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A stay in a nursing home can potentially wipe out the life savings of all but the wealthiest families. Medicaid does cover nursing home stays, but since Medicaid is a needs based program, individuals must be below relatively strict financial limits to qualify for...

When planning Medicaid eligibility for someone who may need a nursing home stay, the focus is typically on making the spouse who needs care eligible for Medicaid nursing home coverage through shifting assets to the spouse who does not need nursing home care. In this...

In response to the coronavirus, Martha C. Brown & Associates is now conducting business remotely. For the time being, our physical office is closed, but the firm is still open for business, over the phone, during our normal business hours of 9:00 a.m. through 5:00...

Social Security now allows for the advance designation of representative payees for beneficiaries. The advance designation is available for current beneficiaries of Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Special Veterans benefits. An advance...

Due to the passage of the CARES Act to help mitigate the economic effects of the COVID-19 virus, SSI recipients are eligible to receive payments of $1,200 per adult and $500 per dependent child. If an SSI recipient has no dependent children, no additional action is...

Paying for care in a nursing home can be a major expense that can drain the savings of almost any family. Due to this potential expense, it is advised that individuals plan for the possibility of a nursing home stay with a local, experienced elder law attorney to...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, has issued new guidelines to protect nursing home residents from the threat of the coronavirus. The new guidelines encourage nursing homes to restrict all visitors except for compassionate care situations, such...

For veterans, one alternative to Medicaid nursing home benefits are VA Aid and Attendance benefits. This benefit may be especially attractive to a veteran, or their surviving spouse, who requires in-home care or assistance, but does not necessarily require a full...

One potential consideration when applying for Medicaid nursing home coverage is whether or not to continue paying for additional health insurance through Medicare. Qualifying for Medicaid nursing home coverage would also make individuals eligible for health insurance...

Retirement accounts, such as IRAs, are a major asset that can affect a person’s eligibility to qualify for Medicaid nursing home coverage. These assets count toward the asset limit to qualify an individual for Medicaid nursing home coverage. Unfortunately, taking...