Assured
As·sured | ə-ˈshu̇rd
1: characterized by certainty or security
2: very confident
3: sure that something is certain or true
Social Security Shortfalls Are Predicted to Begin a Year Earlier Due to the Pandemic
The Social Security trustees are projecting that due to the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic the Social Security trust fund will be depleted in 2033 -- one year earlier than the previous estimates. Once the fund is depleted, Social Security benefits...
The Perils and Pitfalls of Do-It-Yourself Special Needs Planning
Among the costs of caring for a dependent with special needs are the fees for professional advice. Some families are tempted to save on these costs by setting up a plan on their own. This can be attractive because so much information is available online, free of...
Veterans’ Benefits and Special Needs Trusts
In his pre-session presentation at the 2020 ASNP Annual Meeting, “Special Needs Planning Integration with Veterans Benefits,” Doylestown, Pennsylvania ASNP member Richard L. Newman provided an overview of VA health care and disability benefits, and concluded with a...
Online Survey Helps Older Adults Assess Their Financial Vulnerability
All older Americans are vulnerable to financial abuse, but there are certain circumstances that make someone more likely to be scammed. An online survey can help older adults (or their caregivers) assess their risk of being exploited based on how they make financial...
SNT Beneficiary Who Approved Trust Is Denied Request to Terminate It
A Washington appeals court rules that a beneficiary who willingly signed a special needs trust cannot later seek to terminate the trust claiming that she did not read the trust instrument, was not represented by counsel, and signed it under duress. In re the Matter of...
COVID Relief Payments Now Won’t Affect SSI Benefits for Eligibility at All
Pandemic-related financial assistance will no longer affect an individual’s eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or their benefit amount, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced. The assistance includes a long list of pandemic payments,...
Never Say Never: Navigating the Appeals Process if You’ve Been Denied Social Security Disability Benefits
The United States has two federal government benefits programs to help people with disabilities: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). These have saved countless Americans unable to work for a living from becoming...
Medicaid Beneficiaries May Have a Right to Appeal Managed Care Firms’ Initial Care Determinations, 2nd Circuit Rules
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit holds that pursuant to the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, Medicaid beneficiaries may have a protected property interest in a particular level of care granted by a managed long-term care plan. Bellin v....
Guide Helps People with Disabilities Prepare for a Disaster Emergency
Planning for emergencies, whether natural or manmade, is crucial for everyone, not least people with disabilities. Advance preparation can mean the difference between life and death, whether the threat comes from floods, fire, a prolonged power outage, or any number...
Leaving an IRA to a Special Needs Trust Is No Longer Such a Bad Idea
The SECURE Act, passed at the end of 2019, changed a number of rules regarding inherited IRAs, making it more difficult for most beneficiaries to save on taxes by "stretching" distributions over many years. However, an exception to the new rules potentially changes...