A couple of months ago, a veteran who is receiving care in an assisted living facility and receives Aid and Attendance called to ask whether the receipt of a personal injury settlement would affect his benefits. He was involved in a car accident about two years ago, and the case was finally coming to a close and he was going to receive a settlement
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Did you know that nursing home care is not the only program that the VA offers to its Veterans?  Other services that the VA will help pay for include geriatric evaluations, respite care, adult day care, home-based care and hospice care.  If the Veteran has a 50% or more service connected disability rating, the care is free. It may also be free if the
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I had the privilege of visiting MacDill Air Force Base last month and had the opportunity to tour the base.  At the end of the tour, we were treated to drinks at a restaurant on base.  The restaurant is near an RV park which is on MacDill property and which the AFB allows retired military to stay.  The retirees are there from November through
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Medicaid provides Medical coverage to low income individuals and families. The state and federal government share the costs of the Medicaid program. Medicaid services in Florida are administered by the Agency for Health Care Administration. Medicaid eligibility in Florida is determined either by the Department of Children and Families (DCF) or the Social Security Administration (for SSI recipients). DCF determines Medicaid eligibility for: Low income
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I frequently have clients that come to me because they have been told that they need to put their house into a revocable living trust in order to avoid probate.  Many times, this is the only major asset they own, and with the property values having plummeted in recent years, it may not be worth it to incur the expense of setting up a
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I was reading a Forbes magazine article the other day entitled “Make a New Year’s Resolution to Give Your Estate Plan a Checkup” by Deborah L. Jacobs, and I was reminded about how much people dislike going to visit their estate planning attorney (I think we’re right up there with dentists, probably higher).  One may wonder what is the point of planning ahead, and
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Tampa Attorney, Laurie Ohall, was named one of three instructional speakers at the upcoming National Business Institute Seminar “What Every Attorney Needs to Know About Medicaid, Medicare and Long-Term Care” on January 25, 2012. About the Course: Understand How the Public Benefits System Affects Your Practice Barbara and Bill have been married for 40 years. Bill is a Korean War veteran. He starts developing
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(ARA) – If you don’t make $1 million a year, only own one modest home and are still driving the same car you bought six years ago, you might think you don’t need to engage in “estate planning.” Or you may think your family accountant or attorney will be the only professional you need to help you with this important task. Not so on
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A new American Dream that is less conventional and more personalized is emerging, according to the fifth annual MetLife Study of the American Dream. Specifically stated within the nationwide survey is a look at attitudes toward financial safety nets. A financial safety net includes savings to cover living expenses in the event of illness, job loss, or other serious emergency, as well as financial
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Some good news for Seniors Social Security announced a 3.6 percent increase in benefits for 2012.  This is the first cost-of-living increase since 2009. What does that mean to you?  If you are receiving social security, your increase will start with checks issued in January, 2012.  The average recipient receives $1,175 per month according to the Social Security Administration, and the benefit could increase
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