Unlocking Veterans Pension Benefits for Long-Term Care Funding
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Unlocking Veterans Pension Benefits for Long-Term Care Funding

Public Benefits

Unlocking Veterans Pension Benefits for Long-Term Care Funding

Are you aware of Veterans Pension Benefits? In a nation that values the sacrifice and service of its veterans, it is crucial to explore avenues that provide support and care for those who have dedicated their lives to defending our freedoms. One such avenue is the often-overlooked Veterans Special Monthly Pension Benefit, a financial resource that can be instrumental in funding long-term care for our honored veterans. In this blog, we will delve into the details of these benefits, their eligibility criteria, and how they can be harnessed to ensure our veterans receive the care and support they deserve in [...]

Kaitlin Dirkx2024-03-26T16:00:30-04:00March 28, 2024|

Disabilities and Social Security Benefits
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Disabilities and Social Security Benefits

Public Benefits

Disabilities and Social Security Benefits

When it comes to disabilities and social security benefits, the rules and regulations governing these entitlements can be challenging to navigate. It is necessary to understand how disability status impacts eligibility for Social Security benefits for those who may need financial support due to a disability. The Relationship Between Disabilities and Social Security Benefits Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) are the two main programs that provide financial assistance to people with disabilities. While SSDI is based on a person's work history and contributions to the Social Security system, SSI is a needs-based program designed to [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T10:45:20-05:00January 11, 2024|

What Do VA Benefits Cover?
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What Do VA Benefits Cover?

Public Benefits

What Do VA Benefits Cover?

What do VA benefits cover? Understanding the extent of these benefits is essential for veterans and their families, as it allows them to make the most of available support. From healthcare, education, disability compensation, housing, and more we cover it in this blog. Healthcare Benefits Healthcare is typically the first area that comes to mind when examining what VA benefits cover. The VA offers comprehensive medical care, including preventive, outpatient, inpatient, and mental health services. Specialized care for women veterans, substance abuse treatment, and rehabilitation for those with disabilities are also available. Educational Support Education is another significant aspect of [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T10:54:02-05:00October 19, 2023|

Medicaid Coverage for Assisted Living: PA Legislation Proposal
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Medicaid Coverage for Assisted Living: PA Legislation Proposal

Health Law, Law Update, Assisted Living, Public Benefits

Medicaid Coverage for Assisted Living: PA Legislation Proposal

In December 2022, Pennsylvania state Senators Michelle Brooks and Judy Ward proposed legislation that would expand Medicaid coverage for assisted living facilities. The proposal is designed to provide support for older adults who require assistance with daily living but do not require the high level of care provided by nursing homes. Under the proposed legislation, eligible seniors would be able to access Medicaid coverage for assisted living services, including room and board, personal care, and medication management. This would be a game-changer for many seniors who are currently struggling to pay for these services out-of-pocket or relying on family members [...]

Bryan Adler2024-03-08T11:19:44-05:00April 28, 2023|

Does it Have to Be this Complicated?
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Does it Have to Be this Complicated?

Public Benefits

Does it Have to Be this Complicated?

Once, during a client meeting, I was attempting to explain to a client’s family why part of the client’s income must be placed into a trust to become eligible for Medicaid assisted living coverage in New Jersey. As I was explaining something that I knew did not make sense to a reasonable person, I asked myself, does it really need to be this complicated? A federal court, regarding the complexity of Medicaid law, has stated: “There can be no doubt but that the statutes and provisions in question, involving the financing of Medicare and Medicaid, are among the most completely [...]

Jerold Rothkoff2024-03-08T11:21:02-05:00November 4, 2022|

An Unexpected Support System in Our Public Benefits Department
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An Unexpected Support System in Our Public Benefits Department

Public Benefits

An Unexpected Support System in Our Public Benefits Department

Written by Kaitlin Dirkx, Director of Public Benefits. Fall 2022 marks my seventh anniversary with Rothkoff Law Group, working as Director of Public Benefits. It also marks the longest I have ever worked for the same employer. When people ask what has kept me here for seven years, I always return to the relationships that I build with clients and the fulfillment that it brings me. As I meet more and more families struggling with enormous financial stress and anxiety while managing a loved one’s illness, it reinforces how much I enjoy helping people in this way at one of [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T11:24:20-05:00September 2, 2022|

What is the Community Spouse and the MMNA in Medicaid?
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What is the Community Spouse and the MMNA in Medicaid?

Public Benefits

What is the Community Spouse and the MMNA in Medicaid?

What is a community spouse, and how is one eligible for spousal allowance in the event their loved one is moved to a nursing facility? Before we answer, it’s important to first understand cost-sharing in Medicaid and qualifications based on income. Medicaid is a cost-sharing program, meaning that the Medicaid recipient shares in the cost of their care. Each nursing home has its own Medicaid reimbursement rate, or the daily rate that Medicaid pays them for its nursing home residents. The resident contributes a portion of their monthly income, and Medicaid makes up the difference. The resident’s income contribution is [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T11:28:03-05:00July 1, 2022|

How Can I Fight a Medicaid Transfer Penalty?
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How Can I Fight a Medicaid Transfer Penalty?

Public Benefits

How Can I Fight a Medicaid Transfer Penalty?

If you are planning to apply for Medicaid, whether for yourself or a loved one, it can be important to be aware of and, if possible, prepare for a Medicaid transfer penalty. If a Medicaid applicant has given away assets, inclusive of cash, bank account transfers, properties and/or vehicles, without receiving fair market compensation within the last five years, the Medicaid caseworker processing the application will impose a Medicaid penalty. What is a Medicaid Transfer Penalty? A Medicaid transfer penalty is a period of time during which Medicaid will not reimburse your long-term care provider for services, including home and [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T11:29:52-05:00May 13, 2022|

Will Your Traditional Medicare Change?
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Will Your Traditional Medicare Change?

Public Benefits

Will Your Traditional Medicare Change?

When a new Medicare beneficiary becomes eligible for enrollment, there are two general options for coverage, Traditional Medicare or Medicare Advantage. While Medicare Advantage is gaining in popularity, the majority of seniors still elect Traditional Medicare because it gives them the freedom to choose their providers and manage their own care. However, with the creation of the pilot Medicare Direct Contracting program (DC), some seniors may unknowingly have their care managed by for-profit companies anyway. Created by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services late in the Trump administration, the Medicare DC program allows private insurance companies and other for-profit [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T11:31:41-05:00April 1, 2022|

Social Workers: The Unsung Heroes
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Social Workers: The Unsung Heroes

Caregiver, Public Benefits

Social Workers: The Unsung Heroes

March is the month to honor unsung heroes of the workforce: social workers. There are over 700,000 social workers in the United States, and the profession is growing. Social workers dedicate their lives to helping others navigate challenges. They counsel those with mental health and addiction issues, help families navigate foster care and adoption, counsel students, and are essential in a myriad of interdisciplinary teams, including those in hospitals, advocacy organizations, and elder law firms. When I transitioned to the practice of elder law, it was important to me to work for a firm employing social workers. After 10 years [...]

Rothkoff Law Group2024-03-08T11:31:57-05:00March 25, 2022|