For everything there is a season, and it will soon be the season for taxes. Although it always seems to arrive too quickly, you will start to receive important tax documents by January 31. Whether you are filing as an individual or administering an...
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Medicare is part of the Social Security Administration (SSA), so if you need to enroll in Medicare, that’s whom you contact. But in recent months, phone lines at the SSA were experiencing major technical issues, preventing some individuals from...
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused nursing home staffing shortages across the United States, even forcing some nursing homes to close, but some states have been hit harder than others. A new analysis looks at which states are confronting the worst...
Claiming Social Security Benefits at Age 70 If you are about to turn 70, congratulations on reaching a big milestone. And if you also have delayed claiming Social Security retirement benefits up till now, you are joining a select group...
The federal government has expanded access to protections for spouses of reverse mortgage holders who are not named in the loan document, allowing more such spouses the ability to stay in their home if the borrowing spouse dies or moves to a care...
Medicaid Recipients Have a Little More Time to Spend Down Their Stimulus Money The one-year deadline for nursing home residents on Medicaid to spend down their first round of stimulus checks is here, but they may have a little extra...
Long-term care involves not only a loss of personal autonomy; it also comes at a tremendous financial price. Proper planning can help your family prepare for the financial toll and protect assets for future generations. Long-term care can be...
The Social Security Administration has announced a 1.3 percent increase in benefits in 2021, an increase even smaller than last year’s. Cost-of-living increases are tied to the consumer price index, and a modest upturn in inflation rates...
Talking about estate planning is a difficult, emotional topic, but it’s essential for every family. Unless you’re certain your parents have an up-to-date will and a wider plan for what should happen in the event of their passing, you...
Some people do not need to plan for the cost of long-term care. That may sound like a shocking statement coming from an elder law attorney, but it’s true. Our firm holds seminars on many topics, one of which is “Don’t Go Broke in a...
I actually got this question at a VA seminar I did in Lubbock recently. It happened at the break in the middle, as people got up to stretch their legs or grab another cup of coffee before I dove back into the main rules of eligibility for the VA...
What is elder law? This is a question I get all the time, and for good reason. Much of what we do today in our office is informed by a reality that simply wasn’t true 30 years ago. That is: we are living longer, and are much more likely to need the...
There is a lot of confusion about what a guardianship is in the State of Texas and when it’s needed. In fact, a lot of folks I run into think that because they can get a guardianship over a loved one if they need it is a reason NOT to do proper...
FEBRUARY 6, 2013 BY NATHAN ZIEGLER As an Elder Law attorney, at least half of the families who come into my office are living with a loved one who has Alzheimer’s. From what I’ve seen, education is vital to help families understand the disease,...
FEBRUARY 4, 2013 BY NATHAN ZIEGLER There’s nothing more red, white and blue than the annual Texas Tech Red Raider Battalion ROTC ball. Miss Texas made an appearance as the date of Cadet Luke Guffey. And get this – he asked her to accompany him to...
SEPTEMBER 20, 2011 BY NATHAN ZIEGLER If you’re a veteran with medical expenses, you may qualify for a Special Pension for Veterans, which could provide you with up to $1,949 per month, even if your disability is not service-connected. This...
AUGUST 31, 2011 BY NATHAN ZIEGLER Even if you were not injured while on active duty with the military, you may still qualify for certain Veterans benefits. These little-known benefits can provide you with monthly payments to help pay for...
An estate plan is often thought of as something that only elderly people or people with a lot of money need. But a basic estate plan is important no matter what your net worth is, and especially important if you are: A parent of a minor child ...
MAY 27, 2011 BY NATHAN ZIEGLER Today, I thought I would take some time to give you the top ten mistakes I routinely see people make in Medicaid Planning and Estate Planning. These are for your information, and as always, I encourage you to seek...
APRIL 21, 2011 BY NATHAN ZIEGLER If you are a Veteran or a Widow of a Veteran, you may be able to obtain tax free income from the VA to help pay for the cost of home health care, assisted living care, and nursing home care. The benefit...
