson explain why.
COVID-19 Vaccine – What To Expect? Supply of the COVID-19 vaccine in the United States is expected to be pretty limited in the beginning, so the CDC (Center for Disease…
On January 23, 2015, the Department of Veteran Affairs proposed a Veteran’s Benefits Eligibility Rule Change – RIN 2900-AO73, Net Worth, Asset Transfers, and Income Exclusions for Needs-Based Benefits, a…
MYTH 1: “Medicare Will Pay for Long-Term Care such as an Assisted Living Community or and Nursing Home.”
What Is Elder Law? Before we dive into the many reasons you need an Elder Law Attorney, let’s first touch base on what Elder Law is. Elder law refers to…
Can you gift $10,000 a year without a penalty? For tax purposes yes, with the Gift Tax Exclusion. With the holidays around the corner and the end of the…
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), older adults and people who have severe chronic medical conditions like lung, heart, or kidney disease seem to be at…
As part of our elder law and long-term care planning practice, we often recommend a reverse mortgage to our clients. And we are often met with resistance. One of the…
Attorney Joan Wilson Elected Vice President of National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys RWC, LLC, Attorneys and Counselors at Law is pleased to announce that Attorney Joan Wilson was elected…
FALSE FACTS FRIDAY Issue 11: “I’m Happy with My Medicare Plan, So I Don’t Have to Review It for Next Year.” The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (“AEP”) began in October…
What is a DNR? “DNR” stands for Do Not Resuscitate and means that if you stop breathing, you will not be resuscitated. Most, otherwise healthy people, would want to be…
The Fall of 2017 brought uncertainty to the Medicare Savings Programs (MSP) in Connecticut when they were unexpectedly slashed by the state budget. After several months of negotiations, a bipartisan…
FALSE FACT Vol. 1, Issue 1: If you don’t protect your money, the State will take it. This is probably the most common “inaccurate” statement that I hear in my…
Medicare Advantage Plans Update Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that beginning in 2019, Medicare Advantage plans will cover supplemental non-skilled home benefits that…
The Veteran’s Aid and Attendance (A&A) Pension provides Veterans benefits for qualified veterans and their surviving spouses who require the regular attendance of another person to assist in eating, bathing,…