On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in trusts & trust administration on Tuesday, August 7, 2018. People in California with significant estates may want to think about the future of estate taxation even after the major increase in the transfer tax exemption that was included in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The law, which went into effect in 2018, doubled the exemption on transfer tax to $11.18 million per individual or $22.36 million per married couple. How...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in trusts & trust administration on Monday, August 6, 2018. The significant changes to estate tax law that passed through broad tax legislation in 2017 mean that, at least for a while, only a small portion of the wealthiest families in the country would be subject to the estate tax. These changes, which raised the exemption level from $5.6 to $11.18 million per individual, are set to expire in 2025. Families that would bene...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in social security disability on Thursday, August 2, 2018. California residents who file Social Security Disability benefit claims ihave the right to appeal the decision to deny their applications. However, some choose to submit a brand new claim, which means that the application goes through the same review process each time. By appealing the initial denial, the case is reviewed by a different person, and a decision is gen...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in social security disability on Tuesday, July 31, 2018. California residents should understand that there are three possible stages to a disability benefits case. The first stage is the initial application, and more than 35 percent of cases are won at this level. If the initial application is denied, the next step is the reconsideration application followed by a hearing in front of an administrative law judge. About 10 to ...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC on Saturday, July 28, 2018. Long-term care planning might be something you're starting to look into as you're getting older. You know that there is a need to have insurance and plans in place for when you can't take care of yourself any longer or for when you need assistance in your day-to-day life.Many people begin to wonder if they need long-term care plans, because they already have families who are willing to help them. Many f...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in social security disability on Friday, July 27, 2018. California residents who have arthritis may qualify for Social Security Disability or SSI. Their arthritis may be considered a disabling impairment if it prevents them from being able to work at a substantial gainful activity level. The SGA level is the limit for monthly earnings that the Social Security Administration considers to be self-supporting. Individuals who w...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in social security disability on Tuesday, July 24, 2018. California residents and others who have back pain could be entitled to disability benefits. To determine whether or not an individual should be approved for benefits, an examiner must find that the applicant has experienced a loss of functional ability. Common reasons for back pain include a ruptured disc, arachnoiditis and spinal stenosis among others. An individual...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in social security disability on Friday, July 20, 2018. For anyone in California seeking disability payments, the first step is to file an application. This is followed by a disability interview. After an application is on file, it's sent to an agency referred to as disability determination services, or DDS. The next step in the SSD application process involves a review of medical records and work history by a disability ex...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in trusts & trust administration on Monday, July 16, 2018. Creating a trust can be a smart move for anyone in California who has assets they want to protect and pass on to designated beneficiaries in a way that offers protections against probate and certain taxes. After a trust is set up, the next step is to ensure it's sufficiently funded. Real estate can be handled with a deed or deed in trust that transfers a property to...
On behalf of The Elder and Disability Law Firm, APC posted in social security disability on Wednesday, July 11, 2018. California residents are entitled to Social Security Disability benefits based on the extent to which they are limited by a mental or physical condition. Therefore, it is important to be as specific as possible when talking to a doctor about such a condition. For instance, it may be a good idea to mention trouble with reaching or standing because of a bad back or ot...
