It can be heart wrenching to decide if a family member or friend you love can no longer safely live in their own home. It can be scary for that loved one to think about his or her care needs and possible new living environments. If you have concerns about a loved one , consider the following questions when determining care needs. If you need help, consult with an experienced and qualified estate and elder care attorney. Does your loved one have medical needs that require special … [Read more...]
How Does a Veteran Qualify for Aid and Attendance?
If you are a veteran, or a surviving spouse of one, you are entitled to a number of important benefits from the United States government. One benefits program that you may not know about is the Veterans Aid and Attendance program (VA&A). The VA&A program is intended to provide additional monetary assistance, above and beyond that provided by other VA programs such as the VA pension program. The additional assistance is intended to help cover the cost of someone to help you with daily … [Read more...]
Ways to Pay for Long Term Care
Paying for long term care is a scary thing for most families. In California, the annual costs of a semi-private room (one roommate) is over $100,000 and a private room is even more. Double these numbers if spouses or partners need care at the same time and there are additional expenses as well. How to Pay for Long Term Care Private Pay Long Term Care Insurance Veterans Benefits Medicare Medi-Cal Private Pay Some folks can self insure because they can afford to private … [Read more...]
There are Many Ways to Qualify for Medi-Cal to Pay for Long Term Care
Qualified and experienced elder law attorneys help those, who need long term care, qualify to have the care paid by Medi-Cal benefits. For both Medi-Cal, you need to financially (and medically) qualify. Here are 12 ways in which elder law attorneys help people qualify for financial assistance, if they are not immediately eligible. Consult with a qualified and experienced elder law attorney whose practice includes Medi-Cal long term care benefits to determine which strategies are best for … [Read more...]
Are You Medically Qualified for Veterans Aid and Attendance?
The Department of Veterans Affairs provides a monthly pension to pay for long term care for those who qualify. One form of this pension is commonly called Aid and Attendance. There are three qualifying steps to receiving the Veterans Aid and Attendance pension; you must have served during wartime (or be the surviving spouse of a veteran who served during wartime), you must be financially needy, and you must be medically needy. In this article, we’ll focus on what “medically needy” … [Read more...]
13 Disturbing Estate Planning Problems
Each of these 13 disturbing estate planning facts is true; but, each situation can be avoided with a strong, individualized, comprehensive, and up-to-date estate plan. If you don’t name a guardian in your will, your minor children could end up with persons you either don't like or don't know. If you don’t provide for your pet in your estate plan, your pet may be euthanized when you die. If you put assets in joint tenancy with a second spouse, your children may be disinherited. If … [Read more...]
Who is Eligible for Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits?
An important benefit available through the Department of Veterans Affairs is commonly called the Aid and Attendance pension. There are three prongs of Aid and Attendance eligibility. They are 1.) Wartime Service; 2.) Medical Need Requirements; and 3.) Financial Need Requirements. We’ll talk about each prong of eligibility below. 1.) Wartime Service You, or your spouse, must have served at least 90 days of active military duty. At least one of those days must have been during … [Read more...]
VA Pension Benefits: Do You Qualify?
Veterans and their surviving spouses who meet certain income and asset requirements and who are permanently and totally disabled or 65 years or older may receive a special pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs. To receipt this benefit, the veteran must have been discharged under other than dishonorable conditions and served 90 days or more of active duty, one day of which was during World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War or Gulf War. The dates the VA uses to calculate these wartime … [Read more...]
How Do You Qualify for Veterans Pension?
The entire nation owes a debt of gratitude to every man and woman who has served in the United States Armed Forces. These men and women, as well as their families, have sacrificed so much so that the rest of us can be safe and secure. If you are a veteran, you are likely entitled to a number of benefits for you service to the country. One of those may be Veterans Pension. The following offers a brief overview of the Veterans Pension program along with eligibility guidelines and application … [Read more...]
Veterans Struggle to Get Benefits Approved
In the United States, veterans are supposed to receive a wide range of benefits that are intended to show, in some small way, how much their service and sacrifice means to the country. One of the lessor known of those benefits is Veterans Aid and Attendance (VA&A) benefits. VA&A benefits are an additional monthly benefit for qualified veterans who are entitled to pension benefits. The extra income each month can make a significant difference to veterans who need assistance at home with … [Read more...]
