Guardianship
In Part II of this Series, I want to discuss why formal guardianship is important and how to go about being recognized as the legal guardian of a special needs individual.
Until the person turns 18, a parent can legally make decisions for the child. However, once a person turns age 18, he or she is an adult. As an adult, a person is entitled, and in fact obligated, to make his or her own decisions. If that person needs help making his or her own decisions, but is still competent, that person can execute a Power of Attorney.
If the person is not competent to make their own decisions, then another person can only have the legal authority to act on behalf of the incapacitated person if a court appoints them as Guardian.
The Guardian can:
1) make health care decisions for the child;
2) handle the finances of the child;
3) enter into contracts on behalf of the child;
4) deal with government agencies on behalf of the child; and
5) make decisions regarding living arrangements.
What is the process for naming a guardian?
Step 1: Determine if there is a need for a Guardianship, or if there is a better alternative (such as a Power of Attorney).
Step 2: Meet with an attorney to discuss all the information needed to help the attorney file any legal paperwork on your behalf. (E.g. Who will be the guardian, who would be a good backup guardian, what is the disability of the child, what are the living arrangements and needs of the child, who are the doctors, caregivers, does the child have any money in his/her name, etc.)
Step 3: Get the doctors to sign affidavits confirming child's inability to handle his or her own affairs.
Step 4: File the paperwork with the Court to have the child declared an incapacitated person and have the Court order an attorney be appointed for the child.
Step 5: Work with the Court appointed attorney to make sure that they have the information they need to file a report with the Court. The attorney for the child will need to interview the child and the proposed guardians.
Step 6: The court appointed attorney will need to file a report with the court either recommending guardianship, limited guardianship or that no guardian be appointed.
Step 7: The Judge will then rule on the matter.
If the guardianship is uncontested, the process usually takes about two months and can cost about $3,000 to $6,000. If the guardianship is contested by either the child or another person who wishes to act as guardian, the costs can become quite high. Accordingly, it is usually best to make sure that the child and immediate family members are in agreement with the guardianship plans.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Special Needs Planning in NJ - Part 1 of 4
PART I - GOVERNMENT BENEFITS
Many parents of a special needs child have an overwhelming concern: How (and by whom) will their child be taken care of when I die? In this series, I would like to explore the options that exist to ensure that your child will be provided for.
In order to understand the planning options available to your child, you first need to understand the government benefits that might be available to your child. There are 5 types of government benefits commonly available:
1. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – provides money for low-income individuals who are disabled, blind or elderly and have few assets. SSI eligibility rules form the basis for most other government program rules, and so become the central focus for much special needs trust planning and administration. You must live in the United States or the Northern Mariana Islands to get SSI. Non-citizen residents may be able to get SSI. Once a person qualifies for SSI, he or she is automatically eligible for Medicaid in New Jersey and most other states.
To qualify you must have little or no income and few resources - the value of the things you own must be less than $2,000 if you are single or less than $3,000 if you are married. The value of your home does not count. Usually, the value of your car does not count. And the value of certain other resources, such as a burial plot, may not count either.
To get SSI, you also must apply for any other cash benefits you may be able to get.
The amount a person is entitled to receive in 2009 is:
Person living alone or with others in own household $ 705.25
Person living with spouse who is not eligible for SSI $ 1,018.36
Person living in someone else's household and receiving
support and maintenance $ 493.65
Person living in licensed residential health care facility $ 884.05
Person living in public general hospital or Medicaid
approved long-term health facility $ 40.00
Couple living alone or with others in own household $ 1,036.36
Couple living in someone else's household and receiving
support and maintenance $ 767.09
Couple living in licensed residential health care facility $ 1,730.36
The above includes both federal and state payments.
The benefit is reduced dollar for dollar for any other income the beneficiary may receive. This means that once an SSI beneficiary's income reaches a certain level, his or her SSI benefit will terminate.
2. Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) - provides money for individuals with a disability who qualify for Social Security based upon their own work history or the work history of such person's parents.
The SSDI program pays benefits to adults who have a disability that began before they became 22 years old. The government considers this SSDI benefit as a “child’s” benefit because it is paid on a parent’s Social Security earnings record. For a disabled adult to be entitled to this “child” benefit, one of his or her parents:
• Must be receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits; or
• Must have died and have worked long enough under Social Security.
SSI v. SSDI
a. SSI is a needs based program and SSDI is an entitlement program. There is no “means” test for SSDI eligibility.
b. SSDI can be a much higher income level than SSI, and with no payback.
c. Under both SSI and SSDI, the child must not be doing any "substantial" work, and must have a medical condition that has lasted or is expected either to last for at least 12 months or to result in death.
d. In order to qualify for SSI, individuals must first apply for SSDI if eligible as SSI is a last benefit of last resort. A person switching to SSDI from SSI can still qualify for Medicaid.
3. Medicaid - is a benefit program available to low-income individuals which makes payments directly to health care providers for medical needs over and above what Medicare will pay. The largest health and long term care program operated and funded by the government – in this case, the federal government. The fixed monthly income cap for Medicaid in 2009 is $2,022.
4. Medicare - is a federal program that makes payments directly to hospitals, doctors and drug companies. People can qualify for benefits if they are 65 and over (and are entitled to receive Social Security benefits, whether or not they have actually retired) and those who have been receiving SSDI for at least two years.
Part A - Covers most medically necessary hospital, skilled nursing facility, home health and hospice care.
Part B - Covers most medically necessary doctors' services, preventative care, durable medical equipment, hospital outpatient services, laboratory tests, x-rays, mental health care, home health care and ambulance services. (There is a monthly premium for Part B based upon a person's income.)
Part D - Covers prescription drugs.
Medicaid v. Medicare
Medicaid differs from Medicare in three important ways:
1) Medicaid is run by state governments (though partially funded by federal payments);
2) it is available to those who meet financial eligibility requirements rather than being based on the age of the recipient, and
3) it covers all necessary medical care (though it is easy to argue that Medicaid’s definition of “necessary” care is too narrow).
Because Medicaid is a “means tested” health care program and Medicare covers a smaller portion of long-term care costs, maintaining continuous Medicaid availability is often the central focus of special needs trust administration.
5. SCHIP - State Children's Health Insurance Program. This program has higher income eligibility limits and provides health insurance for many who earn too much to qualify for other programs.
Many parents of a special needs child have an overwhelming concern: How (and by whom) will their child be taken care of when I die? In this series, I would like to explore the options that exist to ensure that your child will be provided for.
In order to understand the planning options available to your child, you first need to understand the government benefits that might be available to your child. There are 5 types of government benefits commonly available:
1. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) – provides money for low-income individuals who are disabled, blind or elderly and have few assets. SSI eligibility rules form the basis for most other government program rules, and so become the central focus for much special needs trust planning and administration. You must live in the United States or the Northern Mariana Islands to get SSI. Non-citizen residents may be able to get SSI. Once a person qualifies for SSI, he or she is automatically eligible for Medicaid in New Jersey and most other states.
To qualify you must have little or no income and few resources - the value of the things you own must be less than $2,000 if you are single or less than $3,000 if you are married. The value of your home does not count. Usually, the value of your car does not count. And the value of certain other resources, such as a burial plot, may not count either.
To get SSI, you also must apply for any other cash benefits you may be able to get.
The amount a person is entitled to receive in 2009 is:
Person living alone or with others in own household $ 705.25
Person living with spouse who is not eligible for SSI $ 1,018.36
Person living in someone else's household and receiving
support and maintenance $ 493.65
Person living in licensed residential health care facility $ 884.05
Person living in public general hospital or Medicaid
approved long-term health facility $ 40.00
Couple living alone or with others in own household $ 1,036.36
Couple living in someone else's household and receiving
support and maintenance $ 767.09
Couple living in licensed residential health care facility $ 1,730.36
The above includes both federal and state payments.
The benefit is reduced dollar for dollar for any other income the beneficiary may receive. This means that once an SSI beneficiary's income reaches a certain level, his or her SSI benefit will terminate.
2. Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) - provides money for individuals with a disability who qualify for Social Security based upon their own work history or the work history of such person's parents.
The SSDI program pays benefits to adults who have a disability that began before they became 22 years old. The government considers this SSDI benefit as a “child’s” benefit because it is paid on a parent’s Social Security earnings record. For a disabled adult to be entitled to this “child” benefit, one of his or her parents:
• Must be receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits; or
• Must have died and have worked long enough under Social Security.
SSI v. SSDI
a. SSI is a needs based program and SSDI is an entitlement program. There is no “means” test for SSDI eligibility.
b. SSDI can be a much higher income level than SSI, and with no payback.
c. Under both SSI and SSDI, the child must not be doing any "substantial" work, and must have a medical condition that has lasted or is expected either to last for at least 12 months or to result in death.
d. In order to qualify for SSI, individuals must first apply for SSDI if eligible as SSI is a last benefit of last resort. A person switching to SSDI from SSI can still qualify for Medicaid.
3. Medicaid - is a benefit program available to low-income individuals which makes payments directly to health care providers for medical needs over and above what Medicare will pay. The largest health and long term care program operated and funded by the government – in this case, the federal government. The fixed monthly income cap for Medicaid in 2009 is $2,022.
4. Medicare - is a federal program that makes payments directly to hospitals, doctors and drug companies. People can qualify for benefits if they are 65 and over (and are entitled to receive Social Security benefits, whether or not they have actually retired) and those who have been receiving SSDI for at least two years.
Part A - Covers most medically necessary hospital, skilled nursing facility, home health and hospice care.
Part B - Covers most medically necessary doctors' services, preventative care, durable medical equipment, hospital outpatient services, laboratory tests, x-rays, mental health care, home health care and ambulance services. (There is a monthly premium for Part B based upon a person's income.)
Part D - Covers prescription drugs.
Medicaid v. Medicare
Medicaid differs from Medicare in three important ways:
1) Medicaid is run by state governments (though partially funded by federal payments);
2) it is available to those who meet financial eligibility requirements rather than being based on the age of the recipient, and
3) it covers all necessary medical care (though it is easy to argue that Medicaid’s definition of “necessary” care is too narrow).
Because Medicaid is a “means tested” health care program and Medicare covers a smaller portion of long-term care costs, maintaining continuous Medicaid availability is often the central focus of special needs trust administration.
5. SCHIP - State Children's Health Insurance Program. This program has higher income eligibility limits and provides health insurance for many who earn too much to qualify for other programs.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Pennsylvania Intestacy Law - When a Pennsylvania Resident Dies Without a Will
If a Pennsylvania resident dies without a Will, that person is said to have died "intestate". The Pennsylvania intestacy scheme is governed by statute (20 Pa.Cons.Stat. 2101 et. seq.). Where the money goes depends in large part who survives the decedent.
Many people think that as soon as they get married that if they die, everything that they own will go to their surviving spouse. THIS IS NOT TRUE!1) Scenario 1: A person is only survived by a spouse - If the decedent is survived by a spouse and does not have any surviving parents or issue (children or other lineal decedents) then the surviving spouse receives the entire estate.
2) Scenario 2: A person is survived by a spouse and parent(s) - If the decedent is survived by a spouse and at least one parent, but no issue, then the surviving spouse receives the first $30,000 and one-half of the balance of the probate estate. The balance would go to the surviving parent(s).
3) Scenario 3: A person is survived by a spouse and children from the marriage to the spouse - If the decedent is survived by a spouse and only children from their marriage, then the surviving spouse receives the first $30,000 and one-half of the balance of the probate estate. The balance would go to the surviving issue of the decedent. In most cases, the distribution will be made equally to a person's children, but if a child is not then living, then that deceased child's share shall go equally to that deceased child's children.
For example, let's assume Joey died with $300,000 and he is survived by his wife and one son. He also had one daughter, who died before him, but she had two children of her own. The widow would get $180,000 ($30,000+$150,000), the son would get $60,000 (1/2 of ($300K-$180K)) and each of the grandchildren would get $30,000 (1/4 of ($300K-$180K). 4) Scenario 4: A person is survived by a spouse and at least one child from another relationship - If the decedent is survived by a spouse and at least one children from another relationship, then the surviving spouse receives only one-half of the balance of the probate estate. The balance would go to the surviving issue of the decedent.
5) Scenario 5: Person is not survived by a spouse - If the decedent does not have a spouse, then his or her probate estate will first go to surviving issue, if any; then to surviving parents, if any; then to surviving siblings (or their issue), if any; then to surviving grandparents, if any; then to surviving aunts, uncles (or their children); if any. If none of these individuals survive the decedent, then the decedent's assets go to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
You may have noticed that I used the term "probate estate" over and over in this entry. That is because the probate estate does not cover life insurance, retirement benefits, annuities, joint accounts, pay on death accounts or other moneys that are payable as a result of a contract. These assets are called "non-probate" assets and they do not pass according to the instructions of a Will nor do they pass via the intestacy laws. You must look to the terms of those documents to see who is entitled to what. Accordingly, when administering an estate, one must consider all assets - probate and non probate. If no beneficiary is named, then they do pass through the probate estate.
Unless you wish your assets to go according to the Pennsylvania intestacy scheme, you should draft a will so that your money can be distributed the way that you want when you pass.
Many people think that as soon as they get married that if they die, everything that they own will go to their surviving spouse. THIS IS NOT TRUE!1) Scenario 1: A person is only survived by a spouse - If the decedent is survived by a spouse and does not have any surviving parents or issue (children or other lineal decedents) then the surviving spouse receives the entire estate.
2) Scenario 2: A person is survived by a spouse and parent(s) - If the decedent is survived by a spouse and at least one parent, but no issue, then the surviving spouse receives the first $30,000 and one-half of the balance of the probate estate. The balance would go to the surviving parent(s).
3) Scenario 3: A person is survived by a spouse and children from the marriage to the spouse - If the decedent is survived by a spouse and only children from their marriage, then the surviving spouse receives the first $30,000 and one-half of the balance of the probate estate. The balance would go to the surviving issue of the decedent. In most cases, the distribution will be made equally to a person's children, but if a child is not then living, then that deceased child's share shall go equally to that deceased child's children.
For example, let's assume Joey died with $300,000 and he is survived by his wife and one son. He also had one daughter, who died before him, but she had two children of her own. The widow would get $180,000 ($30,000+$150,000), the son would get $60,000 (1/2 of ($300K-$180K)) and each of the grandchildren would get $30,000 (1/4 of ($300K-$180K). 4) Scenario 4: A person is survived by a spouse and at least one child from another relationship - If the decedent is survived by a spouse and at least one children from another relationship, then the surviving spouse receives only one-half of the balance of the probate estate. The balance would go to the surviving issue of the decedent.
5) Scenario 5: Person is not survived by a spouse - If the decedent does not have a spouse, then his or her probate estate will first go to surviving issue, if any; then to surviving parents, if any; then to surviving siblings (or their issue), if any; then to surviving grandparents, if any; then to surviving aunts, uncles (or their children); if any. If none of these individuals survive the decedent, then the decedent's assets go to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
You may have noticed that I used the term "probate estate" over and over in this entry. That is because the probate estate does not cover life insurance, retirement benefits, annuities, joint accounts, pay on death accounts or other moneys that are payable as a result of a contract. These assets are called "non-probate" assets and they do not pass according to the instructions of a Will nor do they pass via the intestacy laws. You must look to the terms of those documents to see who is entitled to what. Accordingly, when administering an estate, one must consider all assets - probate and non probate. If no beneficiary is named, then they do pass through the probate estate.
Unless you wish your assets to go according to the Pennsylvania intestacy scheme, you should draft a will so that your money can be distributed the way that you want when you pass.
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