Category Archives: senior law

Elder Law: Veterans Affairs Aid & Attendance Improved Pension Benefit:

In the seminars presented by Walnut Creek elder law attorney Michael J. Young, www.WalnutCreekElderLaw.com, he talks about the Veterans Affairs Aid & Attendance Improved Pension Benefit, which is paid to wartime veterans or to their surviving spouses. The program is asset and income based, as is Medi-Cal. However, the two programs have different qualification rules. The […]

Do I have to sell my home to go on Medi-Cal and will they take it after I die?

We receive calls from people asking us if they need to sell their home in order to qualify for Medi-Cal. They also ask us if the State will take their home after they die, if they have been on Medi-Cal. Your home is generally an exempt asset for qualification for Medi-Cal. You confirm to Medi-Cal that you have an intent to […]

Life Insurance and Medi-Cal

When we interview clients at the Law Offices of Michael J. Young, www.WalnutCreekElderLaw.com, regarding Medi-Cal qualification, we always ask if the Medi-Cal applicant owns any life insurance policies. For Medi-Cal qualification, the applicant can own any amount of term life insurance. As a result, term life insurance is an excluded asset for qualification. However, if the applicant owns whole […]

Medi-Cal and Two Cars?

For Medi-Cal qualification, one car is generally deemed exempt. We receive calls in our office, The Law Offices of Michael J. Young, 925-256-0298, www.WalnutCreekElderLaw.com,  from people telling us that they are going to immediately sell the second car.  They think they need to do this in order to create Medi-Cal eligibility for their loved one. We […]

THE FINAL EXPENSE TRUST FOR MEDI-CAL SPEND DOWN

A little known “spend down” technique for Medi-Cal qualification purposes is the FUNERAL EXPENSE TRUST, also known as the FINAL EXPENSE TRUST. Medi-Cal allows for assets in any amount to be transferred from the Medi-Cal applicant to an irrevocable trust, to pay for the funeral expenses of the Medi-Cal recipient. This transfer does not create any periods of ineligibility for […]

JANUARY, 2010 ELDER LAW TODAY NEWSLETTER

VA BENEFITS MAY COVER THE COST OF AN ASSITED LIVING FACILITY OR IN HOME CARE www.WalnutCreekElderLaw.com. As we discussed in previous Elder Law Today newsletters, the Veteran’s Administration provides a wonderful pension benefit for those individuals who served at least one day during a period of wartime and are now disabled due to non-service connected […]

Assets which are exempt or not counted for Medi-Cal Qualification

     Certain assets are generally exempt, or not counted, for Medi-Cal eligibility. The following is a partial list of exempt assets. There are, of course, rules affecting each of these items. As a result, please consult your elder law attorney. One automobile is exempt for qualification. Many people think that if they have two cars, […]

VA AID AND ATTENDANCE BENEFITS

VA AID AND ATTENDANCE BENEFITS             The VA Aid and Attendance pension benefit program is provided by the Veterans Administration to veterans and their surviving spouses. This benefit helps to pay for in-home care, assisted living facility and nursing home costs. There are income and asset requirements for qualification. When we plan for the VA Aid […]