A recent national study found that half of the families that care for a loved one with a disability have not made plans for the future. That is likely to have devastating effects, as three-quarters of Americans with disabilities live with a family caregiver, and one-quarter of those caregivers are sixty or older.» Read More
New Jersey’s Medicaid Workability program has enabled many individuals with disabilities to live more meaningful and productive lives by allowing them to work without fear of losing their Medicaid benefits. The program allowed participants to receive Medicaid while working and having assets and income exceeding the strict financial criteria.» Read More
This week, I had two experiences, one in my practice and one in my personal life, that reiterated how challenging our health care system is. First, I had to tell a client that while I could get her 19-year-old son DDD services, there is nothing I could do to get him covered by Medicaid during the two-year waiting period for him to become Medicare eligible.*» Read More
The Veterans Administration has announced several additional conditions that have been added to the list of presumptive diseases resulting in eligibility for VA disability benefits. Veterans who served in Vietnam and have been diagnosed with bladder cancer, hypothyroidism, or Parkinsonism will no longer have to prove exposure to Agent Orange or a relation between exposure and their disease.» Read More
If you receive Social Security or SSI, you likely have already noticed that your check is slightly larger this year. The Social Security Administration has provided a 1.3% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for benefit payments. This brings the federal SSI payment to $794.» Read More
In the final days of 2020, the President signed the ALS Disability Insurance Access Act. This new law eliminates the five-month waiting period for individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) before they can receive Social Security Disability benefits. Many people do not know that if you become disabled and can no longer work, you must wait five months before collecting Social Security disability benefits.» Read More
The law firm Norris McLaughlin, P.A., is pleased to present this Special Needs Spotlight Webinar Series. In the fifth session, “Creating a Letter of Intent and a Life Plan,” Abbey M. Horwitz, a Member of the firm, spoke with Elizabeth McKenna, CFP and Chartered Special Needs Consultant of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, and Heidi Rome, internationally-recognized expert on the autism journey for mothers, Autism Mom Coach, and founder of Moms Spectrum Oasis.» Read More
