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The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently announced that the cost-of-living and other adjustments for 2018. The maximum Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment will increase from $735 to $750 per month for eligible individuals. For eligible couples, the...

In order to qualify for Medicaid nursing home coverage, an individual’s assets have to be below a certain level. If used early enough in the planning process, transfers, or gifts, out of an individual’s countable assets are one tool that can help qualify individuals...

When considering life insurance, families often consider just buying life insurance to insure the life of income-earning individuals. In some special needs families, where one spouse primarily earns an income and the other spouse serves as primary caretaker, the death...

Becoming single, either after divorce or a spouse’s passing, can have significant impacts on an individual’s estate plan. Nearly all of an individual’s assets and documents should be revisited to check for potential issues. While some items may only need a minor...

Previous blog posts have discussed the importance of making sure inheritances and gifts to provide for individuals with special needs go to designated Special Needs Trusts or, in certain circumstances, ABLE accounts. Making sure that payments go to the trust or ABLE...

Medicaid nursing home coverage can be a valuable resource in helping individuals afford nursing home care. However, the process of planning, applying, and qualifying for Medicaid nursing home coverage is fraught with many pitfalls. Ultimately, the sooner individuals...

An asset preservation trust is a type of trust that allows individuals to set aside assets to protect them from being counted toward Medicaid nursing home eligibility. However, to be a fully effective shield against being counted for Medicaid eligibility, assets must...

A living trust (also known as a revocable trust) can be an important estate planning tool, however, living trusts are complex and not necessarily for everyone. First a word of warning: in order for a living trust to function properly and efficiently, a living trust...

A special needs trust is a type of trust established for the benefit of a disabled individual in order to provide them with a means of support while still qualifying for government benefits such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Government benefits...

In order to be eligible for MO HealthNet nursing home coverage an individual has to remain under certain asset limits. MO HealthNet is the Missouri equivalent of Medicaid. As of July 2017, the individual asset cap is set to change. There are also changes to allow the...