Adult Day Care Centers are designed to provide care and companionship for seniors who need assistance or supervision during the day. The program offers relief to familymembers or caregivers and allows them the freedom to go to work, handle personal business or just relax while knowing their relative is well cared for...
In-Kind Support and Maintenance Calculations May Soon Exclude Food
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has proposed a rule change that would omit food from the in-kind support and maintenance (ISM) calculations used to determine Supplemental Security Income (SSI) eligibility and payment amounts.
This proposed rule change is intended to simplify the rules by making them less cumbersome to...
What is ISM?
ISM is an acronym used by the Social Security Administration which refers to "In Kind Support Maintenance", which can reduce the amount of a recipient's SSI.
Currently, the SSA considers any in-kind support and maintenance provided to an SSI recipient, such as free or reduced-cost food and housing, as...
Undue influence: what is it and what to watch out for?
Undue Influence is when someone pressures another in such a way that the person being influenced is not acting by their own free will; they are being coerced into taking a certain action. Undue influence often arises when a friend family member falls ill. For example, mom has been diagnosed with cancer...
Surrogate Decision Making in Utah
Have you wondered what would happened if you or a loved one did not have an advance directive which appoints a health care agent and your health care preferences? Is it still possible for a loved one to make health care decisions for you or even make decisions on your behalf...
Divorce and Social Security Benefits
Did you know that your ex-spouse can be entitled to social security benefits based on your work record?Here is a quote from the social security website: "If you are divorced, your ex-spouse can receive benefits based on your record (even if you have remarried) if:
Your marriage lasted 10...Planning Proactively
As we age, our likelihood of mental incapacity increases. After all, our bodies and minds deteriorate as we age. Mental incapacity could result from dementia, stroke, brain injury, or other illness. What is mental incapacity and in what ways can you plan to be best prepared for it?
What...Trustee of Special Needs Trust?
What Are a Special Needs Trustee’s Record-Keeping Duties?
One of the most important roles in a special needs plan is that of trustee, the person who administers a special needs trust (SNT). Of a trustee’s many responsibilities, record-keeping is perhaps the most crucial. Because the trustee...
Able Accounts Versus Special Needs Trusts
If you have a child with disabilities, it is crucial to set money aside for the child’s future. At the same time, you need to consider your child’s access to public benefit programs such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), as well as the state and federal tax...
Top 10 Reasons to Have a Comprehensive Durable Power of Attorney Document in Utah
A generic power of attorney document downloaded from the internet may not be the most appropriate document for your estate planning needs and goals. Most states, including Utah, have a generic statutory form which is available for download. How do you know whether this form contains the appropriate and advisable...