Q, I know that Congress and President Biden recently approved a new law that adds significant money into improving vaccinations and other COVID-19 outreach, but I wonder what other provisions are in the new law that might help seniors. A. Good question. The AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT of 2021 (“ARPA”), R. 1319, was narrowly passed… Read More »
Posts Categorized: COVID-19 Pandemic
Stimulus Payments Will Not Impair Medi-Cal, SSI, Nor Covered CA Eligibility
Q. My wife and I are both on SSI and Medi-Cal and we just received $1,200 under the federal stimulus program, and hope to receive another round if Congress and the new administration approve more. Will these payments mess up our public benefits, which we depend upon? A. The short answer is “No”. Some background may… Read More »
Evictions Halted Nationwide Through March 31, 2021; Foreclosures Through 2/28/2021
Q. I lost my job due to the Covid Pandemic, and now find that I am having difficulty paying my rent. I am worried about being evicted from the home my wife and I are renting. Is there any advice you can offer? A. Yes. County and State-wide eviction moratoriums have just been extended to… Read More »
Dealing With the Visitation Ban in Nursing Homes & Assisted Living Facilities Due to COVID
Q. My wife has been in nursing home for about 6 months, and I haven’t been allowed to see her since March due to COVID-19. The facility has been in “Lockdown” and won’t permit visitors. I really miss her. Is there any way to get around this? A. Yes, there may well be a way… Read More »
Signing Legal Documents in the Time of COVID
Q. We recently engaged you to assist my elderly mother to update and revise her estate planning documents, all while she was a patient in a skilled nursing facility under “lockdown” due to the COVID Pandemic. I appreciate that you were successful, but wonder how you were able to deal with the COVID issues that… Read More »
Big Budget Win for Seniors And Low Income Older Adults
Q. I heard that the proposed CA Budget cuts to the Medi-Cal program are now off the table. Is that true? A. Yes! Some background: Faced with a proposed $54 Billion Budget Deficit, last month Governor Newsom had proposed drastic cuts to Medi-Cal and other social programs that serve low income seniors and the disabled…. Read More »
Medicare Relaxes Requirements for Nursing Home Coverage
Q. I hear that Medicare has announced that, due to the Corona Virus Pandemic, it will now be more generous in covering nursing home stays by relaxing some of its long-standing coverage requirements. Do you know anything about this? A. Yes. A bit of background may be helpful. Medicare has traditionally imposed three conditions as… Read More »
The Current Pandemic and Your Estate Planning Documents
Q. My wife and I signed our estate planning documents quite some time ago. In view of the current COVID-19 Pandemic, we wonder whether there are any revisions we should consider? A. Excellent question. The short answer is, “Yes”. Here are some specific suggestions relating to some important estate planning documents which you probably signed:… Read More »
Is It A Good Idea To Bring Mom Home From the Nursing Home During The COVID-19 Pandemic?
Q. My mother resides in a nursing home where she receives the care that she needs. However, we worry about the risk of her getting ill from the Corona Virus. Should we bring her home? A. That is a difficult decision, but here are some thoughts: The number of coronavirus cases in nursing homes and… Read More »
How To Create Basic Estate Planning Documents During the COVID-19 Crisis, Without Witnesses or Notary
Q. My father is confined to his Assisted Living Facility (“ALF”) and is very anxious to sign a Will and other estate planning documents. However, the facility is on ‘lock-down’ due to the COVID-19 pandemic, his caregivers will not be able to serve as witnesses, and I cannot arrange for a mobile notary to enter… Read More »