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Provided by Elderlawanswers Retirement has changed radically over the last several decades in America. Years ago, you expected to work most of your life for a single, large employer and you then count on a pension. “Retirement planning” meant figuring out how to use your free time. Today, in all likelihood you will be living in retirement on money you, yourself, saved. “Planning” means calculating rates of return and deciphering tax rules. This change from institution-funded to self-funded retirement constitutes a dramatic shift of responsibility.

Here is another good article about types of trusts for family members with special needs.  If you need help in the Orlando, Florida area, give us a call! Establishing a Trust for Your Loved One with Special Needs by Bernard Krooks Most people naturally look to family members when choosing a trustee. However, the individual responsible for a special needs trust has the additional responsibility of planning distributions so that the beneficiary does not lose eligibility for public benefits.

I think of myself as a very optimistic person, so I wasn’t too surprised with the 2012 survey conducted by The National Council on Aging, United Health Care and USA Today, stated overall baby boomers are optimistic about their health and the future. However, when I started delving into the article a little deeper, I started getting that queasy feeling that every dose of optimism needs an equal dose of realism.

Posted bykarplaw Florida’s Medicaid rules are complicated, and always changing. Just a few weeks ago Medicaid increased its so-called monthly penalty divisor. Now, it’s been increased again.. Effective Sept. 1, 2012 Florida Medicaid’s penalty divisor increases from $6,880 to $7,362. What is the penalty divisor? When a person applies for Medicaid benefits for long-term care, Medicaid “looks back” at uncompensated transfers.

We’ve all heard that it’s better to give than to receive, but if you think you might someday want to apply for Medicaid long-term care benefits, you need to be careful because giving away money or property can interfere with your eligibility.  Under federal Medicaid law, if you transfer certain assets within five years before applying for Medicaid, you will be ineligible for a period time (called a transfer penalty), depending on how much money you transferred. Even small transfers can affect eligibility.

Come out to the Winter Park Community Center on September 13th at 6:00 pm to hear Heather C. Kirson, Esq. and Patti Fuller, Esq., B.C.S. speak on topics such as Medicaid Planning, VA benefits and Estate Planning. If you or someone you know is having to face the issue of how to pay for long-term care, this could be the perfect opportunity to learn how you can get help to pay for it! This is a free event and is open to the public. Please call (407) 422-3017 for more information.

Provided by Elderlawanswers: Disagreements with a nursing home can arise regarding any number of topics, including the quality of food, troublesome roommates, lack of privacy, or services not meeting what was promised. Many disputes can be resolved by speaking with a nursing home staff member, supervisor, or moving up the chain of command. But if you can’t resolve things within the nursing home, your next step should be to contact the local ombudsman assigned to the nursing home.

Provided by Elderlawanswers:

You had a loving relationship with your mother and she always said she would leave everything to you and your siblings, but after she died, you discover she had recently written a new will, leaving everything to her housekeeper. Is there anything you can do? If you believe a loved one’s will is not valid, you may be able to contest it.

Last Updated: 8/24/2012 4:08:57 PM by ElderLawAnswers

How Republican Mitt Romney’s vice presidential pick would change Medicare has been getting a lot of attention, but Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) proposed cuts to the Medicaid program, which Mr. Romney has embraced in concept, are bigger and arguably more drastic.Although most Medicaid recipients are poor children and their families, the program also covers the cost of nursing home and other long-term care for more than 4.4 million Americans, most of them elderly.

Provided by Elderlawanswers. Last Updated: 8/17/2012 2:41:12 PM

Last year, we reported that House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) proposed a budget that would radically reshape Medicare and shift more costs to seniors and the disabled. At the time, we noted that “the plan may well become the Republican Party’s de facto platform in 2012.” Little did anyone know that the plan’s architect would become Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s choice as his running mate, putting the Ryan plan for Medicare center-stage less than three months before the election.