VA Aid and Attendance: 2017 Rates For Veterans and Surviving Spouses

We talk about the VA Pension — Aid and Attendance (as it is normally called) — often on this site as it is such an important benefit for veterans and surviving spouses.  But what exactly are all the rates in 2017?

Do keep in mind that in virtually every situation we are able to help someone, they received the “Aid & Attendance” rates.  There are technically two lower levels of the benefit.

Housebound which is where you can’t leave home … (Read more)

“Should I take elder law advice from non lawyer professionals such as my CPA or financial advisor?”

“Who should I take professional advice from?”

This is a big issue because professionals of all types (doctors, lawyers, financial advisors, CPAs, social workers, etc) and others love to give advice outside their area of expertise.

So what’s the problem with this?

A professional should only advise you on areas that professional is competent in!

Any professional should be competent in his or her area.

A problem happens when that professional lets ego to get to them and they start … (Read more)

“What is an annuity under Elder Law?”

Many times when we’re helping families plan long term care, or maybe helping out families who are in a long term care crisis, the subject of annuities tends to come up.

An annuity under Elder Law is where we turn an asset into a steady stream of income.

We give money to the insurance company, and they hand us back a contract that says, “We will give you X amount of money back over a span of Y months.”

This … (Read more)

Will my parents get bad care in a nursing home if they’re covered by Alabama Medicaid?

When you’re dealing with Alabama Medicaid and deciding where your parents should be, you may wonder, “Will they get bad care because they’re under Alabama Medicaid?”

The simple answer is no.

This question usually comes up because we tend to think of Alabama Medicaid as being “lousy.”

Or we don’t want our parents to be on Medicaid.

The truth is that nursing homes are expensive, and Medicaid pays for about 75% of long term nursing home residents.

Most nursing … (Read more)

Is it illegal to transfer assets under Alabama Medicaid or VA Pension?

“Is it wrong to give them away?”

No. It’s not wrong to give away or to transfer assets assuming the person giving them away has the mental capacity, or if they don’t have capacity, somebody has a proper power attorney and they’re fulfilling that power of attorney in the correct way.

“I thought Medicaid said it was illegal to give away assets for five years?”

If you give away assets and then you apply for Medicaid when you’re qualified, then … (Read more)