PRE-PLANNING FOR LONG TERM CARE
How can one pre-plan for long term care? There is an old Chinese saying that the best time to plant a tree for shade is 20 years ago. The second best time is now. There are two kinds of planning…
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ANNUITY BASICS
My attorney suggested I consider an annuity. Can you explain some basics about annuities? I read an interesting article in a professional publication that I think did a good job explaining the basics so I’m going to draw from the…
LAST LETTER TO LOVED ONES
My lawyer suggested I write a last letter to loved ones to go with my will. What kinds of things might I include? We often follow the lives of the rich, famous and infamous on television and social media, but…
HOW DOES A PERSONAL PROPERTY MEMORANDUM WORK?
A Personal Property Memorandum is a separate writing in either your own hand or one typed and signed by the testator and two disinterested witnesses that addresses distribution of various items of tangible personal property and names the recipient of…
MY MOTHER WAS THE WIDOW OF A VETERAN FOR MANY YEARS AND RAISED US CHILDREN ALONE.
Several years ago she remarried. Is she entitled to any pension assistance now that she needs assisted living? The pension eligibility criteria for surviving spouses include the following: (1) Can be any age, whereas a veteran applying must be 65…
IF A VETERAN IS WELL CAN THE SPOUSE GET AID AND ATTENDANCE BENEFITS TO HELP WITH HOME OR ASSISTED LIVING CARE?
The short answer is no. While the Veteran is living the claim is technically his and based on his health. However there is a very narrow sort of exception that can help a lot of families.If the Veteran is over…
WHAT LONG TERM CARE PLANNING TIPS CAN YOU PASS ALONG?
I got a lot of phone calls about long term care planning after an article on Medicaid planning I ran a month or so ago. There were common areas of concern from spouses, parents and children caring for loved ones…
FIVE PLANNING POINTERS FOR PARENTS WITH DISABLED CHILDREN
1. Buy enough life insurance. A parent is irreplaceable. However, someone will have to fill in. It may be siblings or other relatives. In all likelihood, that family will have to pay for at least some services the parent or parents…
SC HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION PROGRAM
The Homestead Exemption provides tax relief to South Carolinians who are age sixty-five or older, blind, or disabled. In order to qualify you must: 1. You must be a co-tenant, have a joint with rights of survivorship interest, or a…
SSA/SSI DISABILITY UPDATE
BACKLOGS As many of our clients know, there are tremendous backlogs on Social Security and SSI claims such that a disability appeal at the administrative law judge level can take up to 2.5 years before it is heard. The current…