The Social Security Administration pays disability benefits through the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program and the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. Applying for disability benefits through the SSDI or SSI programs can be daunting. Here is a brief overview of how the application process works and what you can expect after you’ve applied. What Is Supplemental Security Income?
For individuals with disabilities, an inheritance or settlement can jeopardize their government benefits, such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). A special needs trust (SNT) can help the individual remain eligible for these benefits while ensuring they have additional financial support. What Is a Special Needs Trust? A special needs trust (SNT) is
According to the 2023 Wills and Estate Planning Survey by Caring.com, only 34 percent of Americans have an estate plan. The primary reasons respondents gave for not participating in estate planning are: Procrastination Believing they need more assets Not knowing how to make an estate plan An estate plan is a comprehensive set of legal documents and
Medicaid long-term care benefits are statutorily authorized only for nursing home care. But the law permits the federal government to grant “waivers” to states allowing them to expand Medicaid to include home and community-based services. Pennsylvania has such a program. The downside is that receiving care in a nursing home is an entitlement, while getting
Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) are an important tool for small business owners, but they can also be useful in estate planning. An LLC can help you pass assets to your children while avoiding gift and estate taxes. An LLC is somewhere between a partnership and a corporation. Like a corporation, LLC owners are protected from
What Is A Fiduciary? When you need someone else to care for money or property on your behalf, that person (or organization) is called a fiduciary. A fiduciary is a person or entity entrusted with the power to act for someone else, and this power comes with the legal obligation to act for the benefit of
While a Last Will & Testament is one of the most important estate planning documents you can have, there are things that it won’t cover. A Will is just one part of a comprehensive estate plan. What is a Last Will & Testament? A Last Will and Testament is a legally-binding statement directing who will receive
It is easy to burn out when you are responsible for providing full-time care to an aging or disabled loved one. In some cases, caregiver burnout can result in resentment toward the individual they care for, despite their love for them. The fact is, we all need a break sometimes. That is why respite care
Many adult children wonder what their aging parents may need and how they can help provide it for them. You may constantly worry about your parents or other older loved ones, especially if you live far away from them. You can, however, take some simple steps to ensure your parents are safe as they age.
With the fate of the estate tax exemption uncertain, you may want to use the current large exemption to transfer assets to a trust to benefit your spouse. A spousal lifetime access trust (SLAT) can help transfer assets outside of your estate. The current federal estate tax exemption is $12.92 million for individuals and $25.84
