Eric KearneyMay 1, 20181 minNew SSA POMS on Special Needs Trusts IssuedNew guidance from Social Security Administration regarding Special Needs Trusts (SNTs) has issued. Take a look at the provisions.
Eric KearneyMay 1, 20182 minWhat Assets Are Not Counted When Applying for SSI?Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program that helps people with disabilities and very low incomes pay for food, clothing...
erickearneyApr 3, 20181 minInteresting Articles about Wills and Estate PlanningSee this article in the New York Times about the importance of having a will, power of attorney and healthcare directive. Also, for...
erickearneyApr 3, 20181 minSocial Security Administration Updates SSI Resource List to Include SNTs and ABLE AccountsThe Social Security Administration’s Understanding Supplemental Security Income (SSI) website is a recently updated reference for...
Eric KearneyMar 8, 20182 minNew Guidance on ABLE AccountsNew POMS regarding ABLE accounts have come out and can be found here: https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0501130740 Below is an excerpt...
erickearneyJan 3, 20181 minNew Elder Law NumbersThe new year brings some important changes to the Oregon Medicaid eligibility figures. Effective January 1, 2018: The Supplemental...
Eric KearneyJan 3, 20182 minNew Tax Law Makes Changes to ABLE AccountsFamilies taking advantage of ABLE savings accounts will have a little more flexibility in planning for special needs as a result of the...
Eric KearneyNov 4, 20172 minABLE account aggregate annual contribution raised to $15,000 nationallyThe IRS has confirmed an increase to Section 2503, the federal gift tax exclusion. Section 529A(a)(2) of the Stephen Beck Jr. Achieving a Be
erickearneyOct 9, 20172 minImpact of ABLE Funds on Needs-Based Public Assistance - HUDThe ABLE Act explicitly addresses how funds in an ABLE account impact SSI and Medicaid eligibility, but what about HUD? Even though...
erickearneyOct 8, 20172 minKey Decisions in Setting Up a Special Needs Trust - Who will be the Trustee?Simply defined, a trust is an agreement between two people -- a grantor who donates funds to the trust and a trustee who manages those...
erickearneyOct 8, 20172 minWhat Expenses Can ABLE Accounts Pay For?In passing the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act in 2014, Congress created a new way for potentially millions of people with...
erickearneyOct 8, 20171 minGuardianship and Elder AbuseGuardianship and conservatorship proceedings are supposed to protect vulnerable seniors and people with cognitive disability....
Eric KearneySep 13, 20171 minCMS Guidance on ABLE AccountsAt long last the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) had provided guidance to states on how to treat “ABLE” accounts in...
erickearneyAug 3, 20174 minFive Practical Uses for an ABLE AccountABLE accounts, the new tax-free savings accounts for people with disabilities, can be used in many ways to make a big difference to families
Eric KearneyAug 3, 20172 minIs There a Difference Between "Supplemental" and "Special" Needs Trusts?You may have heard the terms "special" needs trust and "supplemental" needs trust and wondered what the difference is. T
Eric KearneyJul 24, 20171 minInteresting Series on Medicaid and Long Term Care - NYTThe NYT article talks about ethics in the context of Medicaid planning. Those who plan ahead often fare much better than those who don't
Eric KearneyJun 29, 20171 minCaregiving Article in Washington PostTake a look at this interesting article in today's Washington Post about caregiving for family members: http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/...
Eric KearneyJun 15, 20171 minMedicaid in the NewsI read this opinion piece in the New York Times about the proposed reductions in funding to the Medicaid program and how it will likely...
Eric KearneyMay 24, 20172 minEstablishing an ABLE AccountIf you or a family member are disabled (per social security standards) and the onset of the disability was prior to the age of 26 you may...
erickearneyApr 18, 20171 minProposed cuts would affect seniors, disabled & low income350,000 Oregonians Could Lose Health Coverage is the title of the article. Take a look here. The proposed line-item reductions can be...